The holidays are over and the new year’s in full swing. Have you already got ideas in place for your next gift giving extravaganza?

For the creative and curious souls in your life, puzzles are a great place to start stewing up some gift ideas. These creations are as old as time, having been found in countless cultures across the globe. It’s hard to find a toy shop today that doesn’t sell puzzles in some capacity! They come in the form of easy puzzles for children and elaborate 750 piece jigsaw puzzles for enthusiasts. Both fun and relaxing, it’s easy to see why puzzles have withstood the test of time for so many.

Considering the benefits of a beautiful puzzle set…but not sure which one to get? Let’s look at some of the more common ones below to get you started.

Interesting Links Between Puzzles And Learning

There’s a reason you so often find puzzles while waiting at the dentist’s office or visiting a school. Their unique combination of artistry and relaxation make them a useful learning tool. The neurotransmitter — dopamine, specifically — is produced more actively during the process of putting together a puzzle piece. Research has shown puzzles do a remarkable job activating our brains while relaxing us psychologically, even pushing us toward a more meditative state. The brain will make its most connections among its cells before a child reaches the age of 10.

The Fascinating History Of Puzzles And How They’ve Changed

Did you know the oldest known puzzle in human history was a dissection of a square mentioned by Archimedes? This was all the way back in 250 B.C., when puzzles were not quite as mundane as they are today! The largest puzzle ever created was crafted in Germany, while the smallest puzzle is the size of a mere grain of sand. Today you can find an assortment of puzzles in physical and digital forms, with Tetris perhaps being one of the best known versions still played by millions today. How do you enjoy your puzzles?

Easy Puzzles For Children And Casual Players

Let’s say you want to get something simple and fun that can be completed in a night’s time. You’ll want to look at 300 piece puzzles, commonly found in many toy stores and the perfect size alone or with a friend. Easy puzzles come with larger pieces to fit more comfortably in tiny hands. They also come with useful guides to help give beginners starting points. The puzzle is a process, celebrating the beauty of the journey instead of the destination…though the destination is rather stunning!

Moderately Difficult Puzzles For Those Stressful Days

Perhaps you have people in your life that want something a little more involving than a small puzzle set, but still aren’t in the market for 750 piece jigsaw puzzles. A 500 piece puzzle will be just the right size to fit alongside another gift (or act as the main course). Moderately difficult puzzles are rather popular as a stress reliever, as they provide an accessible starting point for anxiety while providing a feasible end point. You can get these done in a night or work on them over the course of a few days. Keep in mind puzzle sets come in many varieties, from cute illustrations to stunning portraits.

Tough Puzzles For The Patient Enthusiast

Now you’re getting into the hard stuff! Difficult puzzles are a blast, able to take weeks (even months) of dedicated work. There are quite a few physical puzzle enthusiasts around the world who collect these and frame the results on their wall as a representation of their patience. The 750 piece jigsaw puzzles can make for a pretty good gift for the puzzle lover in your life, giving them something to chew on without being overwhelming. For those that want to be overwhelmed, though, look no further than the 1000 piece puzzle frame or 2000 piece puzzles.

Puzzles are good for your health. They teach children to be patient and help adults relieve stress. Consider adding 750 piece jigsaw puzzles to your next gift basket.