There is almost no household without this tiny but significant piece of puzzle – The Rubik’s Cube. Most of us just fiddle with it, try and rotate it in all possible directions to get at least on side of the cube to the same color. It is usual to give it up after a few minutes, mostly out of helplessness of not being able to solve it. As per statistics, less than 45% of the people can solve this puzzle. When the founder of this puzzle– Erno Rubik, himself took about a month to solve it, it is definitely not an easy nut to crack.
A child is invariably given this brilliant piece of colorful cube in their early childhood days and they mostly lose interest after playing with it for some time. If we do encourage the child to use this more and give some thought to how a child can benefit from using this cube in the right way, instead of only playing and fiddling with it, the advantage that we give to the child is invaluable.
A few vibrant insights on the advantages of using the Rubik’s Cube:
Solving a Rubik’s cube requires turning and placing sides of the cube in alignment to the rows, columns and colors, which is sure to improve fine motor skills along with the hand-eye coordination becoming sharper and stronger.
Perception and problem solving – As the child starts solving the cube, just as in any other puzzle, the child is thinking – thinking on how to solve this; he/she is visualizing – if I make this move on this side, how is it going to affect the other sides. Though this is common with most of the mind games, the unique thing about Rubik’s cube is – it gets the mind of the player to use the spatial (three-dimensional) ability to its maximum capacity. The child’s perception widens and they are able to resolve issues faster and systematically.
The Rubik’s cube also introduces the child to analysis and abstract thinking – the ability to recognize metaphors and relate them to the consequent effects.
As the cube has many different ways to solve it and not limited to only a single approach, the creativity of the child is enhanced as he/she is not bound by rules or an instruction manual.
Solving a Rubik’s cube is a fun way to nurture a child’s mind without hampering the child’s confidence levels, in fact there is an increase in confidence levels of children who are able to tackle this puzzle. They are more focused and confident. The satisfaction of solving this puzzle and the confidence that comes with it is incomparable.
At Mind Mentorz, importance is given to one of the 9 levels of intelligence – the spatial ability - by introducing children to mind games such as solving a Rubik’s Cube. Give your child the extra advantage to succeed in life; by learning mind games systematically, with logic and reasoning.