Written by Michelle of Honest & Truly! who received a sample of Monkey Pod Games Tangram Set for review purposes. We are not otherwise compensated for this post, and all opinions remain our own.
I love games, and so do the wee ones. Most of their favorite gifts for birthdays or Christmas tend to be games they’re given, especially ones they can play on their own when they need to or with others when they want to.
The tangram wooden puzzles we had previously were aimed at preschoolers, as well. They were great for fine motor skills and mental dexterity, but they tended to be fairly simply puzzles where the wee ones merely needed to place the right shape in the right hole, much like paint by numbers activity. The Monkey Pods version is more like real art, and it is just as challenging – but in a good way.
The Monkey Pod Games version comes in a gorgeous wooden case with a hinged lid, helping to ensure that no pieces go missing, and includes the traditional seven pieces that are used to make up various complex shapes. There are varying levels of difficulty within the 50 silhouette options included with the puzzle set, but even the most difficult has the solution shown on the back so that if cheating is necessary to solve the puzzle, you can easily do so.
The actual tans (the 7 pieces of wood used to make up the shapes) are made from the same eco-friendly Monkey Pod wood (yes, there is an actual Monkey Pod Games tree that grows in northern Thailand) as the case. They are thick enough that they will last, unlike our previous set, and they are incredibly soft and smooth, making playing with them a pleasure.
When Little Miss first tried out the Monkey Pod Games Tangram Set, she got a little frustrated because the pieces weren’t fitting together for her the way she thought they should. Once I showed her how to solve the puzzle and how the tans didn’t necessarily line up the way you think they would, she got it and quickly started work on her next tangram. The pride in her voice when she solved it – and the next one and the next one – was exactly what every mother wants to hear from her child.
I love how the case holds the tans when they aren’t in use, as well as the thick, laminated game cards. We have been keeping the cards in the box even when playing with the tangram set because it works so well to keep the cards from being damaged as well and ensuring that we all know what puzzle we’re working on. The biggest challenge was actually trying to figure out how to get the tans back into their square in the wooden case, but fortunately the cheat for that was also on one of the cards!
While Little Miss started out playing the with the tangrams by herself, she quickly attracted a crowd. I helped her, and Mister Man was all over the game, as well. Not only is the game great for increasing their spatial reasoning, problem solving, memory, and more, but working on the puzzles together is a great lesson in cooperation as they each have ideas of how to best solve the puzzle but have to determine which theories to test first and how to make it happen together.
While educational puzzles like tangrams are primarily thought of as a child’s game – and the Monkey Pod Games version is designed for those 7 and up – tangrams are great for adults, as well. Research has shown that puzzle games like this increase long term mental performance in adults, as well as the ability to process new information and memory retrieval. I know those are benefits I need, and this would make a great gift for my parents, as well.
The Monkey Pod Games Tangram Set was chosen as a 2011 Parent Choice Winner, and it’s easy to see why. Brain teasers are fun for all ages, and this particular set is one that we enjoy displaying because of its gorgeous case, which also reminds us to play it regularly!
Want to win a set? We are giving away 5! Enter in the form below.
Michelle may never stop running around Chicagoland, but she always makes time for the important things in her life – her wee ones, cooking, reading, and spending time with friends – and of course, writing. You can see what she’s up to on her blog Honest & Truly! or on Twitter where she tweets as @HonestAndTruly.
Any news on the winner? 😉
A family day outing – perhaps visit our local amusement park.
I’d spend it towards new workout clothes.
i would spend the $100 on a keurig coffee maker.
I’d get math puzzles like the Fifteen Puzzle
I would use a $100 gift card on spring clothing for my 4 kids. I love these kinds of games for my kids.They make them use their brain.
I’d use it towards yarn to fuel my knitting addiction. Thanks!
I like the Three in One Wooden Thai Chess/Checkers/Backgammon Set – Handmade
I would get clothes for my daughter or son.
I would get clothes.
I would spend on groceries. (boring, I know)
i would get some groceries
I would spend it on our growing wishlist. Thanks for the giveaway!
id add it to my vacation fund
What a bummer I missed the Barbie Giveaway!
I would spend $100 GC on my spring clothes for my daughter.
I know we would enjoy the Monkey Pods Game. We played a similar game at a neighbors house. Thanks for the chance.
If I had an extra $100.00 I would use it on a few lamps. We are light poor here.
I would spend it on clothes for our boys
Looks like an interesting game. If I won a $100 GC, I would use it for a gift for my husband or kids
thank you
I would buy new sheets for our bed and some new towels. I really need to replace them.
I would get more puzzles especially Brain teasers and Pyramids! 🙂
I would help pay for chemo treatments for my husband.
I would spend the giftcard on games like Tangrams!
I like the Large Tumbling Tower Game with a Wooden Box (12 Inch) and The Diamond Cube
I would spend the 4100. on groceries.
Save it to spend towards textbooks.
My son loves puzzles & games, so I’d get more of those for his birthday 🙂
This puzzle looks so fun not only for the kids but me too. If I had a $100 giftcard I would use it for a small game table for the kids.
I’d spend it on some new toys for my kids.
I would get new work clothes
I’d get some shoes for the family!
I think this is the wrong question. The giveaway is for a game, not for a $100 GC.
I would spend on hiking supplies for my trip this summer.
I would do my Christmas shopping with it.
I would save it for Christmas and spend it on Christmas for the kids.
Any extra money would be for groceries.
I would buy some clothes
I would buy clothes for a little one hope I win this one.
Id buy a new GPS for my husband
I would probably get a tanagram set
I would buy some of the Metal Brain Teasers from Monkey Pod Games
I’d use it on gas.
My kids would love this game, plus it could help them with their math. Added bonus. As for a $100 gift card…I would use it to buy some games or books for my family.
My son would love this game. As for a $100, I would spend it on new clothes. I recently lost a lot of weight.
I think the question in the widget is from a different giveaway? My daughter would enjoy playing with the monkey tangram. We had tangram pieces at school when I was a kid and I loved them!
Probably math puzzles and 3D puzzles, my son loves to solve them!
I would have entered the raffle but we already have this monkey pod games tangram set for my kids, which they love! Our daughters have really enjoyed trying to solve the card challenges together. We look forward to our next purchase from them!
clothes for the kiddos
I would love the tangram set. this would be alot of fun for my kids to use their imagination
I’d spend it on this tangram set and some more eco-friendly toys for my son!
Probably get the kids some summer clothes, and maybe me a new haircut
I would spend it on a summer wardrobe for my kiddo. he is growing!
Any extra cash now would go towards our moving expenses (2 weeks til move) but I think the question is wrong – LOL This would be a great game to play with my daughter 🙂
It would go for for my patio.
summer clothes for the boys
We would love to win this game set, they have a lot of cool choices at Monkey Pod Games. Thanks for the chance to win.
Groceries to stoc k my pantry
If I had an extra $100 It would more than likely end up in my gas tank!
I’d have to share the wealth – but stuff for my kids but also some good learning toys for my niece and nephews
I would probably get a tanagram set and possibly one of the brain teaser sets.
I think the wrong question is in the form but I would spend an extra $100 on clothes for my kids. I love this Tangram set!
I would use a $100 GC on a summer wardrobe for my girls.
We love games at our house. My MIL has a similar wooden tangram set, my husband actually loves it. It would be awesome to introduce our children to such a quality game. I’d spend the gift card on the tangram set or other educational games.
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Let my kids pick out some Legos
This looks like a fun puzzle. We have a smaller Tanagram set that the kids love!
I’m building a new house so it would probably go to curtains or something for the home.