| Classic thinking games are a great way to | | | | couch.More Thinking GamesA lateral thinking |
| tune up your brain. You can use these mind | | | | puzzle you can try right now involves nine |
| games to help you increase your brain power | | | | dots, layed out three by three. Connect them |
| and to get you out of your thinking "ruts." | | | | all with four straight lines, without lifting |
| Play them enough, and they'll habituate you | | | | the pen or pencil from the paper. When you |
| to using creative problem solving as a normal | | | | figure this one out you'll appreciate the |
| part of thinking about things.Thinking Games | | | | expression "thinking outside of the box."Many |
| For GroupsGroup thinking games are especially | | | | lateral-thinking puzzles use a scenario, real |
| good for long trips in a car. Have someone | | | | or imagined, with a selection of things you |
| look out the window, for example, and | | | | have to use to accomplish something. Imagine |
| randomly choose an object. Everyone in the | | | | a ping-pong ball in an iron pipe that's set |
| car then tries to imagine a new way to make | | | | in cement. The pipe sticks up three-feet |
| money with it. Common street signs become | | | | high, and has almost the same diameter as the |
| places to advertise, trees are sold with | | | | ball. Using only a box of frosted-flakes, and |
| names, and a truck becomes a traveling | | | | a t-shirt, and your body and mind, how many |
| grocery store.Use the "change of perspective" | | | | ways can you find to get the ball out of the |
| technique as a problem-solving game. Just | | | | pipe? You could also set this up for real, to |
| pick any topic, and see who can come up with | | | | know if a proposed solution will really |
| the most unique new perspective. Could there | | | | work.Many riddles are just mind games or |
| be a world where jobs weren't necessary? How | | | | lateral-thinking puzzles. You move laterally |
| would a virus define morality if it was | | | | in your mind, away from your usual line of |
| conscious?One creative thinking game uses a | | | | thought, to solve a riddle. For example, what |
| technique called "concept combination." You | | | | did his friends do when the canibal was late |
| simply combine random concepts or things in | | | | for dinner? They gave him the cold shoulder, |
| interesting ways, and see who has the best | | | | of course! Keeping your brain in shape |
| idea. A chair and a microwave? Maybe an | | | | doesn't have to be a matter of serious study. |
| easy-chair with a built-in cooler, microwave | | | | Why not play some thinking games?Steve |
| and television, or microwavable "couch | | | | Gillman has been studying brainpower and |
| potatoes" - a potato snack in the shape of a | | | | related topics for years. |