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UK
Puzzles and Games -
Educational Puzzles
and Games in the UK |
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Let the Games Begin!
 Games
and puzzles are enjoyed by both young and old
alike in our culture today. There are so many
benefits from a simple board game or a jigsaw
puzzle, that dedicating family nights to these
activities may seem like the perfect start to
your weekend. But if you've shopped the game
shelves lately, you know that you have more
choices than you will ever have time to indulge
in during your lifetime. You will need to narrow
your gaming choices by selecting a complete
collection of games and puzzles that will teach
a well-rounded curriculum of skills to your
kids.
Life Building Skills
In addition to spending time together as a
family, playing games can teach your kids a
plethora of good stuff that will help them to
grow in character. Besides the obvious benefit
of learning to take turns, kids will also learn
to display good sportsmanship, play by the rules
and accept the consequences of the choices they
make. In addition to building character in your
kids, you can stimulate their minds through
play. Keep a few games on hand that will teach
maths concepts like Yahtzee or Dominoes, and
others that will focus on vocabulary and
spelling such as Scrabble. Games like Monopoly,
and Payday will help teach money skills, and
preschool games like Candy Land will work on
concepts like colours and counting.
Hasbro has created plenty of fun games that will
enhance hand-eye coordination and gross motor
skills, like Bop-it, Operation and Twister. Many
of these games have been around long enough for
parents to remember playing them as kids also,
which can make for a wonderful bonding
experience between the two generations. Kids
will learn deductive reasoning and problem
solving strategies from many of these offerings
that will take them far in school and in life.
So pop the popcorn and turn off the television -
family game nights are an important and special
time.
Solving Puzzles
Puzzles are another fun way to develop hand-eye
coordination and critical thinking, while
working on basics like colour and shape
recognition. And those multi-piece puzzles are
perfect for teaching patience as well! In
addition to the classic jigsaws, you can find
wooden puzzles that are easier for smaller hands
to manipulate. These early puzzles will teach
letters, shapes and animals to even the youngest
in your clan. For those who don't relish the
idea of sitting down in front of a table full of
pieces, there are other types of puzzles that
will get the synapses in the brain snapping.
Ravensburger came out with a game called Rush
Hour a few years ago that involves moving a car
through a traffic jam by sliding pieces to and
fro to create a path on the game board. This has
become a popular choice for kids and grownups of
all ages.
Games and puzzles have always been a popular way
to spend an evening, but the benefits go far
beyond the time that you will enjoy together as
a family. Stock up on a few of the classics, and
try out one or two of the new offerings this
year to see which ones your family will prefer.
Play on! |
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