Homeschool on the Run!

My latest bid to increase my brain power has been trying to master Sudoku. This means that on our recent trip to Hawaii, every spare minute I had was spent doing Sudoku.  I read somewhere that this is a wonderful thing for developing logic in children also…so what the heck! I thought I’d try and master it in a week.

I bought the easy book, *your* first 100 Sudoku.  I read the instructions carefully.  I launched into it and found it challenging but not impossible.  Not too far into the book however I started messing up.  I was careful not to guess.  I did everything they said.  When I couldn’t backtrack far enough, I would cross out the puzzle in a hissy fit turn the page and start the next one. 

In the mornings I’d wake up and walk to the local shops to get my Starbucks fix, puzzling all the way, lifting my head occasionally to say good morning to the jogging crowd.  I’d get my coffee and then if I was really stuck sit on a bench and concentrate on the puzzle.   On one of the mornings the janitor of the shopping complex asked me what I was doing…easy Sudoku.  “Oh Yeah…I used to do those, but they just got too easy…now I only do the super Sudoku!” he said.  That gave me hope to continue even if I was completely stuck… that it would eventually get easier.

 I got up to page 60. (read…I managed to complete about 40) Then I hit a plateau.

On returning to the mainland I started googling Sudoku and found all of these sites devoted to giving you tips. Now I know to look for x-wings and swordfish… although now back to the daily life…I don’t have the fervour nor time to indulge myself.

Still, I bought Sudoku for kids and both my children love it.  It is a farmyard version with only 6 animals per field, and you get the idea of how you play the game…also they love the cool animal noises you are supposed to make when you roll an animal on the animal dice!

As for my brain power, I might just have to double the fish oil instead!

June 18th, 2009 | Category: Family | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL