Top Ten Best Toys to Boost Intelligence

Learning and fun go hand in hand with today's availability of games, toys, and puzzles that enhance and encourage young minds. Children and teens are strong learners, and have the fastest learning ability possible during these prime years. What better way to encourage creativity, growth, and intelligence than by learning while they play? A young mind's inner genius can be enhanced and encouraged in the right mental state. Studies have shown that in order to cultivate both right and left brain hemispheres, there are certain puzzles, games, and mental processes that must take place. The games below zone in on these key areas, and increase the capabilities of intelligent thinking.

When youngsters are playing, they are using a part of the brain that naturally increases creative thinking by decreasing anxiety and inhibitions to learning. To boost intelligence, the skill level, ability, and mental agility will slowly but surely increase and may also encourage self-esteem and self-confidence. Once a child masters any of these games, he or she will likely continue pursuing other similar creative puzzles and toys.

The following toys and games are focused on brain processes that increase potential, and are attractive to young and old alike! Boosting intelligence can be as natural and fun as playing a game; pretty soon, you can be confident that your child or teen is performing at their maximum potential as they sharpen their mental skills at play. A genius may be described as someone who can creatively think of solutions and possible outcomes in new ways. Toys, puzzles, and board games that imitate this type of thinking are available on the market today.

Here are the top ten best toys to boost intelligence:

1. Fractiles

This addictive toy by Zome Products features magnetic tiles that can be arranged to create repeating and non-repeating patterns. The assortment of bold colors can be used to create spirals, mandalas, flowers, and even illusions. They encourage creating formations and creative color combinations, and are also available in a travel size set. This game emphasizes intelligence boosters in mathematics, logic, design, and general puzzle-making skill.
Available here from Zome products.

2. Cranium

This up-and-coming board game by the Cranium brand is available in a variety of themes, extension packs, and card variations. The mental workouts, questions, and board game layout provide hours of fun and mind-bending opportunities! Choose from Crainum Whoonu, Conga, Bumaprina, and Zigity, or the standard tin to start.
Available here at Amazon.com

3. Equate

This strategic math game available from Mindware Online is fun for all ages. This mathematical version of creating sentences encourages divergent thinking, and is a quickly addictive scrabble-style game that will keep you playing for hours. This game is also available in a junior addition.
Available here from Mindware Online

4. Apples to Apples

This game has won both the Family Fun Toy of the Year Award, and Mensa Select Awad. The game is easy to set up and travels well, and consists of a fast, challenging game to encourage critical thinking in a comparison game setting. This game is also available in a junior edition.
Available here from Mindware Online

5. Infinifield

This new game is a must for the creative and eager mind! You get to create the playing field and board itself, to come up with a winning layout. It is a great party game that encourages imagination and design skills. It also won the Parents' Choice 2005 Silver Honor Award.
Available at http://www.infinifield.com

6. Klutz Books

This line of branded activites includes Legos, paper airplanes, watercolor art, sewing, and solitaire! These books are great to travel with, and can serve as a great resource to cultivate a new interest, or find out more about something that looks fun for the short or long-term! Other books include How-Tos, and books with materials attached.
Available from Klutz

7. Snafooz

This easy-to-travel and simple game is a foam cube that breaks apart to build and combine different shapes. It encourages creative thinking, a hands-on building opportunity, and a fun puzzle challenge.
Available here from MindWare Online

8. Visual Eyes

This game from Buffalo Games, Inc. features picture dice to make phrases; players must come up with creative sayings within a time limit, and this game is a lot of fun for families and parties.
Available here from Amazon.com

9. Gamepuzzles

These beautiful wooden game sets by Kadon encourages strategic and problem solving abilities in a variety of tile games. Some include color-matching iels and shapes, while others involve encouraging spatial visualization skills. Titles include Dezign-8, Roundominoes, Hexnut, and Kite Mosaik
Available from Gamepuzzles

10. Fluxx

This addictive card game from Looney Labs is a fun, fast-paced game of craziness where the rules are made up as you go along! The game encourages fast and creative thinking, spontaneous fun, and each game is only about 30 minutes!
Available here from Amazon.com