Connecting With Your Logic Smart Child

(This is the third post in the series called I Don’t Understand You! – Learning How to Connect with Your Child When They Think Differently than You. If you haven’t read the first post already, you’ll want to start there.)

Just about everyone knows that different people learn in different ways.  When your child learns in a way that is different than you, however, it can be very hard to know how to connect with them.  When I read the book  How Am I Smart? by Kathy Koch a light bulb went on.  Finally, I learned that my boys weren’t acting illogically – they just relate to the world in a different way than I do. This post will deal with the second way of thinking – being logic smart.

Logic smart kids think and learn by asking themselves and others questions. They love it when things make sense. They struggle with why bad things happen to good people. They ask “why” all the time. Truth is extremely important to a logic smart child. They have a high sense of justice and they tend to be fact based.

Logic smart kids are usually characterized by several of the following:

• Brainstorm easily
• Ask lots of questions – are very curious
• Have a high need to know
• Become stressed if they don’t know all of the details that they think they should
• Love finding things that don’t make sense – poking holes in other people’s theories
• Need to be kept challenged and engaged
• Enjoy science, analyzing, predicting, and inventing
• Math can be a strength (although they also need to be word smart for story problems and picture smart for geometry)
• Reading can be hard for them.  Usually easier to get them to read non-fiction or mysteries.
• Get frustrated when it appears that life isn’t fair
• Spelling can be a struggle when words break the rules

If your child has several of the above characteristics then they are probably logic smart.

Logic smart kids can be challenging if they use their strengths for evil instead of good.  They can become curious and experiment with sinful issues.  They can be prideful because they think they have things all figured out.  They can see others as stupid.  They can enjoy challenging and testing adults, arguing to defend themselves, and worrying when things don’t seem to make sense.

One of my sons is logic smart and he definitely argues.  I never understood why he felt compelled to challenge me on every little thing… but now I know that he’s simply using the logic smart part of his brain.  It’s still exhausting; however, it gives me hope.  Now that I understand what’s happening, I look forward to connecting with him on a deeper level – and training him to use his strengths for good.

When your logic smart child is struggling with something don’t tell them that they’ll just get over it. If they say they can’t do something ask them what they can do. Ask your child if they are just complaining or if they really want to understand something. Investigate answers together with your logic smart child.

Logic smart kids also can struggle with understanding humor or engaging in small talk.  They have a tendency to analyze people instead of loving them.  They might find it hard to trust people because we can all be a bit illogical at times – which is hard for these kids to understand.

Here are some practical ways for connecting with your logic smart child:

• Discuss, discuss, discuss – Don’t be afraid to answer your child’s questions.  Ask them follow-up questions.  This is how these kids learn. And never say, “That’s not important!”
• Allow creative thinking – Don’t penalize your child for coming up with answers you may not think are correct.  Ask them how they came to their conclusion.  Allow them to give creative answers.  Just because it isn’t the answer you were initially looking for doesn’t mean they aren’t right.
• Answer everything – These kids can struggle in their faith. Answer their questions honestly. Don’t blow off their questions. Tell them that the world doesn’t always make sense to us but that it does to God. Don’t assume that these kids are too young to understand difficult themes. They are usually deep thinkers.  If give an answer of, “Because I said so” you can paralyze the logic part of their brain.
• Pose Problems – Have these kids solve problems.  Ask them how and why they came up with their solution.
• Evaluate Reading Ability – These kids want to learn desperately!  If their reading skills aren’t very strong give them easier books to read.  This will help satisfy their need to learn without frustrating them.
• Teach Them to Research – Help them to think about and research their own questions.
• Reaching them Spiritually – These kids do well meditating on scripture.  They enjoy listening to sermons and digging into topics on their own.  Logic smart kids can have a hard time comprehending grace, mercy, and unconditional love.  If they are struggling with understanding something spiritual explain to them that the Holy Spirit will teach them even more after they turn their life over to Christ.
• Take Advantage of their Curiosity – Answer all of their questions even if they’re off topic.

Here’s a recent example of how I took advantage of my boys’ curiosity. We were reading about WWI for history and one of my sons asked, “I wonder if the man who invented the toilet had the last name of toilet.”  Normally, I would say I didn’t know and we’d have to look that up sometime… or just laugh off the question… or assume they were just trying to waste time.  But after reading Kathy’s book, I decided to put down what we were reading and Google it right away.  The answer was hilarious and my boys were laughing and enjoying learning.  We were then able to go back to learning about WWI and they were satisfied.  And I have to admit that I also learned something about the man who increased the popularity of the flush toilet.  (Look it up – your boys will be thrilled with what they discover!)

Logic smart kids can become great counselors, lawyers, teachers, police officers, and pastors.  Depending on how else they are smart, they might also become good electricians, accountants, computer programmers, engineers, and meteorologists.

Here are some great methods for teaching these kids:

• Ask and answer questions
• Brain teasers
• Experiments
• Time Lines
• Research
• Data Collections
• Debate
• Play games like Trivial Pursuit
• Field trips

By the way, if your child says something that doesn’t make sense and you give them a look of disgust or ask “What?!?” in a tone that suggests they’re stupid, then YOU may also be logic smart.  😉  A better way to handle that type of situation is to say, “Keep talking.  I need to know more.”  Be sure you are expressing curiosity instead of judgment.

We need to be students of our children – studying them to determine what methods will work best for them. For more tips for helping you to understand your Logic Smart Child, please check out Kathy Koch’s book, How Am I Smart?

Question:  Do you have a Logic Smart Child? Have you found any other clever ways to connect with your child? What has your experience been like when dealing with a child who thinks differently than you? Please leave a comment below.