As moms, we’re always looking for non-screen activities and often we’re also looking for something free or low-cost. One great way to keep children busy is with puzzles!
However, after the 20th time of completing the same puzzle the magic can wear off. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on new puzzles, and you may not have anywhere to put them even if you did go buy them. Sound familiar?
I was in a similar boat until discovering Waco has Puzzle Swap events. One group meets twice a year at the Hewitt Public Library, and the Jigsaw Puzzle Swap Central Texas group meets every month at the West Waco Library!
My children and I looked forward to the swap at the Hewitt Public Library, and now they’re even more excited about a monthly option to add to the mix.
Amy Nichols runs the monthly swap. She got into puzzling with her mother at an early age. During the lock-downs of 2020, her mother was going through a puzzle almost every day. Nichols started looking for affordable ways to add new puzzles to the mix. After discussions with the Temple/Belton Puzzle Swap group, she teamed up with her “puzzle partner in crime” Aaron to create a monthly swap in Waco.
She said, “We see all types of puzzles, and it is fascinating to see what preferences everyone has. Overall, most people tend to have a puzzle “type”. It could be piece count, some only work 500 piece puzzles. Some prefer bright colorful pictures and others love puzzles with dogs and cats on them. We have one regular that often works 2000 piece and up puzzles.”
There’s something for everyone at each of the puzzle swaps and everyone is willing to help or chat about one of their favorite hobbies. While some think of puzzles as a solitary venture, it really can become a community event.
Nichols said, “Puzzles are such a fun activity and you can work them solo or with friends and family. Many puzzlers only want to work a puzzle once though and of course they still have so much more life and joy to give! This swap allows this to happen by helping them reach new puzzlers.”
Nichols has a soft spot for the mother/daughter puzzler duos since that’s how she got her start in the puzzle world.
“We have at least three other sets of Mother/Daughter pairs that attend and work puzzles together and it has been a joy to swap stories with them in addition to puzzles.”
The monthly group only started in January and has had steady growth all year. While there aren’t as many children puzzles (yet), that could easily be changed. I know our family’s already gathered a few to share. That said, there are families who come to pick out puzzles to do together. Doesn’t that sound the perfect fall and winter family night activity?!
Nichols said, “One of our regular attendees discovered puzzles last Christmas. As a mom, she was ecstatic that while over the holiday (season) the family sat down to work a puzzle and the kids were not attached to their devices. It was fun, they talked and worked together and she was hooked! She couldn’t wait to get her hands on more puzzles for the family to work together. It is not only a fun activity, it requires using your brain and gives us all a chance to put down our phones and devices and connect with each other.”
The group meets on the last Saturday of every month at 2pm in the West Waco Library’s meeting room. However, you have to be a little early to set up any puzzles you’re contributing and then pick quickly because people often select puzzles in under 15 minutes. Click here to learn more.
Ladies, let’s add our children’s puzzles to the mix and let’s take back family night with a fun and calm activity!
