Boost Your Child's Brainpower With Sudoku!

In less than a year the Sudoku bug has infected huge numbers of the population, and it is fast spreading across the world! Why has a simple logic puzzle become so popular, and how can your kids benefit?  Sudoku puzzles were first published in the US in the 1970s and are sometimes known as "Number Squares". They have been popular for many years in Japan, where the name "Sudoku" (meaning "single number") was coined.

The current craze was started late in 2004 when a UK newspaper started publishing the puzzles. Within weeks the puzzles were picked up in other newspapers and Sudoku became the pastime of choice for commuters, parents – and even kids!

From a parent’s point of view, Sudoku puzzles are perfect for long journeys, waiting rooms, and rainy afternoons. They are being found more and more in the classroom as teachers wake up to their benefits and use them as time-fillers for children who finish early, as a whole class activity, or as “homework”. Indeed, the UK government-produced Teachers magazine has recommended that Sudoku puzzles are used in the classroom as brain exercise!

As well as developing your child's logic and reasoning skills and concentration, Sudoku puzzles, if done at the right level, build your child's confidence. Children of all abilities enjoy the challenge of a Sudoku puzzle if the puzzle is age-appropriate. Bear in mind that many of the puzzles published in newspapers are too difficult for younger children, so it is worth seeking out puzzles made especially for kids. Children as young as five years old can try the 4x4 grids, then build up to the 6x6 grids and finally the traditional 9x9 grid.

Why is Sudoku so appealing? Firstly, although Sudoku grids usually use numbers, your child does not need mathematical skills to solve the puzzles – only logic. Using logical reasoning appropriate to his/her age, your child decides how to place numbers into a Sudoku grid. There is only one correct answer for each puzzle, no guessing is necessary, and the rules are easy to learn.

The more puzzles you do, the better you become. Each puzzle typically takes a child about 20-30 minutes to complete, and gives them a real sense of satisfaction when finished! And that, really, is the secret of their popularity. You feel good when you finish one! And then you want to try another one, and another ….

Raising Healthy Families

Raising healthy families today can be hard. Food and activities are very expensive. Considering it can take two parents to make ends meet, it can be hard to afford extra when daycare is astronomical. There are many ways that even the most conservative family can eat and live healthier. Raising the healthy family today includes both physical and emotional teaching. Children must learn what is good to eat, personal hygiene, and about exercise. They also should be taught about the importance of feelings and respecting others and themselves. To be healthy over all, one must be conscientious about both the physical and emotional needs of themselves and others. Being a healthy family starts at home with all members and then spreads into daily life in other areas.

Getting Children To Help

Children love to help by nature. If you get them involved with living healthy, you will find they will flourish. Healthy families start with getting the entire family unit to work together to improve diet, exercise, and emotional support. Gentle ways to get children to accomplish this is to take their feelings and suggestions seriously. A way to get more vegetables into the diet is to plant a garden. This can be a great family project that will not only save your grocery bill, it also adds quality family time, learning to problem solve, and activity. Children are full of energy and life. They work well to inspire tired adults who are burdened with too many responsibilities. Children can be exactly what a parent needs to motivate a better lifestyle. They are usually willing to try anything once if you make it sound fun.

Respecting Each Other

While most people think healthy families are all about proper diets and exercise, they could not be further from the truth. Living right is also emotional. We have to not only learn how to treat others, but how to respect our own selves too. When the emotional aspect of life gets over looked it can greatly affect the physical aspect. Respecting each member of the family is vital in teaching children that all people matter. All opinions should be heard and considered. Feeling should always be validated and respected, even if nothing can be done to remedy the issue. When all family members feel respected and validated, they tend to be able to portray and extend this into other areas of life, such as work and school.

Lessons On Love And Communication

Healthy families revolve around love and communication. These are the keys to long-term happiness and efficient functioning. When you have the ability to communicate well with others, you can problem solve well and portray your feelings effectively. Teaching our children these skills enables them to go into the world productively. More so, when we feel we have effetely communicated out needs to others and are heard, we feel able to open up and feel loved. Love and communication allow for trust, which is vital for healthy living all through out life.

About the Author
Marie Watson writes weight loss, diet plan, health, beauty and general well-being articles for the Slim Eazy website at www.slimeazy.com