Popular puzzles provide good food for the brain
In recent weeks, a web-based word puzzle called Wordle has become a popular daily distraction for some members of our workplace.
Suddenly, like the millions of people around the world, they are focused on their vocabulary of five-letter words, and are newly aware of concepts like letter frequency and letter position as they strategise about the best opening words and faster solutions.
Intrigued by my colleagues sharing their daily Wordle results, bonding over their triumphs and pitfalls, I jumped onto the world of Wordle bandwagon this week. After one game, feeling quite triumphant having got the word on the third try, I am captivated.
Puzzles may not seem the most likely champions in the digital counter-revolution, but they are extremely popular. Many adults today enjoy crosswords, Sudoku, word games and jigsaws. What do we love so much about puzzles? What is it about a puzzle that entices children and adults of all ages?
Puzzles are entertaining, plus they can encourage family and friends to work together toward a common goal. The time you spend putting together a jigsaw requires both sides of the brain, which means there are many benefits to doing them. Additionally, puzzles have emotional benefits. Sitting
down and working on a puzzle can be a calming and peaceful experience. Puzzles actively engage our minds and can distract us from the stress in our lives. In solving them, we are rewarded for our patience and persistence! Completing a puzzle is a satisfying experience.
The benefits of puzzles extend to all ages. Doing jigsaw puzzles can strengthen the mind. Puzzles develop problem solving, reasoning, and memory skills. Even in this electronic age, puzzles capture the interest of older children. For example, three dimensional puzzles of the pyramids, five layered 3D puzzles, or giant floor puzzles are educational and fun to assemble. With more complicated puzzles, a child learns problem solving skills, such as starting with the edges first. From an early age, puzzles strengthen memory, thinking, and fine motor skills. Visual brain games for children develop mental skills such as visual recognition, abstraction, visualisation, imagination.
There is a wealth of puzzle books available in our collection for all ages. Optical illusion books such as Ultimate Eye Twisters by Gianna Sarcone contains a visual feast of images that appear to be two or more objects at once; shape and line puzzles which confuse our perception; patterns which look like they are moving and so much more! There are plenty of seek and find books for all ages including the tongue in cheek Where’s Warhol based on the Where’s Wally series for children. 1000 IQ Puzzles is also ideal for building up your mental muscle. Puzzles are food for the brain. Feed your brain. Give Wordle a whirl!