In case you weren’t aware, today is National Puzzle Day. (I wasn’t aware at all, but now I am.) With that in mind, I’m reminded by how many really great puzzle sets that are out there. Did any of you play with puzzles growing up? I know we did. I remember playing with whatever character du jour and putting it all together piece-by-piece, and feeling so accomplished when I finally laid the finally piece.
My mother-in-law, in fact, has done a great job of keeping many of my husband and his siblings’ old puzzles. So, when the grandkids get together, all of whom range in age 17 to 2 years old, it’s fun to see them play with these puzzles together.
National Puzzle Day is said to encourage family togetherness, as well as encourage the skills that are involved in putting together puzzles: reasoning, concentration and teamwork, among others.
Since puzzles have been considered a classic toy for generations, there are, of course, so many great sets to choose from. Here are just a few great sets worth mentioning:
Melissa and Doug First Shapes Jumbo Knob Puzzles
Melissa and Doug, best known for their expansive range of educational toys, puts out some of the best wooden puzzles. The wooden puzzles with the jumbo knobs, such as the First Shapes Jumbo Knob are fun options for toddlers. The chunky pieces, easy-to-grasp knobs and bold colors make this line of puzzles perfect for the littles puzzle enthusiasts. Like their other toys, the M&D puzzles are durable, educational and engaging.
Shopping tip: TJ Maxx, Marshalls often has M&D toys, including puzzles, sometimes up to 40% off. Also, I’ve spotted M&D puzzles at Carter’s stores. When they have one of their great sales, plus their coupons, you can get them for a fraction of what they go for at big toy stores.
Plan Toys
Perhaps one of my favorite brand of toys, Plan Toys also has a great range of wooden puzzles. Plan Toys’ Blocks Puzzle is a colorful puzzle that uses Tetris-like shaped wooden blocks that encourage hand-eye coordination and analytical skill for preschoolers.
Shopping Tip: The Blocks Puzzle, which is usually in the $20 price point can be found on the fabulous shopping site, Totsy, for only $13.20 right now. By the way, Totsy has several other Plan Toys on sale, too. Many of these hot items are known to sell out fast. If you’re not a member of Totsy yet, email me for a link.
Highlights Puzzlemania
Just in time for National Puzzle Day, Highlights for Children is releasing a new edition of its Puzzlemania book club. Geared for kids 7 and older, Puzzlemania includes a variety of puzzles such as, mazes, What’s Wrong?, secret codes, word play, double check puzzles, math and logic puzzles and perpetual Highlights favorite, Hidden Pictures. The new edition of Puzzlemania features a free puzzling website for kids, Puzzlemania.com
My personal favorite, even after all these years, is Hidden Pictures.
Rubik’s Cube
Moms and Dads, get this, the Rubik’s Cube is turning 30 years old this year! (Do you feel old yet?) The Rubik’s Cube which became a pop culture phenomenon way back in our childhood, has some fun new things going on.
In line with their 30th birthday, Rubik’s Cube announced the You Can Do the Rubik’s Cube Initiative, where kids are being encouraged to solve the cube, while learning about algebra, geometry, and determination. Rubik’s Cube has an online presence on Facebook, YouTube, and YouCanDoTheCube.com; there’s even a downloadable step-by-step solution guide for revealing the secrets to the 3×3 Rubik’s Cube. That’s something my brother could’ve used 30 years ago, instead of manually taking it apart and putting it back together.
Speaking of Rubik’s, last fall, Hasbro introduced the Rubik’s Cube 360 where players are tasked with manipulating a sphere. It’s comprised of three clear spheres which players must rotate, twist and turn the outer sphere in order to align the holes of the inner spheres and allow each of the six small balls to lock into its corresponding colored pod to win.
