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.
For most people this seems to take them right back to their childhood. Many a child's first toy has been those hand sized, brightly coloured square blocks made from wood. Relatively inexpensive, and nothing for a youngster to hurt themselves on. Many parents still have these blocks lurking at the back of a toy cupboard.
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.
During school vacations many a child has been sent to spend some time with their Grandparents. Typically Grandparents try to make this time as memorable as possible with lots of activities crammed in, yet the weather can soon put paid to carefully laid plans. Now Grandparents are resourceful people and they often overcome the problem of the weather by bringing out your parent's old toys and puzzles.
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.
Despite there being so many electronic games available to children, there still seems to be a growing market for these traditional items. Times have progressed a long way from when they all used to be hand carved. All of these items have been made from quality materials, and to the highest of specifications.
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.
Some of these have survived unchanged in design for hundreds of years, whereas some are relatively new. Some names are familiar to many, as everyone seems to have played the Towers of Hanoi. Others are not so familiar, such as the Soma Cube or the Burr type items. Whatever your age when you see someone attempting one of these, you want to have a go at your own wooden puzzle game. Be warned they can be quite addictive.
For most people this seems to take them right back to their childhood. Many a child's first toy has been those hand sized, brightly coloured square blocks made from wood. Relatively inexpensive, and nothing for a youngster to hurt themselves on. Many parents still have these blocks lurking at the back of a toy cupboard.
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.
During school vacations many a child has been sent to spend some time with their Grandparents. Typically Grandparents try to make this time as memorable as possible with lots of activities crammed in, yet the weather can soon put paid to carefully laid plans. Now Grandparents are resourceful people and they often overcome the problem of the weather by bringing out your parent's old toys and puzzles.
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.
Despite there being so many electronic games available to children, there still seems to be a growing market for these traditional items. Times have progressed a long way from when they all used to be hand carved. All of these items have been made from quality materials, and to the highest of specifications.
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.
Some of these have survived unchanged in design for hundreds of years, whereas some are relatively new. Some names are familiar to many, as everyone seems to have played the Towers of Hanoi. Others are not so familiar, such as the Soma Cube or the Burr type items. Whatever your age when you see someone attempting one of these, you want to have a go at your own wooden puzzle game. Be warned they can be quite addictive.