Gingerbread Logic

What You Do:

1. Follow directions for the gingerbread cookie recipe. Refrigerate dough.
2. While the dough is in the fridge, read the story of the gingerbread man with your child.
3. After you've read the story, spread flour over your working area and rolling pin. You and your child can rub your hands in the flour, too, so the dough won't stick to them!
4. Let your little one help roll out the dough and use the gingerbread man cookie cutter.
5. With a knife, cut out three tiny shirts and pants. (Remember the pieces get bigger when baked.)
6. Bake the men and clothes according to your recipe.
7. Put white frosting into three bowls. Add food coloring to make three different colors.
8. When the cookies have cooled, frost one shirt and one pair of pants in each color. Your child can decorate them with candy and sprinkles if she'd like!
9. Ask your child logic questions such as, “What outfit could the gingerbread man wear first? next? How many different shirts can he wear with those pants? How many different outfits does he have?” She can place the frosted clothes face-up on the gingerbread man to help her.
10. When the logic lesson is finished, ask your child to choose the gingerbread man's final outfit! To put it on, spread a layer of frosting on the man and stick the clothes in top. It's time to eat!

If your shirts and pants are too big, then frost the gingerbread man directly, drawing on his clothes with the frosting. You can make several gingerbread men with different colors of clothing and still ask the logic questions. You can also expand this activity with more gingerbread men, outfits, or colors! It's a great way for your child to practice patterns in addition to logic and counting.