Tangrams

by Lauri Griffin | More from this Blogger

25 Jan 2007 02:44 PM

Tangrams are an ancient Chinese puzzle. They are also called the Seven Board of Cunning and the ingenious puzzle figure of seven pieces.

A square is cut into seven geometric shapes - two large right isosceles triangles, a medium triangle, two small triangles, a parallelogram, and a small square. Each of the seven pieces is called a tan. The shapes are rearranged to form familiar objects like cats, candlesticks, bridges, diamonds, hexagons, and birds.

Using these shapes or tans to make other shapes is a great exercise in spatial pattern recognition. It challenges the player to think in new ways, to use strategy and problem solving skills. It's challenging, but not usually overwhelmingly so. And it's fun for adults and children.

Officially, for each puzzle the player should use all seven tans, and none should overlap. But I'm not going to tell a child he's wrong if he comes up with a lion that only uses five shapes, or a wing fighter that only uses three. After all, I'm after fun and creativity with tangrams. You can find all sorts of patterns online including holiday and theme patterns. Or you can have fun making up your own. You can also buy books like Tangram Puzzles: 500 Tricky Shapes to Confound and Astound, or the Fun With Tangrams Kit.

You can make or buy a magnetic version for car trips. We had a magnetic set on our refrigerator for awhile, and it was fun for all of us to walk by and rearrange the shapes. Young children may just enjoy playing the shapes. Older children will enjoy completing the puzzles. And it's a great starter for learning about geometric shapes. As an added twist, you can challenge each other and race to be the first to build your shapes.

Children who have read Alice and Wonderland may be interested to know that the author, Lewis Carroll, is said to have made himself a book with 323 tangram patterns. They may even want to start their own book.

Tangrams are great brain workout, which makes them fun and good for adults and older adults too.

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Learn more about Lauri Griffin

Lauri lives in Colorado with her husband and three sons. Amidst all the laundry and packing of lunches, she tries to keep parenting fun.

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