Sunday 20 November 2011

Puzzle Toys for Boys as an Antidote to Computer Games

Buying the perfect puzzle toy for a boy can be a nightmare when trying to compete with the computer game. The fear 3D toys do not match when it comes to entertainment value is a constant fear. But hand-held puzzle toys can be found to keep kids happy at Christmas relegating the computer for once to forgotten item (well for a while, anyway).

Perplexing Puzzle Games for Boys

Pla Smart’s Perplexus range has proved a hit with good reviews, exercising hand-to-eye coordination. Perplexus Maze puzzle offers a 3D experience as a marble has to be navigated through a 3D complex maze with different levels. For the master, the Perplexus Epic, winner of the Fat Brain Toy Award possessing 125 barriers with layer upon layer of mazes and tracks offers a natural progression. Reviewers report that adults get hooked too, and have to buy another Perplexus for the children. Prices range from a few dollars to around thirty.

Toys to Develop Cognitive Reasoning

Logic toys such as Kanoodle develop cognitive reasoning and problem solving. Boys must configure colourful shiny balls to create 3D shapes. A selection of shapes (challenges) offer choice regarding level. Hundreds of combinations are possible, but only one combination will create the assigned shape.

Brain Teasers to Help Kids Learn

Gordian’s Knot by ThinkFun will pose a quandary that will keep your kids wondering for hours with just 6 interlocking 3D puzzle pieces. It takes 69 moves to dismantle the knot. Some moves are easier than others, but that doesn’t mean the right move has been made. Don’t worry if your child get stumped, there is a step by step booklet that gives the answer.

Puzzles to Stimulate Kids

ThinkFun have other puzzle toys with good reviews such as Shape by Shape, based on the ancient puzzle of Tangrams, the premise is to fit 14 pieces inside a puzzle frame via 60 puzzle posers. It is not as easy as it sounds, as there are almost 30,000 ways to arrange the pieces. But don’t worry there are prompts on the backs of the pieces. Other recommended ThinkFun puzzles for boys are Square by Square and Brick by Brick which help aid spatial awareness and shape relationships.

Mindless Games for Young Boys

Boys might enjoy some mindless fun after engaging their brain matter with the aforementioned puzzles. Mattel’s Angry Birds Knock on Wood Game, following the popular app game could be the answer as they build, launch and destroy. Contains 3 angry birds, egg-stealing pigs, a slingshot, launcher, structure pieces and mission cards. Great for aiming skills as well as hand-to-eye coordination, as the structural pieces have combinations of varying difficulty.

Puzzle Gift Ideas for Boys

The most interesting puzzle games are not always to be found on the computer. Puzzles that exercise hand to eye coordination and promote cognitive reasoning such as the puzzle toys mentioned in this article could keep boys engrossed for hours as they try to work out how to solve the puzzles. The perfect antidote to computer games on Christmas day.

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