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Which are the best puzzles on Amazon?

Puzzles test people’s ingenuity, knowledge and ability to arrive at the correct solution or win the game. They involve exploring, logical thinking, reasoning, spatial awareness, counting, solving problems and handling things. Puzzles were STEM toys long before the acronym came along and still are today because we develop so many skills while we’re having fun.

What are the benefits we get from doing puzzles?

The National Institutes of Health says puzzles are not only a great way to pass the time, but they benefit us, too, in several ways:

Puzzle types

The three most popular puzzle types are cut-out puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and 3D puzzles:

Who is the puzzle for?

Kids need puzzles that are easy to solve so they get a sense of accomplishment and are not frustrated by games beyond their ability. Older kids and adults want puzzles that present greater challenges.

Number of pieces

Most manufacturers list the number of pieces on the box:

Best easy puzzles for small kids

Runlycan Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle 6-Pack for Preschool Girls and Boys

Each of these approximately 8- by 12-inch puzzles has 60 smoothly polished solid wood pieces with rounded corners. The six colorfully illustrated themes are dinosaur, farm, forest, ocean, space and construction.

Tolnetr Kids Magnetic Tiles Paradise 3D Magnetic Building Block Set

This 60-piece set is made for kids 3 and up. The durable plastic triangular and rectangular blocks have rounded corners for safety and magnets inside so kids can stack them any way they want.

MoTrent Wooden Peg Puzzle Learning Toy

Little kids learn their numbers and basic shapes with these ingenious puzzle pieces that have knobs little hands can grasp easily.

[ Umtoy Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle 8-Pack ]

The clever design of these eight puzzles have multiple pieces that fit together inside the cut-out areas. These 6-inch-square puzzles include a cow, space ship, dragonfly and elephant.

Best puzzles for kids and families

Mudpuppy Ocean 500-Piece Glow-in-the-Dark Jigsaw Puzzle for Kids and Families

The puzzle features a colorful underwater scene that features an octopus, shark, turtle, big and small fish, coral and sea plants. When you’ve finished this 20- by 20-inch puzzle, turn off the room lights to reveal glowing sea life surprises.

Ravensburger World Landmarks 300-Piece Puzzle Map

Every piece in this puzzle is unique so you can never put the wrong piece in a spot. The landmarks add to the fun of learning world geography while you play.

Galison 500-Piece Popsicle Rainbow Puzzle for Families and Teens

All of the colors in this vividly colored popsicle rainbow have started to melt and the bright colors bleed from one to the next. The pieces are printed with non-toxic, no-glare inks and are dust-free.

[ Cubicfun 3D Eiffel Tower Puzzle with LED Lights ]

When completed, this paper and foam board tower stands 30 inches tall. You assemble it by fitting the pieces together without glue.

Best puzzles for those who crave a challenge

All Jigsaws Impuzzable Candy Balls

Looking like the inside of a huge gumball machine, these multicolored balls form a dazzling piece of artwork when you’re done. The 1,000 pieces have crisp, clear images mounted on high-quality millboard for sturdiness and durability.

Lego Ideas Winnie the Pooh 21326 Building Set for Adults

Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit and Eeyore come to Pooh’s house at the Hundred Acre Wood. When fully assembled, the 1,265 pieces reach 9 inches high at the top of the tree.

Aquarius “Harry Potter” Hogwarts Castle Puzzle

Unlock your inner wizard as you view the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry rising from the Black Lake. The 3,000 pieces are all precision cut from thick glare-free paper.

[ Rokr 3D Wooden Zodiac Clock Puzzle ]

This 168-piece clock is made of premium basswood and comes with detailed assembly instructions. When completed, it is a working clock that tells the minute, hour, day, week and month.

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How to work out more in 2024

Is exercising more one of your New Year’s resolutions? There’s no need to wait until 2024 to start a new fitness journey. If you invest in exercise gear now, you can hit the ground running by January 1, perhaps in more than one way.

Once you set your fitness goals for 2024, take a good look at the market to see which products can maximize results or keep you on a sustainable path. Besides getting new athletic apparel and sneakers, you may find it’s worthwhile to invest in free weights or fitness trackers. And if tempted to buy a high-priced cardio machine, like a NordicTack, it might be within your budget if you opt for a payment plan.

How to exercise more in 2024 Why you should exercise more

There are countless benefits of being more active, and it’s not just a matter of losing weight or bulking up.

Studies have shown that boosting activity levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, improve cognitive function and strengthen muscles and bones. Older adults who stay active improve coordination and balance enough to minimize the risks of falls. Individuals of all ages and fitness levels often report they sleep better when they’re more active during the day, as well.

Tips for getting more active

If you’d like to exercise more but aren’t sure where to begin, there are a few ways you can get moving.

Do I need to spend a lot of money to get active?

While you can easily spend thousands of dollars on high-priced exercise machines, personal trainers and expensive gym memberships, it’s unnecessary to be active. It doesn’t cost anything to walk, jog or do bodyweight exercises at home.

However, if you do have a budget, there’s fitness gear available at every price point. Basic accessories like yoga mats or resistance bands cost $30 and below. Entry-level weight sets and kettlebells cost $40-$150, whereas better-quality pieces run $250-$500. Exercise machines and home gyms start at around $500 and run as high as $3,000.

Get fit in the new year with these 6 products

[ NordicTrack Commercial 2450 Treadmill ]

This top-of-the-line treadmill offers immersive running and walking experiences with a 14-inch HD touchscreen and access to iFit, which offers live and on-demand workouts.

[ Fitbit Charge 5 ]

The brand-new health and fitness tracker helps you stay on top of fitness goals by logging steps, pace, heart rate and activity level. It has a built-in GPS that comes in handy during outdoor workouts.

[ Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells ]

This compact Bowflex dumbbell set is an affordable, space-savvy alternative to weight racks. The convenient dial system lets users adjust their weight between 5 and 52.5 pounds.

[ BOSU Pro Balance Trainer Stability Ball/Board ]

Enjoy ab-blasting workouts and balance exercises with this stability ball. The versatile device can take workouts to the next level or you can use it for modified exercises, like crunches.

[ TRX All-in-One Suspension Trainer ]

The popular TRX training system is now available in an affordable home kit and comes with free 90-day access to on-demand classes. You can set up suspension accessories indoors or outdoors.

[ Schwinn Men’s GTX 3 Hybrid Bike ]

Add biking to your exercise regimen with this Schwinn bike, whose versatile design is perfect for casual riding or local commuting. It has a lightweight aluminum frame and offers easy maneuverability.

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Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.

Sian Babish writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

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By TIM REYNOLDS

Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE — The scenario is too far-fetched for even Brock Glenn to have thought about: A third-string, true freshman quarterback gets to take the field to lead Florida State into an Orange Bowl with a shot at an undefeated season.

It’s beyond even his imagination.

“If you would’ve told me this would happen, this story, I wouldn’t believe you,” Glenn said.

Believe it. The scenario is his reality now, and he gets what he calls “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” on Saturday when No. 4 Florida State (13-0, No. 5 College Football Playoff rankings) takes on No. 6 Georgia (12-1, No. 6 CFP) in the Orange Bowl.

Glenn got the job because Jordan Travis, who led Florida State into national-title contention, is out with a broken leg and former backup Tate Rodemaker — who likely would have started the Orange Bowl — opted out and is seeking a transfer.

“The Orange Bowl is an awesome bowl. It’s one of the best in the country,” Glenn said. “And we’ve got a great opportunity in front of us playing Georgia, a great team. We’re also a great team, so it’s going to be a great game. We’re genuinely excited and thankful for the opportunity.”

Glenn has completed 10 of 25 passes this season for 90 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Almost all his playing time came in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, when Florida State beat Louisville to send one last message to the CFP selection committee that the Seminoles — with or without Travis — deserved a chance to play for the national title.

The committee disagreed, and the Orange Bowl is the consolation prize. The Florida State team that takes the field Saturday is not the same team that went 13-0 — several key players have opted out or entered the portal — and lineup changes had to be made almost everywhere.

Florida State’s two leading passers are out or gone, along with the top four Seminoles in rushing yards, the three leaders in receiving yards and the top five in terms of total receptions. Top wide receiver Keon Coleman made his departure official on Wednesday, saying he will enter the draft.

“We all shared a common goal,” Coleman wrote in a letter to the Seminole football community. “You wanted to win a championship. I came here to win a championship. We gave it everything we had and unfortunately did not have the opportunity to prove that we were the best team in college football this year.”

There is an obvious unpredictability to Florida State’s approach this weekend because many of the players who’ll be in key roles won’t have had those same roles during the regular season. And weirdly, that might be a challenge for Georgia in terms of getting ready for the Orange Bowl.

“We just kind of prepare how we prepare,” Georgia defensive linemen Mykel Williams said. “We prepare for every game the same way. We just expect to come in and do what we do to the best of our ability.”

The Bulldogs are two-touchdown favorites. Florida State hasn’t been this big of an underdog in a game since October 2021 — part of a season in which the Seminoles went 5-7.

“We just worry about what we can control,” Glenn said, “and we’ll do what we can with the opportunity.”

By MARK DIDTLER (Associated Press)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Sam Reinhart had two goals, Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves, and the Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice joined Scotty Bowman (2,141) and Barry Trotz (1,812) as the only NHL coaches to have coached 1,800 games. He is sixth in wins with 837.

Maurice said he’s not yet in their company “Because they’ve got those rings.” Maurice is the only one of the three not to have won the Stanley Cup.

“A lifetime of association with some really fine people,” Maurice said. “I’m mindful of that. It’s not a milestone necessarily, (it’s) a path.”

Aaron Ekblad also scored for the Panthers, and Aleksander Barkov had three assists.

“It’s a big win for us against a really good team,” Bobrovsky said. “It’s always a rivalry.”

Nikita Kucherov scored his 300th goal and Michael Eyssimont had the other Lightning goal. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots. Tampa Bay had won three straight.

“I’m not so sure we were completely physically engaged in this one until we scored (in the third period),” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.

Kucherov is the 244th player to reach the 300-goal milestone.

The Panthers were the Prince of Wales Trophy winners last year as the top team in the Eastern Conference after Tampa Bay won it the three previous three years.

Reinhart made it 2-0 early in the second period off a nice back-hand pass by Evan Rodrigues.

After Kucherov scored 29 seconds into the third, Reinhart got a short-handed goal to put Florida up 3-1 at 3:11. Tampa Bay got back within one 20 seconds later on Eyssimont’s power-play goal.

Kucherov, the NHL points leader, missed several first-period shifts after taking a stick to the face.

Ekblad had his first goal this season in the first period. Florida is 13-0-2 when scoring first.

Shortly after Ekblad’s goal, Bobrovsky made four strong saves on Tampa Bay’s NHL home-leading power play. Bobrovsky also made a lunging glove save on Brayden Point during a breakaway midway through the third.

“He was insane today,” Rodrigues said.

Vasilevskiy kept it a one-goal game with a lunging pad save on Carter Verhaeghe’s power-play rebound with four minutes left.

Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos had four shots, a double minor late in the third and finished at minus-3 and is minus-15 this season.

Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev took part in the morning skate but missed his third straight game after taking a shot off the back of his left foot on Dec. 19.

UP NEXT

Panthers: Host the New York Rangers on Friday night.

Lightning: Continue a three-game homestand Saturday night against the Rangers.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL