Saturday, January 15, 2011

Brain Teasers Games For Kids

No age is too early for starting the basic education of children. You can definitely start sharpening the cognitive thinking skills which will help them to enhance their basic intelligence. You will find a lot of fun brain teasers games which are definitely helpful in enhancing the different mental abilities.

There are a number of memory games which enhance the observation skills, concentration and memory of children. They are very simple and are fun to play and even you can play these games with your child. Picture cards are one of the popular types of these memory games. Then there are these visual brain teasers games for the children which help in developing the visualization skill. Most of them are puzzles in which pieces of a picture are broken which need to be fitted in together.

There are games which develop the imaginary and sensory skills and also the sense of touch. You can also enhance the sense of sight of your child so that by describing any item in the room and asking them to identify and find that item. There are certain brain teasers games which help to develop the literary skills and also introduce letters and words to your kids and help to increase the vocabulary of your child. There are certain games which develop the thinking and problem solving skill of your child which is very essential in the early ages.

I am sure that because of these brain teasers games, your child will get stimulated through the positive interactions with caring parents and other adults during the growing age. Their thinking ability, concentration and ability to relate things is enhanced greatly which benefits them in the next years of their life. These games are therefore totally recommended for children.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Improve Cognitive Skills by Playing Brain Enhancement Games

Play simple brain teasers online and that's how you can tame your grey cells. Ask why? Well, because human brain responds the best and remains the most active when it is in constant stimulation. Thus, just like you tone your muscles and lift those weights to add packs to your abdomen and strengthen your body, you also need to exercise your brain cells, such that it responds back with greater memory power and improved concentration. Cognitive skills, alertness, ability to quickly respond and faster processing are no longer any one person's blessed virtue. They can be made possible if one indulges in online brain games ranging from bird watching to losing in migration.

Our daily routine lives have very little or rather poor scope to stimulate the brain cells to think out of box; instead it loads the cells with enormous amounts of stress and anxiety. It is here, that the brain games come to picture. They play a vital role in honing the analytical bent of mind and sharpening the thinking skill set. As a spill-over effect it works in reducing stress and helps enjoy your time productively in the journey of life. So these brain games are stress busters too apart from improving individual cognitive skills.

The processing speed of a brain helps an individual come out with better and faster thinking abilities, comprehend sensory information at a greater speed and helps remember too. Brain teaser games work to improve cognitive skills in a unique way.

Therefore, for a healthy lifestyle, a complete brain exercise each day is as essential as brushing teeth. For better results it should become a habit and thus one can chart performance and get amazed to see the benefit not only in improved numbers but quality living too. So indulge in playing word bubbles online and improve your cognitive skills manifold.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Top 10 Brain Health Books of 2008 - Ready For Some Mental Exercise?

Here you have The 10 Most Popular Brain Fitness & Cognitive Health Books of 2008. I hope you find them as stimulating as I did!

1. Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Pear Press, March 2008)

- Dr. John Medina, Director of the Brain Center for Applied Learning Research at Seattle Pacific University, writes an engaging and comprehensive introduction to the many daily implications of recent brain research.

2. The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person (Oxmoor House, March 2007)

- Dr. Judith Beck, Director of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research, connects the world of research-based cognitive therapy with a mainstream application: maintaining weight-loss.

3. The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (Viking, March 2007)

- Dr. Norman Doidge, psychiatrist and author of this New York Times bestseller, brings us "a compelling collection of tales about the amazing abilities of the brain to rewire, readjust and relearn".

4. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain(Little, Brown and Company, January 2008)

- Dr. John Ratey, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, summarizes the growing research on the brain benefits of physical exercise.

5. The Art of Changing the Brain: Enriching the Practice of Teaching by Exploring the Biology of Learning (Stylus Publishing, October 2002)

- Dr. James Zull, Director Emeritus of the University Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education at Case Western Reserve University, writes a must-read for educators and lifelong learners.

6. Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves (Ballantine Books, January 2007)

- Sharon Begley, Newsweek' excellent science writer, provides an in-depth introduction to the research on neuroplasticity based on a Mind & Life Institute event.

7. Thanks: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier (Houghton Mifflin, August 2007)

- Prof. Robert Emmons, Professor of Psychology at UC Davis and Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Positive Psychology, writes a solid book that combines a research-based synthesis of the topic as well as practical suggestions.

8. The Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes and the Civilized Mind (Oxford University Press, January 2001)

- Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg, clinical professor of neurology at New York University School of Medicine, provides a fascinating perspective on the role of the frontal roles and executive functions through the lifespan.

9. The Brain Trust Program: A Scientifically Based Three-Part Plan to Improve Memory (Perigee Trade, September 2007)

- Dr. Larry McCleary, former acting Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Denver Children's Hospital, covers many lifestyle recommendations for brain health in this practical book.

10. A User's Guide to the Brain: Perception, Attention, and the Four Theaters of the Brain (Pantheon, January 2001)

- In this book (previous to Spark), Dr. John Ratey provides a stimulating description of how the brain works. An excellent Brain 101 book to anyone new to the field.

Let me ask you know...have you already chosen a book to read next?

Copyright (c) 2009 SharpBrains

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Top Holiday Gift Ideas For a Friend Who is Sick

Looking for gift ideas for a friend who is sick during the Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza and holiday seasons? Unfortunately, hospital stays, bouts with the flu and chronic conditions like cancer and MS don't take holidays. But you can help your friend be included in the spirit of the season by sending a care package that lets him know how much you care.

Here are four gift idea groups to help you design a care package that will uplift her spirit this holiday.

Holiday gift idea #1: Bring the heat.
Warming body wraps, neck wraps and stuffed animals with a little aromatherapy like cinnamon and clove are great to send a friend at holiday time. There are many options available that simply pop in the microwave for 1-2 minutes and stay warm for several hours. Whether she is in the hospital or at home, it is so easy to get chilled during winter months and heating aromatherapy wraps feel so good, help relax muscles and smell great.

Holiday gift idea #2: Enjoy with a natural treatment for the skin.
Make quality, natural cosmetics stocking stuffers indulgent feel good and smell fresh. Let it be natural and organic lotions in regular sizes or practical sizes, organic lip balm flavors such as mint and the fun of mandarin, or natural body butter in luscious fragrances such as Mango Orange. Try selecting the ingredients, the natural and biological conditions in allergic reactions to synthetic perfumes, preservatives and to avoidchemicals.

Holiday gift idea #3: The 3 R's
If you have ever been stuck in bed for a long period of time, you know how boring it can get. Go back to school days and send a gift focused reading, writing or arithmetic. Books, journals and puzzle books help pass the time and keep the brain engaged. Books are always a holiday gift favorite. You can choose a self-help book with uplifting stories about others who have faced the same illness or struggle, you can try something light like a joke book, or you can go with a brand new best seller. You can also try a journal, which allows your friend to write down ideas, lists, memories... whatever he likes. Having a handy place to write notes and thoughts is great when you're stuck on bed rest. Journals come in several styles, with hard covers and soft, lined or unlined pages, inspirational quotes or blank. Or, try a book of puzzles like Sudoku, crosswords or math brain teasers.

Holiday gift idea #4: Cozy toes.
Slippers are a classic holiday gift and a perfect choice for a friend who is ill during the holiday season. Stores have multitudes of styles and colors available for holiday shopping, and you can choose the 'fuzzy factor' of the lining from super plush and warm to a thin cotton lining. If slippers don't seem quite right or you are unsure of sizing, try a pair of slipper socks or natural and organic bamboo socks. Bamboo socks are sure to be the softest socks you will find and unlike slippers, can be comfortably worn all the time to keep toes cozy and warm. Bamboo is also eco-friendly as it is grown without use of pesticides.

Finally, what to say on your gift card? Your gift message should focus on him -- how you are thinking about him, wish him well and how you send your thoughts and prayers during the holiday season. It is easy to digress into how busy you are during the holidays, but try to avoid talking about how busy your schedule is - that not help to encourage him when he is at home or in hospital not feeling well. A simple and sincere message is sure to be a success, and his warm spirit of this holiday season.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Aging Gracefully and Healthily

Aging is inevitable. It is an inevitable phase experienced by every person living in normal circumstances. And 'it is therefore important to prepare. This is the reason that, while the young, the goal for a healthy lifestyle that is free from any defect of living, a healthy diet and a right frame of mind.

One of the main aspects of a healthy lifestyle, and as a Baby Boomer or not, is exercise. This is something that is very much longer to live,and a healthier seniority. Numerous studies have already been shown to prove the essence of exercise. Whether be it jogging, a walk in the park or sports, what is primordial is that you have allowed yourself to do some healthy activities. Your body needs this, and of course, you do too.

You should also take care of your diet. Eat healthy foods for a change. Start eating the foods which you used hate which you know are healthy. In other words, teach yourself to like them. This will not only help you achieve a healthy old age, but it will allow you to enjoy it even more. Of course, it is alright to splurge on your favorite foods once in a while. But always take it in moderation. The road to a healthy old age is not an easy one, but the destination is reachable. It is up to you to find the courage to do it.

As you grow old, you will feel certain changes in your body that you may not be able to explain. There are things which you liked to do before, but just cannot do more. They are also often forget, and you can start to lose confidence in yourself. Let this be the case. E 'is essential that we might treat ourselves is happening. And the only way to do this is to prepare for this inevitability. You can on the changes, but you can reduce its impact.

Before that age, you must train your brain. Doing crossword puzzles, riddles and other sodokus>brain teasers a favorite past time. You can even watch quiz shows. What is essential is that you are able to exercise your brain. Remember that the brain is the biggest organ of your body. Making use of it will surely reap you benefits.

These activities, both the physical and mental, will help you avoid diseases which old age entails. The possibility of Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, hypertension, heart diseases, dementia and other age related sicknesses may be reduced. The risks of these diseases to your life should not be underestimated. Hence, do everything that you can to prevent them.

It must also be noted that one of the main causes of age-related diseases is stress. This is why indulging yourself once in a while to some rest and recreation will do you much good. A massage will certainly relieve you of stress. If you can, make this a regular habit. Your body will be thanking for it.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

The Best Nintendo DS Games

The Nintendo DS is the hottest game console sold worldwide console of the decade, and with all its various models (the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite and Nintendo 3DS), the brand should be enhanced with only Nintendo handheld. This successful system for portable entertainment features a wide range of adventure, strategy, simulation and training produced titles that helped the DS to get stronger in recent years.

With the success ofthe Nintendo DS Console there have been thousands of fantastic Nintendo DS Games released, hundreds of which have been given critical acclaim for both playability and game play. While this huge number of DS games means you will never get bored of your Nintendo DS console, it does mean that it can be hard to find the right game for you.

To help you out I will classify different categories of Nintendo DS games you can find which will massively reduce the time it takes for you to find the perfect DS Game for your own personal needs.

Brain Teasers and Educational DS Games

There are hundreds of Nintendo DS Games out there which will stretch your mind, and help increase your knowledge. Whether you are looking for a brain trainer, a portable sudoku game, or a language trainer, you can find a wide variety of educational DS games for you to use on the move.

I have personally used both the Brain Training DS Games and a Learn Spanish DS game, which vastly improved both my mental reflexes, and my ability to speak another language!

Action DS Games

Forget learning, sometimes you just want to blow stuff up. There are thousands of fast paced action DS games which send you on a wide range of missions and landscapes as you slash/shoot/fly your way through your enemies onslaught.

Action DS Games are a great way to relieve stress and boredom, and I personally love to kill a few minutes with my action themed Nintendo DS Games. There are a huge range of action titles which bring a fast paced range of entertainment to the DSi!

Puzzle DS Games

There are a wide variety of puzzle games to suit all ages with the Nintendo DS. Whether you want to draw your way out of a puzzling situation, or match your symbols on fast paced puzzle games like bejeweled, you are sure to find a puzzle DS game which helps keep you entertained.

Puzzle DS Games are great for people like me who often need a little mental challenge, but don't often have time to spend keeping up with things like the Brain Training DS games.

Mystery and Adventure DS Games

There are plenty of mystery and adventure DS games out there where you will have to search for clues, solve riddles and catch the master criminals. These usually contain a lot of Puzzles, however I did not include Adventure DS games DS puzzle games, because the puzzles are usually only a part of a much larger problem solution of the game.

Mystery DS games and DS adventure games to follow a complex rule, but the nice stories that takes you through the fascinating stories. A guide to monitoring those addictive DS adventure games do, and you may find yourself playing with your DS a bit 'too often!

Mystery and adventure games for Nintendo DS includes titles like Professor Layton and even PokemonDS!

DS Games for Girls

DS Games for girls give a female spin to the great Nintendo DS Console. Whether your girl wants a horse, to own a clothing store, or play out life in a simulated town, there are hundreds of Nintendo DS Games for Girls!

A lot of the feminine DS titles help teach your daughter about a wide variety of things they will encounter in their life, as well as teaching them about fashion and pet care!

Educational DS Games

One of the bases of interest to the success of the Nintendo DS is that it has coincided with the release of a wide range of educational DS titles.'s Brain Training software for language learning, Nintendo DS by some brilliant DS games is a valuable educational resource with very educatonal. These educational DS titles and educational programs for subjects such as mathematics, science and geography, as well as languages and>brain Training applications!

The End

I hope this little guide to the world of Nintendo DS Games cleared things up a little, and helped you decide which from the fantastic range of DS titles you would like to buy!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Travel games for relaxing Christmas vacation

Games, and trips are the perfect choice for our Christmas holidays, especially during our trips to visit our family and friends. Therefore, during our trips we carry with us always, portable games.

Holidays and travel are the best times of our lives. During a family outing or a Christmas vacation with racing games is a great way to enjoy our precious moments of relaxation.

During a long trip or a Christmas party, travel games, like chessConnect controllers, four, Blokus, Battleship, genial, square and more, always talking to us and our children.

Classic Games travel are always the right choice for our kids busy and have fun and help us to enjoy a relaxing holiday.

Often in our travels and our holidays we are "killing time" and we'd like to do something frivolous, perhaps with our family and friends. And what is best for travel, board games and table games.

Personallywhile traveling with my family, I always carry with me the best portable gaming, quizzes and board games and I'd rather spend a quiet evening at table games at home without the worry of having to go at any cost!

If you want to spend a few nights sleep in this way, or if you are planning a trip this Christmas, remember to bring the best games during a trip: cool portable game in a magical and elegant little box with different size to enjoy the longestTravel.

Games like chess, checkers, solitaire, trivia, puzzles and classic board games are the brain where you can wait and when they travel gadgets are original boxes are contained in a nice, such as those found on the Internet for a small price.

If you do not want to be bored during your trip, remember to always bring portable games and you can even begin to know to appreciate a bit 'boring moments of the trip.

Now it's your turn: Playwith family or traveling on vacation and do your next train!