Experts agree that the brain is like a muscle that needs exercise to keep it healthy. An idle mind is the playground of forgetfulness and muddy thinking, so give your gray matter a work out with fun and games that keep it sharp.
Here are a few games and mental exercises designed to help you to think better. Activities for two or more participates engage not only the mind but offer the benefit of social interaction, which also stimulates the brain.
Mind Games To Go
The Good Thinking Kit, developed in collaboration with Dr. Cynthia Green of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s Memory Enhancement Program, is a portable card pack in uber-cute packaging with over 100 activities to help improve memory, boost attention span, speed mental processing and critical thinking, improve recall and retrieval and aid coordination, visual perception and word skills. $19.99. marblesthebrainstore.com.
Cogitate This
Elecontric Catch Phrase by Hasbro is a modern game of “hot potato†but this one ticks and buzzes. In a race against the clock, two teams of two or more players each alternate turns, guessing the phrase that electronically appears in game unit display window prompted with clues by team members. When the team gets the answer right, the player holding the unit passes it to the opposing team before it buzzes, which ends the round of play and wins points for the team not in possession of the unit. Players are forced to think fast and creatively, which can be nerve wracking but also infectiously fun. Requires three “AAA†batteries (not included). $24.99. toy stores nationwide.
Modern Family Board Game
America’s favorite world-building game of yesteryear as gone 2.0. Hasbro’s Scrabble Flash uses SmartLionk technology to recognize new words formed using electronic letter tiles. When the tiles are lined up to create a new word, the tiles light up and beep. Add a time limit of 60 seconds and you have a game that encourages quick thinking and creative word play to challenge the brain while at the same time providing a fast, frantic and addictive play experience. It also can be played solo. Recommended for ages 8 and up. $29.99. Toy stores nationwide.
Brain Boosters
Desk toys like Buckyballs Silver could be construed by some to be colossal office productivity killers, but these magnetic little beauties are actually brilliant creativity boosters, stress zappers and brain mass builders. Each set contains 216 super powerful earth magnets plated in real silver that can be shaped and reshaped into unlimited puzzles, patterns, sculptures and shapes. Beyond engaging your brain’s motor areas and visual processing centers, Buckyballs Silver has the potential to spark that next big idea that’s sure to earn you a hefty raise, a corner office and a parking spot with your name on it. $34.95. marblesthebrainstore.com.
