At our last visit with our younger grandchildren, this Grandma was surprised to see our nine year old grandson playing with a Rubik’s cube. Usually, it is an Ipad that has his complete attention. He was very interested in it and asked if I knew how to solve the cube. I had no clue. I cannot remember the last time I held a Rubik’s cube. I don’t remember if I ever knew how to solve the cube.
Coincidentally, the Sun Sentinel Parade Magazine October 16, 2016, had an article about the Rubik’s cube, and a new book about solving the cube is being released October 18, “Cracking the Cube: Going Slow to Go Fast and Other Unexpected Turns in the World of Competitive Rubik’s Cube Solving Hardcover by Ian Scheffler, who is a speed solver. It is available at Amazon.
Now, we grandmas all can be up to date about Rubik’s cubes. Apparently, the Rubik’s Cube has an entire cult following. There is a World Cube Association with competitions around the world. The next World Championship 2017 will be held in Paris, France in July 2017!
The link in the Sun Sentinel brings you to several facts about the Rubik’s cube to share with the grandchildren:
“*The product was originally called a Magic Cube. (Invented by a Hungarian professor by the name of Erno Rubik in 1974)
*Will Smith, Justin Bieber and Ryan Gosling are all fans.
* If you’re having trouble solving the cube, remember there are 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 (43.2 quintillion) possible configurations.
*The cube is made up of 26 smaller cubes called “cubelets.”
*Lucas Etter holds the record for fastest single Rubik’s Cube solve. The 15-year-old solved the cube in 4.904 seconds in 2015.”
It will just be fun to talk about and write out the number of configurations of 43.2 quintrillion!
Wikipedia has information about the history of the cube and different techniques to solve the cube that you can try with your grandchildren.
You too can start your grandchildren on a Rubik’s cube and earlier than you think.
Get the Baby Ready
Bead mazes and more. The perfect activity center for 12+ months is My First Learning Bead Maze Cube Activity Center.
Age 3+
A more expensive and more complicated activity center for age 3+ is TOAOB Wooden Learning Bead Maze Cube Activity Center Six Sided for Kids Play
Age 6+
Larger and easier than a Rubik’s Cube
Smaller and easier than a Rubik’s Cube
The Cuby – The Best Two-Layer Brain Teaser 2×2 Cube – Perfect For Beginners – Hours of Fun In The Palm Of Your Hand –
The Original Rubik’s Cube
The Original Rubik’s Cube is a great visit present and the holidays are coming up.
Book Written By a Teenager on How To Solve the Rubik’s Cube
Conquer The Cube In 45 Seconds Hardcover, published March 10, 1982,by Jeffrey Varasano, who was fifteen when he wrote the book, gets the most stars on Amazon as the easiest to understand, but expensive as it is an old publication. Buy at Amazon.
The Most Expensive Electronic Rubik’s Cube
Rubik’s Futuro Cube is a new, customizable, 3x3x3 electronic cube with a variety of games, online capability, and multi-player supported. As it is very expensive, it is only for those who need to be hooked on electronics and this gives them a different form than an Ipad to hold in their hands. Buy at Amazon.
The choices are as endless as the many types of Rubik’s cubes. Well, maybe not. But it is an alternative to electronics and a great stocking stuffer or holiday gift. You never know, your grandchild could get hooked too. Look for a competition near you or watch Lucas Etter’s world record on You Tube:
Better yet, this is a great gift to get grandpa and grandchild and let them figure it out together.
Joy,
Mema