| The world of jigsaw puzzles has seen some dramatic | | | | designs are available and will provide hours of 'normal' |
| changes in the past few years. Remember the | | | | entertainment as well as learning opportunities for |
| jigsaws that you had when you were young? Every | | | | children of all ages. Today's children are more |
| year there was always one or two of these traditional | | | | sophisticated of course and will need something quite |
| toys lurking at the bottom of the Christmas stocking | | | | stimulating to get them interested. Instead of getting |
| and would grow bigger and more complex every year | | | | them that new techno gadget that everyone is talking |
| that passed. The modern jigsaw has surpassed all of | | | | about it may be wiser, in the long run, to get them |
| that. They are chunky, big and bright, well made | | | | something more 'hands on'. The problem with today's |
| confectioneries that come in all kinds of interesting and | | | | electronic gadgetry is it tends to isolate the child. They |
| unusual shapes. For the younger set, the jigsaw could | | | | seemingly disappear into a world of make believe, not |
| be made up of animals from the zoo. Each piece with | | | | as good as it used to be!, of murder, mayhem and |
| its own alphabet letter so that whilst the child is busy | | | | malevolence. The general idea is to kill everything in |
| fitting together the pieces the alphabet is also being | | | | your path in the bloodiest, most violent way possible. |
| learned. It is much easier for the child to be taught | | | | Indeed, the more bloody - the more points! |
| once he/she is familiar with the letters of the alphabet. | | | | No wonder then that schools are having more |
| Or perhaps the child is more into dinosaurs, yes | | | | problems with bad or unruly behaviour. Is it possible |
| dinosaurs! There are bright, multi-coloured dinosaur | | | | that a child immersed in a computer game, instead of |
| jigsaw puzzles on offer complete with a caveman | | | | a more traditional toy, forgets where he is and starts |
| carrying a bone! For older children there are maps | | | | acting out the violence he has been perpetuating in the |
| from around the world. Each jigsaw is split into | | | | confines of his bedroom? On top of this, children have |
| counties or countries, and made from bright, chunky | | | | lost the art of natural exercise. No more impromptu |
| material, usually wood. What a great way to learn | | | | cricket games using the gate as stumps or the village |
| about the country you are living in or visiting on your | | | | green as a 'rounders' pitch. |
| next holiday. Think of the conversations these wooden | | | | On a lighter note, did everyone have the same |
| jigsaws can initiate. What is this country famous for, or | | | | problem of the missing piece right at the end of the |
| which famous world leader was born here, or | | | | wooden jigsaw puzzle? Was it the same fairy who |
| something as simple as what is this town famous for. | | | | always stole one of dad's socks from every pair I |
| There is much to be said for this traditional toy that | | | | wonder? |
| has re-established itself with a modern twist. Many | | | | |