Toy Information » Puzzles

Play Time

ToyBusiness — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:13:26 +0000

I always try to find the opportunity to spend quality time with my children. Being a working mom, I hardly get to see them everyday, having to leave early and work long hours at the office. I know that this is not a good thing, having to deal with these kids growing up without having a mother readily available at their beck and call.

I try to make up for the lost time by clearing out my schedule on weekends. These two days are spent solely with my kids to let them know that I’m here for them. Aside from letting them help out in the kitchen, I join them for play time at the living room while my husband gets his much needed rest. Playing with them involves educational toys like bits and pieces jigsaw puzzles which help fuel their imagination and improve their brain skills. These days, my kids are usually out with their father. But at least knowing that I have their weekends is enough chance to help me catch up on their lives.

A Genius in Our Midst

ToyBusiness — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:53:54 +0000

My young cousin Patrick is a genius in our midst. I say this because at age 2, he was reading short words and writing phrases. At 3 he was solving difficult jigsaw puzzles better than his 10 year old brother. He is now 6 and he’s reading Harry Potter books already. He has yet to be tested for giftedness but I am sure he is one hell of a smart kid.

I asked my aunt if she did anything special during her pregnancy. She said not really, nothing different from her previous pregnancy. But she did, during that time, had a craving to read informative books. Not novels, but books on how-to’s. And she also read Time, Newsweek, and such. Maybe it was Patrick calling from the womb, wanting to be fed information.

Qualities that make the Best Jigsaw Puzzles

ToyBusiness — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:13:51 +0000

There are qualities that you look for when looking at jigsaw puzzles. The best jigsaw puzzles will have these qualities:

It should have a well defined and attractive photograph. The photo can actually help in the solution of the puzzle. Choose the photograph such that solving the puzzle can be either easy or challenging depending on your intention.

The quality of the material used is another factor. Puzzles are usually made of thick cardboard chipboard. Good quality chipboard is stiff; it has low moisture content. Using good quality chipboard will ensure that the pieces will not warp and be ill-fitting. Puzzle cutting also differentiates between good and poor quality puzzles. The kind of dies used in cutting affects the fit of the puzzle pieces. Dies need to be very sharp to make very precise cuts. Quality dies are expensive. This explains why quality puzzles are expensive.

Stick to Last

ToyBusiness — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:51:51 +0000

Jigsaw puzzles consist of small tiles that are designed to be fitted together in order to create an image or structure. Flat jigsaw puzzles will usually turn into replicas of photographs or paintings when they are fully completed. Jigsaw puzzle glue is often used to protect and save your jigsaw puzzle and ensure that your masterpiece is preserved. It is usually made from safe and non-toxic materials that dries quick, clear, and bright.

In case of accidental spills, the jigsaw puzzle glue can be wiped up with a damp cloth. It is absolutely perfect for large jigsaw puzzles of up to 3,000 pieces. It will certainly protect and preserve all of your finished puzzles and guarantee that there won’t be any accidents that will require you to do the puzzle all over again. Jigsaw puzzle glue will permanently laminate your jigsaw puzzles for hanging as well as for framing.

Fun Educational Devices

ToyBusiness — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:36:14 +0000

Apatosaurus, Pteranodon and Styracosaurus are names of dinosaurs. These are different groups of animals that lived over 160 million years ago. Aside from earth bound mammals there were also dinosaur birds and fishes. Not many children know about dinosaurs. These are creatures that they can only see in museums and read in books.

Playing with wooden dinosaur puzzle can enhance their interest in these prehistoric animals. These toys are made of high grade ecologically clean wood pieces. The pieces are stamped on a flat piece of wood. They are popped out and assembled according to accompanying instructions. They can be left as is for a natural look or painted for a more realistic look. It is an educational, challenging, creative and fun activity for all ages.

Toys for Adults

ToyBusiness — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:36:08 +0000

We are familiar with cardboard puzzles in a box featuring landscapes and beautiful images. We also know about children puzzles that introduce them to colors and exercise their motor functions. Puzzles are more than these. There is a selection of wooden 3d puzzles that are considered toys of adults. It is a selection of unique interlocking wooden pieces that are brain teasers more than toys.

Car lovers will enjoy assembling wooden car puzzles such as a sports car, beetle or hot rod. They come in 15 to 20 wooden pieces that are quality crafted. Music lovers will want to work with a jigsaw puzzle saxophone or trumpet. Each comes with a stand for easy display. They can take it apart and put it back together. They are great accents in bookshelves and table tops.

We Never Really Outgrow Puzzles

ToyBusiness — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:35:30 +0000

Jigsaw puzzles are well received by people of all ages. A wood jigsaw puzzle is one of the first toys that a child gets. These puzzles contain large pieces that introduce the child to shapes and colors. As the child grows, he continues to enjoy puzzles. This time they contain topics such as farm creatures, ocean and plant life. They learn numbers and the alphabet even before they start going to school.

It is obvious that puzzles are educational pieces. They help develop the child’s reasoning and problem solving skills. They work on the child’s hand and eye coordination. The act of picking up the pieces and putting them in the proper slot helps strengthen their motor skills. Best of all they are enjoying what they are doing. No wonder, people never really outgrow puzzles.

Cognitive Growth Through Books and Puzzles

ToyBusiness — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:55:37 +0000

One of the things that come to mind when I hear the phrase “early childhood development” is cognitive growth. Children in a particular period of their lives have to be exposed to the right kind of environment to ensure that they develop the way we want them to develop. For example, if we want them to develop their motor skills, we take them out to the playgrounds where they can run around as much as they want. These activities can help their bones and muscles grow strong and flexible.

For cognitive growth, books and educational puzzles are used. These things help stimulate the child’s brain through visual or auditory means. A child’s problem solving, analyzing, and sequencing skills can be developed with the right kind of number and word puzzles. Books can also help expand the child’s vocabulary. These things, with the right mixture of social and motor development, can ensure a bright and happy future for your child.

The Safest Toys are Made of Wood

ToyBusiness — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:04:16 +0000

Even with the proliferation of plastic toys, wood is still considered the best material for children toys. Wooden toys come from nature; that is why they are so elegant in their simplicity. With wooden toys, craftsmanship comes to the fore. Sanded to perfection, they are safe and durable. They are so durable, wooden toys have been handed down through generations and are even considered family heirlooms.

Wooden toys are great for children of all ages. Wood jigsaw puzzles can be played by children from age two to teen hood. It all depends on how the puzzle is designed – fewer, bigger pieces for the young tots and smaller and more complicated designs for the older children. At whatever age, children will enjoy wooden toys. They are made of natural material and are therefore non-toxic. They can also be made colorful with nontoxic, lead-free paint. Wooden toys are shatter free and are easy to clean.

The Mind Game that you can be Proud of

ToyBusiness — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:50:18 +0000

Problem solving can be a challenging skill that has to be enhanced and developed at a young age. Parents would sometimes present situations and see if their little one could cope with the given example. Wood puzzles are the best tool for problem solving skills development. They are visually presented so it makes it easier for a child to understand and analyze things.

Cognitive skills are also developed with the constant use of wood puzzles. There are several designs, sizes and number of pieces that parents could choose from depending on the skill level of their children. This can serve as a good keepsake which you can show him when he or she grows older. Most parents use these as décor to further motivate their children to continue solving more puzzles.