Putting the Pieces Together: Puzzles (Mechanical & Virtual)

June 19, 2020

Posted 6/19/2020

According to the job-hunting site Monster, our brain chemistry actually changes when we work with our hands: “By the simple act of using our hands, be it rewiring a home’s electricity, laying bricks, or simply sweeping, we can forge entire new neuro-pathways in our brains that could not be made in a less physically active environment.” In fact, working with our hands can be a great stress-reliever. People dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks or post-traumatic stress are encouraged to focus on working with their hands.

Clinical neuropsychologist Catherine Carey Levisay says, “There’s promising evidence coming out to support what a lot of crafters have known anecdotally for quite some time, that creating — whether it be through art, music, cooking, quilting, sewing, drawing, photography (or) cake decorating — is beneficial to us in a number of important ways.”

You can have hands-on STEM and Craft projects delivered monthly:

• Eureka Crate – Ages 14-104 – Engineering & Design – Put Science to Work & Engineer Amazing Projects (Sample crates – Articulated Desk Lamp, Electric Pencil Sharpener, Wooden Ukulele, Lantern)
• Maker Crate – Ages 14-104 – Art & Design (Sample crates – Macrame Planters, Punch-Needle Pillow, Terrazzo Clay Organizers)

You can purchase other mechanical puzzles online, for example:

• https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mechanical+Puzzles
• https://www.woodtricks.net/
• https://www.etsy.com/market/3d_mechanical_puzzle

If traditional puzzles is more your style, here are a few free online jigsaw puzzle sites for you:

• thejigsawpuzzles.com – An ever-growing collection of free online jigsaw puzzles
• SkillGamesBoard.com – The puzzles here are made from renowned works of art. Choose Private to be able to invite friends or Public if you want to allow anyone to play along. Choose a board size and a painting to begin. You’ll receive a custom URL you can share with anyone.
• http://www.epuzzle.info/ – Compose jigsaw puzzles online. Complete the puzzle in the shortest time with the least amount of moves and you will join other great players on our Hall of Fame.