Tangrams for an almost 6 yo?

[mathnerd]

Asking for a friend of mine: She is looking to buy a Tangram set and a Tangram puzzle book for an almost 6 yo boy. First of all, is it too late to buy these for a bright 6 year old? She is worried that they might be really simple at this stage. If they are still a viable choice, are there any good and "sturdy" sets that anyone can recommend (some links would help a lot) - this child is highly destructive and has been known to destroy toys in minutes. The idea is to make him sit still and try to solve puzzles using his creativity for atleast 10 minutes at a time - this is when he spends time with his elderly grandparents when they do not have energy to handle him. His mother specifically wants to try Tangrams. He plays Sudoku and Chess (though the chess pieces are glued together with superglue these days because he tried to perform surgery on them!). Thanks for your help.

[dewdropfairy]

I used these when my oldest son was that age. He loved them. Very sturdy.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Pattern-Blocks-Boards/dp/B00006JZCG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369334647&sr=8-1&keywords=melissa+and+doug+tangram

[The Way of My People]

My kids really struggled with frustration doing traditional tangrams because the pieces slipped and slid all over the place while they were working. We finally ended up using Tangoes Jr. The designs aren't especially difficult, but they're nice because they are magnetized. I can't speak to its sturdiness, though, because I keep it hidden in a cupboard and only have it available as a reward at the end of our math lesson. :laugh:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Tangoes-JRT001-Junior/dp/B000F6RWW8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369337559&sr=8-1&keywords=tangoes+jr

 

I recommend buying an expansion set right away because there aren't that many puzzles in the original.

[Arcadia]

You can make your own http://www.scifun.ed...uzzle-sheet.pdf

We have those from Morrison School Supply (Sunnyvale) and they were the most affordable and durable. This is what my boys use http://www.enasco.com/product/TB17310T

We work out the puzzles here http://tangrams.ca/puzzle-shapes

[LMD]

My DS - 6 in august - loves tangrams and I use them as a go-to activity when he finishes his math quickly. I just picked up a set of activity cards 2nd hand (can't find them online though! sorry!) They get progressively more difficult and end up using math concepts like fractions/measurement etc.

 

I just printed some off and laminated them. They've lasted well, & it's easy to make more if they don't!

[Ariston]

This book has very easy puzzles in the beginning (where it basically shows you where to put the pieces) and the progresses to medium puzzles, and then to hard puzzles. I tore out all the pieces and hole punched them so that my kids can go through and pick the ones they want to do.

http://www.amazon.com/Tangramables-Tangram-Activity-Book-Ler318/dp/1569119813/ref=sr_1_22?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369342421&sr=1-22&keywords=tangrams

 

I use plastic indestructible tangrams similar to these:http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Advantage-CTU7712-Tangrams-Set/dp/B001UFWJLW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369342557&sr=8-1&keywords=plastic+tangrams

[Ariston]

Actually now I'm thinking that the tangrams came with the book, since the book is designed for the pieces to go directly on the paper so it would only work with a specific size tangram. I'll check my book and get back to you....I can't tell from the amazon description.

 

 

ETA:Ok, yes the rainbow resource description makes it clear:

http://www.rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?id=012840

 

This book does come with an indestructible set of pieces. I highly recommend it even though the first chunk of the book will be obsolete because it will be too easy. The puzzles go in increasing order of difficulty, so its easy for a kid to pick an appropriate puzzle.

[Alte Veste Academy]

The tangram sets made specifically for children have so few patterns included that the fun can be short-lived. My whole family has used and loved this tangram book. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760727120/sr=1-7/qid=1369342866/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1369342866&seller=&sr=1-7 It includes one tangram set, but we have extras in different colors. There are tangrams of all levels in this book. Some are very challenging even for the adults here. :tongue_smilie: That said, I think tangrams are one area where kids and adults can be on very even footing, because kids often see possibilities that adults do not. DS10 and DH sometimes compete to see who can solve them first. Comes out pretty even...has for years...

[mathnerd]

Thank you all so much! So many resources to check out...

[ammv15]

My dc love the hands on stuff used with Mcruffy math available at http://mcruffy.com/HandsOnMath.htm .

[Tracy]

Here is a free Tangram Booklet for 1st grade.

 

And here is a template for printing out the pieces.

[kitten18]

We have a game, Tangram Master. It has four sets of tangrams and you can play with others or by yourself.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/toys-games-tangram-master-the-ultimate-puzzle-challenge-for-up-to-4-players/23231698?ean=9781402756528

 

 

My MIL bought the kids a set of Travel Tangoes recently. I just bought another set, they are nice because the pieces are magnetic.

http://www.amazon.com/Tangoes-TT200-Travel-Animals/dp/B000SZSQK8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369404633&sr=8-1&keywords=travel+tangoes

[EmilyGF]

I remember Tangram puzzles being very challenging in third grade - and math has always been my good subject. :-) I think they can be easy or hard, depending on the puzzle. Your time window probably isn't closing. On the other hand, my 4-year-old loves messing about with them, but would be discouraged if I made her make specific figures.

 

Emily

[RoundAbout]

Tangrams are definitely appropriate for a bright 6 year old! Heck, I remember a family trip we took pre-kid where tangrams and a hard set of designs kept myself, DH, and BIL challenged for days. My DS loves them too.

[alisoncooks]

We have a magnetic travel Tangoes set (I think is the name) and my 6 yr old is challenged by it (but enjoys it!)

[NDQuilts]

I have 7 Pieces of Cleverness for our family. It's a vintage game with puzzles even an adult will find challenging. My littles try to place pieces to copy the answer key while the rest just use the game booklet as intended to figure where things fit.

[ammv15]

 

http://wwwmathwire.com/geometry/tanagrams.html education.com also has free tangrams.