Hobbies And Interests
Word Searches
Word searches are available for players of all ages. The game consists of a square of letters that appear to be in a random order. Players are given a list of words that they must find within the square, and often players highlight or circle the words as they are found. Easier games include words in horizontal and vertical order, but more challenging games will also have words placed diagonally. The game can be made even more challenging by using more complex words. There are many word searches available free online.
Crosswords
Popular in newspapers such as the New York Times, crosswords challenge players to solve clues and insert the answer into a puzzle grid. The number of letters is given for the answer, and if the player has all the answers correct the puzzle will be full with no blank spaces. Some crosswords are very simple, designed for children, while others require hours of puzzling to work out. The games can be set to certain themes, such as movies, books or countries, and more difficult puzzles can contain puns, allusions and plays on words. Crosswords can be downloaded free from a number of websites.
Jigsaws
Those who work jigsaw puzzles need to have patience and a good eye to take on the task of assembling a picture from a jumble of dozens or hundreds of pieces. Simple jigsaws, involving only a few pieces and forming simple pictures or paintings, are designed for children. More advanced jigsaws are available, with some having more than a thousand pieces. Some very tricky jigsaw puzzles have pictures on both sides of the pieces, few variations in color, or pieces that are all about the same shape and size. Although jigsaws can be purchased from stores, usually painted on wooden pieces, they can also be downloaded free from several websites and printed out.