In this article
If your child is 3 to 5, start with LOGICO PRIMO. If they're 5 or older and already count, sort and match with confidence, start with LOGICO PICCOLO. The two systems work the same way, but the boards and cards aren't interchangeable, so the starter kit you buy decides which card packs you'll add later.
One thing to check before you buy: the PRIMO starter kit comes with a card pack labelled for age 5+. For a 3-year-old, add a younger pack.
How LOGICO works
LOGICO is a learning game made by Finken, a German educational publisher. Your child slides a picture card into a board, answers each question by moving a coloured button next to it, then flips the card over. If the colours on the back match the buttons, they got it right.
Because the card checks the answer, children can play on their own once they've done a card or two with you. There's no screen and nothing to charge, which makes it a good pick for quiet time, a waiting room or the back seat.
PRIMO vs PICCOLO at a glance
| LOGICO PRIMO | LOGICO PICCOLO | |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended age | 3+ | 5+ |
| Answer buttons | 6 | 10 |
| Skills | Colours, shapes, matching, early counting | Sorting, classifying, logic, early school skills |
| Starter kit includes | Board, 16 Numbers Up to 10 cards (labelled 5+), guide | Board, 16 Thinking Skills: Classifying cards, guide |
| Starter kit price | $39.95 | $39.95 |
| Extra card packs | $19.95 for 16 cards | $19.95 for 16 cards |
Prices are in CAD and were current when we wrote this. Cards are 6.5 × 9 in and boards are 9 × 11 in for both systems.
Choose by what your child can already do
Age is a guide, but skills matter more, especially around age 5 when either system could fit.
- Choose PRIMO if your child is still learning colours and shapes, or gets frustrated when there are a lot of choices on a page. Six buttons keeps each card manageable.
- Choose PICCOLO if your child already counts to 10, sorts toys by colour or size without help, and wants something harder. Ten buttons means more questions per card.
If you're between the two for a 5-year-old, PICCOLO will last longer. PRIMO will feel easier at the start.
Pick PRIMO card packs by age
The PRIMO system starts at 3, but each card pack has its own age label. Here's how the packs line up:
| PRIMO card pack | Labelled age | What it practises |
|---|---|---|
| Color and Shape Puzzles | 3+ | Colours, shapes, colour patterns |
| Nature and Animals | 4+ | Animals, plants, habitats |
| Look and Match | 5+ | Spotting similarities and differences, positions |
| Numbers Up to 10 (in the starter kit) | 5+ | Counting, comparing, number order |
For a 3-year-old, the best first buy is the PRIMO Starter Kit plus Color and Shape Puzzles. Save the numbers cards for later. For a 4-year-old, Nature and Animals is a good second pack.
Growing with PICCOLO
The PICCOLO Starter Kit comes with Thinking Skills: Classifying cards, labelled 5+. When your child is ready for more, the Logical Thinking pack is labelled 6+ and adds reasoning and sequencing.
Finken describes the LOGICO series as running up to about age 12, and PICCOLO is the system that covers the early school years. If you expect your child to use it for a few years, PICCOLO gives you more room to grow.
As a gift
A starter kit plus one card pack is a complete gift for $59.90, and it gives the child two sets of games from day one. If you're buying for a child you don't see often, PRIMO is the safer choice for ages 3 to 4, and PICCOLO for 5 to 7.
Want to see the boards before you choose? Call our Richmond, Burnaby or Ottawa store ahead of your visit and we'll let you know which LOGICO kits we have on hand.
