| In Star Trek, there's the purely logical guy, Mr. Spock, | | | | 4. Your child will be able to carefully consider |
| and the purely emotional guy, who is just about any | | | | persuasion from politicians and the media. What if a |
| other character. Real life isn't like that--we need to be | | | | TV reporter interviews five people who say the US |
| able to function both ways, with our minds and with | | | | should allow illegal immigrants to stay? Then the |
| our emotions. | | | | reporter concludes that everyone in the state wants |
| Unfortunately, learning logical thinking doesn't just | | | | illegal immigrants to stay. What is the problem here? |
| come naturally for most people. But it's an important | | | | This is an error in generalizing from too small a |
| skill. Logic traps are everywhere. | | | | sample group. The reporter needs opinions from a |
| Here's what you can do about it: teach logic to your | | | | much wider sample group. Can your child see the |
| child. Why? | | | | error? |
| 1. Your child will be able to understand cause and | | | | 5. Your child will be able to evaluate what someone |
| effect, and make better life choices. For instance, a | | | | says by looking at who said it. For instance, if your |
| child who understands logical consequences will be | | | | dentist tells you how to take care of your teeth, you |
| more able to counter the voices of "friends" who | | | | should follow his advice-he's an expert. But if he tells |
| urge him to misuse his money and his time. | | | | you how to fix your car, you might not consider him |
| 2. Your child will be a good problem-solver. Good | | | | an expert on that! |
| problem-solving involves coming up with a list of | | | | 6. Your child will be able to understand how |
| options to consider. This will help later on in a range | | | | computers think. Computers think in nitty-gritty ways: |
| of situations, from how to deal with a plugged-up | | | | if statement A is true, then do action B. Otherwise, |
| sink to what to do about a car that breaks down. | | | | do action C. Our brains tend to skip around in |
| 3. Your child will be better prepared to challenge | | | | comparison. But learning to program a computer to |
| advertising. He will be able to identify fallacies such as | | | | follow a logical sequence helps the child learn to think |
| circular reasoning. For example, an advertiser might | | | | logically, too. In the Information Age, this is a very |
| tell us, "Happy folks buy Toastie Puffs." What he | | | | useful skill to develop, now or later. The more your |
| means is, "Buy Toastie Puffs, and you'll be happy!" | | | | child knows about computers, the more he will be |
| This is circular logic! Can your child recognize it? | | | | master of that device that is mastering our lives. |