Posts Tagged ‘wood puzzles’
Putting the Pieces in Place
I still remember the exact moment we realized it was a sailboat. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself here; let me try to explain. I was about 6 or 7 years old when my older sister found an unmarked box on a high shelf of our lakeside cottage. It was rainy day, so we explored the terrain indoors for a while before stumbling upon the box. Inside, it held what seemed like hundreds of pieces to a handcrafted wooden puzzle.
We had never been too interested in puzzles before, but lacking anything better to do we cleared the table and got ready to put it together. It was slow going at first, but our logical instincts took over and patterns began to develop. Clearly all these blue pieces represented either water or sky. Then a string of foamy, white pieces revealed choppy waves. At last, we began to see the outlines of a sailboat and the entire puzzle came into focus. So many years later, this memory remains fresh in my mind.
The Lost Art of the Jigsaw
Back in the 1950s, wood jigsaw puzzles were some of the most common toys for children; an educational toy that stimulated the brain and also created a cool picture! However, as educational toys have advanced and more specifically, educational software for computers, these traditional toys have taken a back seat. Despite their somewhat archaic status, jigsaw puzzles teach the same problem solving techniques that they did in the past, and can provide hours of fun. It wasn’t uncommon even in the 1980s for people to frame their completed jigsaw puzzle and display it as wall art, but this practice has mostly diminished in the 21st century.
Despite advancements in technology, jigsaw puzzles too have evolved over time. There are now three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles and jigsaw puzzles that are designed to form mazes. There’s a lot of different kinds of jigsaws, so when a child is old enough, whether it be your own, a grandchild, or a niece or nephew, be sure provide them with one of these classic toys.
Let Your Child Start Puzzles Early
Are you a puzzle aficionado? Do you want your child to start early with puzzles? Puzzles are fun and exciting. The excitement of finding the right piece and the anticipation of seeing the full picture makes puzzles very addictive. Plus it also teaches your child patience and tenacity.
There are many kinds of puzzles, but the one that are most popular with the younger kids is the wood jigsaw puzzle. They are oftentimes painted in bright colors or depict fun, happy scenes. They’re also very easy to put together. Parents and children will have tons of fun putting together these puzzles.