Our brains work just like a muscle in some ways; the more we use it the stronger it becomes. For this reason, puzzles and brain teasers are excellent for exercising problem-solving skills, improving memory and thinking outside the norm. Seniors, especially, have much to gain from these exercises and should work them into a daily routine. Here are some different types of puzzles and games to enjoy.
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1. Word Puzzles
Whether it’s crossword puzzles, word seeks, rhyming, antonyms, homonyms or synonyms, puzzles and games that use language as a premise help expand vocabulary and keep spelling skills sharp. Establish a healthy habit of learning a few new words a week to improve memory and develop an impressive lexicon. Word games are also fun to play with others, as we all have different vocabularies from which to draw words.
2. A Snake Cube
A snake cube puzzle asks the player to consider a 3D object and its spacial relationship in order to solve it. This exercises reasoning skills, directional cause-and-effect and planning ability. Seniors who work as engineers or architects will love using their understanding of space to solve it, and seniors who don’t already have a good grasp of these abilities will love learning them!
3. Rubik’s Cube
Rubik’s Cube was created by Erno Rubik in 1974. The cubes are invented to test hands and eyes coordination, problem-solving skills, and general concentration which helps ensure that you can process your thought faster. Solving Rubik’s Cube makes your brain become sharper when you are breaking multiple tasks into easy steps.
4. Jigsaw Puzzles
There’s little more than exercises short-term memory and hand-eye coordination as well as a jigsaw puzzle. Crafted in a variety of themes and some devilishly difficult, seniors can choose a leisurely thousand-piece picture or pick out a sprawling 5,000-piece challenge. 3D jigsaw puzzles and double-sided puzzles can keep even the most masterful mind busy for hours. For those who love a true challenge, solid-colour jigsaw puzzles can take months to complete, especially if the edge is curved or otherwise irregular.
5. Maze Puzzles
Solving mazes requires sharp concentration and exercises the ability to think ahead in a process. Puzzles geared for adults can be quite complex and take a keen eye to solve. Some are fashioned after intricate mandalas, while others are more abstract. 3D mazes can provide an extra challenge for those with sharp eyes and a patient mind.
6. Number Puzzles
Math skills can deteriorate over time if they aren’t used regularly, so number puzzles can help seniors stay sharp. Sudoku is quite popular, as are puzzles designed to test quick memory and planning using addition and subtraction.
Puzzle games that involve many sets of numbers, such as dice-based role-playing games are another excellent pastime for you and can be enjoyed with others of all ages.
The joy of puzzles can be exercised well into one’s advanced years and help keep the mind sharp as a tack. Puzzle books, physical puzzle boxes and handheld electronic options are great gift ideas and can help keep a brain exercised.
