ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 17, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- FEATURE ARTICLE -- Stuck for a last-minute holiday gift idea? Why not give the gift of learning? Award-winning puzzle games from ThinkFun will help your loved ones exercise their mind, not just their thumbs. And they are fun for the whole family.
Unlike many video games, ThinkFun puzzles are mind challenging games created and designed to be both fun and to stimulate the brain. They awaken new creativity, logic and enhance mental development. And, they are affordable. ThinkFun games cost less than $20.
One of the newest ThinkFun games is River Crossing, a colorful, three-dimensional game in which the player must get his or her playing piece across the board while juggling obstructions. River Crossing requires players to remember and test multiple logic concepts while linking a path of planks to get a hiker across a crocodile-infested river. At each step, the challenges get harder. Designed to engage the whole brain, it is fun and challenging for children and adults alike. Bill Ritchie and Andrea Barthello, founders of ThinkFun, said, "We have boys ourselves. We're still tickled when our kids' friends choose to play River Crossing over video games."
Another popular game is Rush Hour with over 3 million units sold. It is a traffic jam puzzle in which players use their smarts to move blocking cars and trucks to escape urban gridlock. The Parents' Choice Foundation recently picked it as one of the best 25 Toys in the past 25 years.
What is the value of playing a mind challenging game? Dr. Lisa Rappaport, a Pediatric Psychologist affiliated with the Albert Einstein School of Medicine, says, "Mind challenging games help children on many levels. They help kids slow down, think and plan. One game I like to use is Rush Hour. Playing it helps children overcome their spatial orientation challenges. I also like to have kids play in groups so they can learn to interact and strategize together. Each child takes a turn and the others learn by watching the result of each move. These games help children look at things differently and think more creatively."
Dr. Richard Restak, author of fifteen books on the brain, says, "Mind challenging games develop the ability to focus, identify, and act, no matter the age of the player. Every time you challenge your brain, you increase the chances of growing new nerve cells and connections, all of which makes you smarter. Widespread areas of the brain are activated when we perform activities that require concentration. Conversely, large portions of the brain are literally turned off when engaged in routine activities. Mind challenging games shake things up and activate more of the brain."
Playing mind challenging games with your children will teach them new skills and help them to apply them to everyday problems. Mind challenging games are unique, affordable and enjoyable gifts for the holidays. Best of all, they are just plain fun.
About ThinkFun
ThinkFun is the leading manufacturer of mind challenging games. Utilizing concepts from mathematicians, puzzle masters, and game theorists, ThinkFun creates toys that make problem solving fun for everyone. Founded in 1985 as Binary Arts by Bill Ritchie and Andrea Barthello, ThinkFun's products have won more than 150 awards and are found in specialty toy and gift stores around the world. More information can be found on the web at www.ThinkFun.com (http://www.thinkfun.com) or by calling 703-549-4999. Images of the games are available at: http://www.thinkfun.com/imagelibrary