I wrote a previous article titled Grow Your Brain which included references to the scientific studies. I was inspired to write this article when one of my children showed me a book they got as a gift. It is a book of Nonograms.

Nonograms, also called Hanjies or Paint by Number or Griddlers, are picture logic games that are much more complicated that the paint by numbers we did as children. They are essentially a complex puzzle that once you complete it you reveal a hidden picture. However, just like in the game Sodoku you have to use careful logic to solve the puzzle. In every step you need to avoid making an error in deciding what the numbers are telling you to avoid losing the chance to find the hidden picture.

Nonograms are named after a Japanese graphics editor called Non Ishida.

If you want to see a sample of a Nonogram check out this book of puzzles and choose the option to look inside the book at the first few pages. There you will find samples of Nonograms as you scroll down.

How to Grow New Neural Connections to Keep your Brain Healthy

You can help grow your brain new neurons by taking the time to doing Nonograms or other games that involve logic. You grow new neural connections to help you solve new tasks so if you have never learned how to do a Nonogram here is your chance to grow your brain.

You will also want to check out other articles on games that can improve your mental health by reading this one on Rush Hour or this one on Riddles which contains some sample riddles.

Best of Mental Health to you,

David

Playing with Stones for Fun and Focus - Photo By D. Hennessey

At the beach it is always fun to play with stones to see what I can do. In the fun (like what I was doing in the picture) I teach myself more focus and patience. I like mixing games with learning it makes the process less intense.

When I was a teen I used to think playing board games was just for children. Then I found out that some games really make you work on your strategy and help you develop lateral as well as linear thinking – all excellent mental tools to enhance your personal and professional problem solving skills.

Indeed, you can develop mental skills with video games but my personal preference is to be off the computer so I can play games in person with one or more friends around a table, if possible, outside in the fresh air.  It also helps gives my eyes a rest from the computer screen.

Scientifically speaking, games can help keep our minds strong as we grow older by keeping our brains active and they can also help our children learn to use their minds in a new way. So not only is there a learning bonus but a health bonus too. Here is one link to an article in the journal of Neurology about the powerful positive effect of board games.

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Below you will find a list of some of the games I have enjoyed over the years.

The links under the names are to wikipedia details.

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Rush Hour – a game of focus and problem solving that can help you enhance your ability (in my opinion) of how you look at problems using visual memory. This game is played alone.

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Chinese Checkers – a game for building strategic thinking skills where you have to make plans and keep in mind the actions of the person you are playing with.

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Mastermind – one of the older games that is also about using your mind to figure out patterns like in a code breaking exercise – you use your deducting reason in this game.

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Many card games like Skip Bo can be nourishing for the mind young and old as it help you work on strategy and counting skills. Finally, although I have little experience with cross word puzzles they are definitely away to work the brain. Soduku is also a great way to work the mind.

If you are interested in feedback other than mine or pricing on one of these games you can visit Amazon without obligation by clicking on one of the links below

Mastermind

Rush Hour Award Winning Game

Chinese Checkers

SKIP BO Card Game

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What games do you enjoy?

Cheers,

David

Bugatti Veyron 252 mph

Even if you drive one of the fastest cars in the world like the Veyron  you cannot get through Rush Hour any quicker. But today’s post is not about the Rush Hour you may experience going to and from work or school each day it is about an excellent problem solving game that can help you expand your mental ability. So you are able to manage challenging situations better.

I wrote a posting about how to Grow Your Brain located here. The posting was all about feeding your brain to stimulate mental activity and make it possible for you to think clearer and more effectively. After playing the game Rush Hour this weekend I knew that playing this game is a great way to help nourish mental activity no matter what age you are.

Rush Hour was created by a company called ‘Think Fun’ (great name!) and it involves you setting up the game board according to different images of traffic jams on the game cards. Then you have to solve for the most efficient exit of your car by moving pieces on the board. The challenge gets steadily more difficult as you move through the cards.

Think Fun have received 25 awards for the game Rush Hour.

See different versions of the game of logic Rush Hour by following this to Rush Hour.

Perhaps, make Rush Hour a gift for someone you know.

Please note I bought the game for my family and we all enjoy it very much and I simply think it is great to share.

Enjoy a wonderful day,

David