| Do you have a favorite thinking game? As a | | | | these mind challenging games and rip away the |
| child growing up, I used to love to play | | | | games they currently play? Unless you are out |
| games that were puzzles, something to | | | | for them to hate you, we don't recommend |
| challenge me not physically but challenge my | | | | that. But, allow them to have the ability to |
| mind. We used to do simple things like create | | | | access these games and you may find that they |
| objects out of clouds or find out what would | | | | are often drawn to them. Children's minds are |
| happen when too much water was added to the | | | | like sponges, soaking up whatever is thrown |
| mud pie. Nevertheless, it seems that many | | | | at them. So, they don't find their own |
| children in our society today are rather | | | | puzzles to play with anymore. That doesn't me |
| uninterested in those types of games. They | | | | they don't need those problem solving |
| now just do what the Game Boy tells them | | | | skills.Have you ever been in an environment |
| to.Recently, playing a Game Boy game, I found | | | | where a child just can not do anything for |
| it to be amazing that the game was so | | | | themselves? They need mom or dad to tie their |
| simplistic in that it often told me what to | | | | shoes. They need mom or dad to fix their |
| do when I was lost or maybe unsure of what to | | | | problem with friends. They can not solve |
| do next. Now, I am not a regular player nor | | | | their own problem. This is a large problem |
| do I know if this is common, but what | | | | and one that parents need to take notice of. |
| happened to the fun of trying to figure the | | | | Can playing computer games that encourage |
| puzzle out? How do you get through the door | | | | problem solving skills really help? They are |
| or find the missing item? You keep trying | | | | not the whole answer but they can be part of |
| until you do, right?The good news is that you | | | | the solution.What you can do is provide games |
| don't have to allow your children's brains to | | | | like puzzles, word, math and even card games |
| go whoosh! You can offer them computer games | | | | that children can play on the web or download |
| that are more mind challenging rather than | | | | them to your computer. These will help to |
| time fillers. Games like Mah Jong encourage | | | | strengthen their skills in problem solving, |
| people (children included) to develop a plan | | | | in dealing with reactions, and in preparing |
| for solving the problem at hand. This plan is | | | | for the unknown. Guess what? It's also a |
| one that will keep you focused on the goal | | | | really fun thing to do with your kids too! |
| ahead and keep your brain trying to figure | | | | Make it mean something even more by playing |
| out the next move. There are hundreds of | | | | along with them!Sandy is a writer for the |
| others that use all sorts of skill including | | | | GrandMatrix website. The team at provide a |
| solving problems.So, just what does all this | | | | broad range of games, puzzles and articles. |
| mean for you? Should you give your child | | | | |