Throughout history toys, games and puzzles have traditionally been crafted from wood. That began to change after World War Two when mass production and cheaper raw materials saw plastics take over those sections of the markets. Yet even today you can still find people happily trying to work out how to complete a traditional wooden puzzle game.
There is something about these objects that cause people to fondly think of their childhood. Everyone probably had those brightly coloured, hand sized blocks of wood when they were a toddler. They were safe for a youngster, they were unlikely to be swallowed and were inexpensive, but children loved them. There are probably toy building blocks still taking up space in cupboards up and down the country.
It is almost a right of passage, children move from building blocks made from wood to jigsaws, also made from wood. Those first jigsaws were often nothing more than coloured shapes that a child had to fit into the correct location on a board. Children progressed to what could be thought of as the more typical jigsaw. They were all helpful in teaching hand and eye coordination, not to mention digital dexterity.
Many a child will have been packed off to spend time with their Grandparents during the school breaks. The Grandparents try to make the days as fun filled as possible, but with all the good will in the world sooner or later the weather puts paid to the original plans. How do Grandparents overcome this, simply by bringing out the puzzles that your parents used to play with.
Most children will also want to complete something that they know that their parents struggled over, and it also causes a sense of closeness. Due to the material it will have lasted well over the years. Perhaps a small piece is a slightly different texture or colour to the rest, maybe your Grandfather had to create that bit to replace a lost piece.
Even though many youngsters do like to play their computer games, there does seem to be a growing market for these more traditional pieces. Originally these items would have all been carved by hand. Nowadays with automation, better results are achieved in a fraction of the time, but the quality is still there.
There are many puzzles and games available to entertain and frustrate in equal measure. This is very true when aimed at the three dimensional ones. You know that it can be done as it was complete when you got it, but it seems as though you get so far easily and then the frustration sets in. Or it nears completion when you notice the small piece hiding under the table. Yet there is enormous satisfaction when you do manage to complete it all.
Many of these games and puzzles have changed little over time, and some are relative newcomers. Many are still known by their original names. Such as the Towers of Hanoi. One less familiar might be the Soma Cube. It only takes a quick glance when you notice someone attempting one of these, and you are hooked. You want to attempt to solve your very own wooden puzzle game.
There is something about these objects that cause people to fondly think of their childhood. Everyone probably had those brightly coloured, hand sized blocks of wood when they were a toddler. They were safe for a youngster, they were unlikely to be swallowed and were inexpensive, but children loved them. There are probably toy building blocks still taking up space in cupboards up and down the country.
It is almost a right of passage, children move from building blocks made from wood to jigsaws, also made from wood. Those first jigsaws were often nothing more than coloured shapes that a child had to fit into the correct location on a board. Children progressed to what could be thought of as the more typical jigsaw. They were all helpful in teaching hand and eye coordination, not to mention digital dexterity.
Many a child will have been packed off to spend time with their Grandparents during the school breaks. The Grandparents try to make the days as fun filled as possible, but with all the good will in the world sooner or later the weather puts paid to the original plans. How do Grandparents overcome this, simply by bringing out the puzzles that your parents used to play with.
Most children will also want to complete something that they know that their parents struggled over, and it also causes a sense of closeness. Due to the material it will have lasted well over the years. Perhaps a small piece is a slightly different texture or colour to the rest, maybe your Grandfather had to create that bit to replace a lost piece.
Even though many youngsters do like to play their computer games, there does seem to be a growing market for these more traditional pieces. Originally these items would have all been carved by hand. Nowadays with automation, better results are achieved in a fraction of the time, but the quality is still there.
There are many puzzles and games available to entertain and frustrate in equal measure. This is very true when aimed at the three dimensional ones. You know that it can be done as it was complete when you got it, but it seems as though you get so far easily and then the frustration sets in. Or it nears completion when you notice the small piece hiding under the table. Yet there is enormous satisfaction when you do manage to complete it all.
Many of these games and puzzles have changed little over time, and some are relative newcomers. Many are still known by their original names. Such as the Towers of Hanoi. One less familiar might be the Soma Cube. It only takes a quick glance when you notice someone attempting one of these, and you are hooked. You want to attempt to solve your very own wooden puzzle game.
No comments:
Post a Comment