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Show HN: Made this with my daughter to help kids ages 2 to 4 learn logic

countable.github.io

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Re: Show HN: Made this with my daughter to help kids ages 2 to 4 learn logic

#61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree with the number arrangement bit. I'd imagine kids are learning to use the keyboard whilst using a computer's browse. 0 placement is on point with what's in front of them.

That's an interesting point. I still prefer zero on the right (and remember, they'll see them laid out that way in lots of other contexts, such as preschool worksheets). I was going to suggest they add a feature to make it accept numbers entered via the the keyboard, but I figured I should check first if they've already done so. They did. :)

Sure, but you wouldn't teach them the alphabet starting with 'q'.

The list on the index page starts with 0, if nothing else it would be more consistent to start the counting section with 0 as well (FWIW I agree with the OP, I'm teaching my toddler to count starting with 0).

Re: Show HN: Made this with my daughter to help kids ages 2 to 4 learn logic

#62
post #7

Nice website. I like it. Please don't use it with your kids (of 2 to 4!!). There are more than enough actual objects scuttered in your house.

I agree that concrete objects are easier to teach concepts with. I taught two elementary classes the basics of Scratch programming several weeks back. I made a whole bunch of props to start with before I even turned on the computer. That was what really made the difference. It was something they could connect with.

Re: Show HN: Made this with my daughter to help kids ages 2 to 4 learn logic

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an interesting point. I still prefer zero on the right (and remember, they'll see them laid out that way in lots of other contexts, such as preschool worksheets). I was going to suggest they add a feature to make it accept numbers entered via the the keyboard, but I figured I should check first if they've already done so. They did. :)

Sure, but you wouldn't teach them the alphabet starting with 'q'. The list on the index page starts with 0, if nothing else it would be more consistent to start the counting section with 0 as well (FWIW I agree with the OP, I'm teaching my toddler to count starting with 0).

Wait I'm confused. You are teaching them to count the first item as "zero"? So if there are 3 apples, you have them say "zero, one, two"?

(FYI, I wasn't defending the zero on the right decision, I would prefer zero on the left)

Re: Show HN: Made this with my daughter to help kids ages 2 to 4 learn logic

#65

Controversial opinion, but I don't think kids ages 2 to 4 should be having screen time, let alone an activity that is better presented with real objects.

Why? Many people have these "screen time" opinions. I'm not saying I disagree, but why do you think zero screen time is the correct amount?

There have been published research in widely peer reviewed medical journals, for example: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/...

Main points being that brain activity and cognitive tests have shown that kids with excessive screen time use exhibited negative results. Granted these tests likely refer to unattended, non-interactive screen time which is slightly different than this particular app's situation. But the general idea and question of screen time is relevant.

Also anecdotally, I have a young nephew and niece who's parents recently instituted a screen time purge for weeks at a time -- ( parent is an MD and recently attended a conference where research showed similar negative impacts in children's brain development after screen time use ). They've seen less hyperactivity, less meltdowns and improved listening and behavior. Again, one example, so take it for what it's worth.

Raising kids is a time consuming, challenging endeavor for most people, and everyone's experience is going to be unique. So, to each their own. And I'm someone who grew up with NES and after school cartoons. But even given that, I intend on leaning towards caution in this respect and limit screen time as much as possible certainly towards the younger age spectrum.

Re: Show HN: Made this with my daughter to help kids ages 2 to 4 learn logic

#66
post #6

Nice. The source is also very readable so I imagine it would also be useful to teach an older child about programming. I hit a bug though - level 7 generated a "how many cats are spinning" question whose answer is 10, but there's no "10" button and trying to type "1" "0" fails at the first "1". But I see `cats_for_level` allows there to be `level + 5` cats, so is there some way to input an answer greater than 9? Also…

The ducks-as-cats part threw me too. Either they are ducks or they are cats dressed as ducks. "How many ducks are cats" doesn't make sense.

Re: Show HN: Made this with my daughter to help kids ages 2 to 4 learn logic

#67
post #64

I never get more than five cats. Also it is Unclear how a kid wild get to the end of answering the same question set. Also, I kept getting the same number of cats in a row. It feels like something is wrong to get the exact same question.

Try the higher levels

Re: Show HN: Made this with my daughter to help kids ages 2 to 4 learn logic

#68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's perfectly fine to ask " How many bottles of milk are in the fridge? " even if there is no milk. I admit that most sane people will not answer "Zero". If someone ask " How many elephants are in the fridge? " it would be weird. I don't think that it is unnatural to answer "zero" in the first question, it is probably a social convention. For the second question I agree that is unnatural.

You reflected the example wrong though. Asking "How many blue cats are bouncing?" makes the presupposition that blue cats exist. "How many bottles of milk are in the fridge?" makes no presupposition of any kind. To demonstrate my point using your example: You ask: "How many of the milk bottles in the fridge are rancid?" I go to the fridge and see that there is no milk in the fridge. I now can't answer with any number…

> It's a real thing.

Most people aren't arguing this. Most people are discussing colloquial understanding of language and discussion. The differences you are arguing are important in a highly specialized area of math and science.

It feels like you're arguing whether an object is a Boeing 737 or an Airbus A320 when the important point is an airplane is not a car.

Re: Show HN: Made this with my daughter to help kids ages 2 to 4 learn logic

#69
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just finished watching a film about Magnus Carlsen and how early he started and one of my key takeaways was that getting extremely good in chess actually helped him do well in other aspects of life as well. Then of course his family doesn't seem to be pushing him, rather than supporting him, and if they had been pushing him hard into this it could possibly had a totally different outcome.

> getting extremely good in her s gqme actually helped huh?

My guess at a correction: 'good in her game'

Re: Show HN: Made this with my daughter to help kids ages 2 to 4 learn logic

#70
post #56
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just finished watching a film about Magnus Carlsen and how early he started and one of my key takeaways was that getting extremely good in chess actually helped him do well in other aspects of life as well. Then of course his family doesn't seem to be pushing him, rather than supporting him, and if they had been pushing him hard into this it could possibly had a totally different outcome.

Have you seen the documentary about all the other kids who've started chess very early?

No, is there one?
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