Maddy went through a riddle stage last year, when every other day she shared one of a handful of riddles, and ever since then, we’ve been hooked.
So I did a bit of poking around the ‘net this past summer in an attempt to nail down any and all freebie brain teasers for kids I could find.
I hit the jackpot in a big way.
They keep asking for more. Woot.
Here’s the skinny. . .
Brain Teasers for Kids:
Really, there are about 8 million books and sites about brain teasers, but I wanted something that I could print and take places with me.
I wanted something that I could use as reading material at mealtime and entertainment on the soccer sidelines.
I stumbled across Squiggly’s Playhouse which has been around FORever and which is packed with tons of fun for kids.
And I put the brain teasers on a happy little document and printed them out on fun and fancy, colorful cardstock. Then I printed them out, cut them up, and threw them in a sandwich bag.
I take them just about anywhere and use them any time I want the kids to be unplugged. Any time I want them to use their brains.
Most recently, we’ve been using the brain teasers at breakfast. Though there was a time in our lives when I read the newspaper with the kids in the morning, now I’m doing the am scramble.
Before the kids wake up, I work for an hour or two in the morning or try to sneak in some exercise–so when I get them out of bed, I follow them back down stairs and make lunches. It’s fine. It’s working.
We chat, plan out the day, or, as mentioned here, work through some brain teasers.
I just talk through the news after school now, while we debrief about school and have a snack or two.
And these are a good way to get Maddy, Owen, and Cora to do some critical thinking and stretch their minds a bit. To think outside the box.
That’s it–try it for yourself and see how it goes!
Just a little, sneaky and fun, at-home learning in the every day, when we’re able. Not as easy as it once was when my loves were little, but we’re trying!
Do you have a favorite site or book for brain teasers? I’d love to hear it~
teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama