[eitland]

Somewhat related: At one point I introduced my kids to what I called the number-machine-game. It goes like this:

I ask my kids to say a number, and then I do something to that number and tell them the answer.

Their job is to figure out the calculation I do.

Examples:

- I add a number: they say 3, I say 8. They say 11, I say 16

- I multiply a number.

- I multiply by something and add something else.

- etc

If you want to drive them nuts you can count the letters of the number, i.e. four = f o u r = 4, five = f i v e = also 4, ten = t e n = 3 etc :-D

(I might have gotten the idea from HN, but the above is how I taught it.)

[rahimnathwani]

I remember one day in primary school a teacher had us play a game where we had to propose things to take on vacation. People would call out a suggestion, and the teacher would say yes or no.

The aim of the game was to figure out the rule. She said no to 'novel' and 'money', but yes to 'book' and 'currency'.

[overlordalex]

Spoiler: Is it the number of letters? That is, only an even-length string is permitted?

[overlordalex]

I've used the same before, I believe also inspired by a similar HN comment. I was delighted to find that it's actually been developed into a complete game as well[1]

However to add my 2c to the conversation how I introduced programming to my cousins and niblings was through baking! A recipe is just a program for a delicious outcome which helps a bit with motivation while also learning a related skill.

[1] https://www.cinqmarsmedia.com/devilscalculator/