Posted on January 29, 2016 at 9:12 AM by Victoria Mulherin
Today is National Puzzle Day
Exercise your problem brain with a puzzle. January 29th is National Puzzle Day. Whether it’s a crossword, jigsaw, word searches, brain teasers or Soduku, puzzles put our brains to work.
Studies have found that when we work on a jigsaw puzzle, we use both sides of the brain, and spending time daily working on puzzles improves memory, cognitive function and problem solving skills. Word searches and crossword puzzles have the obvious benefit of increasing vocabulary and language skills. Sudoku, a puzzle sequencing a set of numbers on a grid, exercises the brain as well. By testing memory and logical thinking, this puzzle stimulates the brain and can improve number skills.
The bottom line is that puzzles stimulate the brain by keeping it active and practicing its skills.
Started in 2002 by Jodi Jill, National Puzzle Day was created as a way to share her enjoyment of puzzles. As a syndicated newspaper puzzle maker and professional quiz maker, Jodi Jill developed classroom lesson plans especially for National Puzzle Day and the popularity has grown year after year.
Let’s play! Can you figure out the brain teasers below? Please Note: All answers will be posted on the next Did You Know!
Q 1: I’m tall when I’m young and I’m short when I’m old. What am I?
Q 2: What has hands but cannot clap?
Q 3: What starts with the letter “t”, is filled with “t” and ends in “t”?
Q 4: How many months have 28 days?
Q 5: I am an odd number. Take away one letter and I become even. What number am I?
Q 6: What never asks questions but is often answered?
Q 7: The more you take, the more you leave behind. What are they?