In all classes and age groups children are taught about decision making, problem solving, and logical, scientific and mathematical thinking. They will also learn memory training, various research methods, social co-operation, and planning and execution. The children have great fun as they play and our enthusiastic and well trained teachers (Disclosure Scotland approved) ensure the classes are very popular.

One of the highlights of the year is the annual MindLab Olympics where children of 8 and above use all the techniques, methodologies and strategies they have learned in a competition first within their school, then between schools, and finally internationally against schools from ten other countries. As well as being a fantastic opportunity for the children to participate in an international event, the competition enables the discussion of sportsmanship, competitiveness and how to modestly accept victory and graciously accept defeat.

Think-Kids classes provide an ideal environment for children aged 4-6 to learn a variety of skills... click here for more details.

The orange curriculum is specially designed for children of 6-10. Over the course of more than 30 lessons, children are exposed to a world of games and to basic thinking concepts. They learn that a game, like every other system, has aims and rules which enable orderly activity and that games have an outcome or result which a child can control by his / her actions. Children learn to take responsibility for their actions and are taught basic strategies like creating threats, double threats, and use of the traffic light method.

Children progress to understanding collaboration and working together, learning how to effectively utilise each others different skills and discovering thinking strategies such as Mutual Help and the Chain Model. Social values are also taught. Mathematical skills are practised in an entertaining way which helps children improve quantitative comparisons and basic addition skills whilst they learn to think logically and systematically.

We learn that intelligent questions in games and in real life are one of the best ways to gather information for decision-making, using strategies including Optimal Information Deduction, the Detective Method, and Discovering the Underlying Principle.

The blue curriculum enables slightly older children, or those who have completed the orange curriculum, to learn a series of more advanced skills. Children realise that they do not need to be intimidated by problems and through some enthralling games and various strategies they are taught to identify and deal with a wide range of problems. Children also learn that every single one of their actions has its own repercussions and that careful planning is of paramount importance.

We go on to learn that, in this age where information is so plentiful and so accessible, it is vital to gather it systematically and efficiently if we are to achieve our objective.

More games enable the children to see the power of non-verbal messages which are present in all human interaction, and the importance of being attentive to and aware of the actions of their peers. Further instructional game strategies focus on resource planning and efficient allocation and prioritisation. Towards the end of the course, difficult and challenging game positions are presented which gives the children a well-deserved sense of accomplishment and achievement.

The purple curriculum is appropriate for children aged 10-14 or for those who have completed the blue curriculum. Children are shown the immense advantages of forward planning over trial and error. They are taught a variety of planning strategies including the Efficient Allocation of Resources, the Detective Method and the Traffic Light Method. Learning the Traffic Light Method at this level sharpens a child's interpersonal intelligence and empathy, helping him / her realise that in every action involving another person we should try to get into their shoes and view the situation from another perspective.

The concepts of working together and collaboration are examined in terms of offensive and defensive activities and children see how a concerted group almost always enjoys an advantage over a lone individual. Children progress to discovering how to make intelligent decisions in both clear and unclear situations. The Thinking Tree Method is taught and this exposes children to basic probability calculations and statistics. Children learn that all decisions require us to relate to our opponent's actions and that flexibility and patience are valuable skills.

Finally children apply strategic principles as well as tactical ideas to not only games but also to real life. Real life parallels are conveyed in related analogies, entertaining class activities and testing brainteasers.