The Solution to “Are We There Yet?”

Anyone who has ever traveled with children dreads the inevitable “Are we there yet?” and longs for a way for the kids to be occupied during the journey. Retailers can answer this yearning with great travel games for kids from Smart/Tangoes USA, a company that produces puzzles which amuse kids five and up (and their adult companions as well.)

Tangoes is based on the ancient Chinese Tangram puzzle that not only entertains but also helps develop problem solving skills and creative thinking. According to legend, a man called Tan dropped a tile on the floor where it broke into seven pieces. As he worked at fitting the seven pieces back into a square, he noticed it was possible to make many different figures with only these seven pieces. Later the puzzle spread to Europe and ultimately came to America with Western sailors who had stopped in China.

The seven pieces in the classic Tangram square can be formed into abstract designs, human figures, animals and everyday objects. Put it on a counter and see what your shoppers come up with! Display the compact Travel Tangoes version that has foam-covered magnetic puzzle pieces and an integrated play surface — it comes with twenty-four puzzles and solutions.

Fun to while away time at home and perfect for out and about, Travel Tangoes is available in animal, people or object versions and fits neatly in a backpack or purse. There is also a preschool version with seven pieces and a large playing surface.

In The Magic Forest game, players make connections to find the magical path and complete the puzzle. With forty-eight challenges, this gem ranges from easy to very difficult, challenging even smarty-pants grown-ups.

Water World is a logic game as is Busy Bugs, both set up so that only the challenge images can be seen. Bugs is a little more difficult, suggested for ages seven and up. Kids love the Noah’s Ark idea so this game is a sure-fire pleaser in which all animal pairs must get to their place in the ark, each side by side, so all species stay together.

Make travel more fun: www.smarttangoes.com