Wooden Brain Teasers

How I was introduced to wooden brain teasers

A number of years ago I ran an informal daytime educational framework for children in an elementary school. The aim of the project was to provide the children with a framework where they could receive both academic and social assistance.

During that time I was always on the lookout for interesting and innovative activities for the kids. The two main goals that stood before me when choosing activities were: academic advancement through thought development and a fun learning experience.

One day I came across a pamphlet that offered an enormous variety of wooden brain teasers. As a fan of brain teasers of all sorts, I immediately called the company to inquire about the offer. The company's representative provided me with all the information that I required. He explained that the company did not sell small quantities but sold only wholesale in packs of 100 brain teasers!! I really wanted to buy the brain teasers for the kids but 100 items?! It was very expensive. What if the kids didn't like them?

In order to put my mind at rest the representative offered to hold a workshop at the school for free. The children would be given explanations about the games and would be able to play. Consequently, I would know if the games were suitable for them, and I could decide whether to buy them or not. It was an offer I couldn't refuse.

And so, on the determined date, a number of the company's representatives arrived, equipped with roughly two hundred wooden brain teasers of various kinds: wooden brain teasers for individuals or couples, jigsaw puzzles, mathematical games, strategic games and more...

The representatives explained the objects of the games, distributed them and assisted them when needed.

The duration of the workshop was approximately three hours, and I have to admit that the kids were fascinated. They just didn't want to go home. It was a huge success, so obviously I decided to buy the pack.

The company's representative assembled a varied pack of wooden brain teasers for me which I purchased at the end of the workshop. Until this day the children from the school enjoy these games, even though I am no longer there as I have stopped running that project.

My recommended wooden brain teasers

As I have already stated, the company's representative assembled the pack of wooden brain teasers for me. In hindsight, as I am now more knowledgeable regarding which wooden brain teasers are needed by the kids more and which are needed less, I would have chosen differently.

If at some stage you would like to purchase wooden brain teasers, it would be worth while reading my recommendations. This will ensure that you make the most of the money that you spend. By the way, these days wooden brain teasers are sold retail and you no longer have to buy them in packs.

Mancala/Kahala

Mancala is a strategic game for couples of all ages. This game is most in demand by the kids and rightly so. You can spend hours playing this game day after day without losing interest.

Mancala is an ancient game of unknown origin. There are those who claim it originates in Ancient Egypt, others claim its origins lie in Africa. There are different versions of the game, and in every place in the world it is played differently.

I will present one of the versions of the game.
Place the playing board between the two players so that opposite each player there are six pits.
Each player's home pit is the pit on his/her right.
In each pit 3 beads are placed.

The object of the game:
To accumulate the most beads in the home pit.

The rules of the game:
In turn, each player takes the beads from one of his/her pits of his/her choice and begins to distribute them in the pits in an anti clockwise fashion. One bead is placed in each pit, including the opponent's pits (providing he reaches them in that round) until he/she runs out of beads. If during distribution he/she reaches the home pit a bead should be placed there as well. A player should never place a bead in the opponent's home pit.

The placement of the final bead has great strategic significance to the game:
If the player places the final bead in his/her home pit he/she is awarded an additional turn.
If the player places the final bead in an empty pit, he/she takes the final bead and all of the beads that are in the opponent's parallel pit and transfers them to his/her home pit.

These two rules are the essence of what makes this game so fascinating. They force the players to plan strategically wise moves.

The game ends when all of the beads are placed in the home pit.

The player who has accumulated the most beads in his/her pit is the winner.

Tip:
This game can be home made by using an egg carton as the game board and beans or peas etc. in place of beads.

Jigsaw Puzzles

Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles are different from regular Jigsaw Puzzles that kids usually do. The puzzle pieces may come in different shapes and the final result differs from game to game. However, they are excellent for developing thinking skills as they encourage the player to think "outside of the box".

One example of this kind of jigsaw puzzle is Space Edge Matching Brain Teaser. Here the player is required to arrange the seven hexagons on the game board so that only identical shapes will touch each other.

However, letter building jigsaw puzzles I cannot really recommend. These jigsaw puzzles really help to develop creative thinking but once the puzzle is solved and the letters have been constructed there is a loss of interest in the game. I'm certain that you do not wish to invest your money in a game that will lie on the shelf and will not be used.

If in spite of this you are still interested in this kind of jigsaw puzzle, you can make them easily at home. Just print any letter or number of your choice, and cut them into pieces. The uniqueness of these jigsaw puzzles is in the cutting of the pieces. The pieces should be cut in a way that will demand thought in the construction of them. An example of a homemade jigsaw puzzle may be found here.

Hanoi Tower

Hanoi Tower is an ancient and classical game. It is fascinating and provides hours of occupation.

Object of the game:
To transfer all of the wooden rings in the same order, to one of the two other stands.

Rules of the game:
Place the rings on the middle stand, from the largest to the smallest.
During each turn you may transfer only one ring.
You can not place a large ring on a smaller one.
You may use all of the stands in order to transfer the rings.

Snake cube

The snake cube is amazing! I loved it and so did the kids. When I first received the cube it seemed like just a regular one. Once I opened it I realized how complex it was to reconstruct it. I must admit, that the cube kept me occupied for hours, but I enjoyed every minute.

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If you too have purchased wooden brain teasers in the past and would let to tell which one you bought and what your impression of it was, be my guest to do so here.

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