Stretching can be a difficult concept for humans to embrace. While most would agree that the idea of stretching, whether it be in regards to muscles, thinking or creativity, is a good idea many of us have trouble practicing it ourselves. People are creatures of habit and when a pattern is learned and it works it's very hard to get someone to reach beyond what they already know. But stretching is essential to not only developing the human body but also the brain. Our minds are just like the other muscles in our body and if not exercised properly will not be as fit or as sharp as we might like.
Brain stretching is the practice of forcing the mind to process new information and to be creative in using that information to solve problems, retain memory and sharpen cognitive abilities. If you do not stretch your brain then you will stagnate in the thought processes that got you this far in life but may not get you much further.
Developing the brain is essential to survival and maintaining a healthy and fit mind. The more you can stretch your brain the more creativity you allow and in turn the more adept you become at solving problems, finding solutions to puzzles and riddles and sharpening your brain's reflexive ability so you can think faster and more clearly.
Mathematics games are just one way you can train your brain to stretch beyond its learned patterns. Algebra, geometry and other math branches force the mind to analyze a problem from several angles to find a solution. Research has shown that many people struggle with math problems and other brain games because they can not "see" the problem and therefore can not be expected to find a solution.
Brain stretching helps open the mind up and allow new information and perspectives to be processed in the hopes of finding a solution to a problem. In school each grade you succeed to come with new challenges and problems that you will not be able to solve simply relying on the skills you learned the year before. After school though many people stop exercising their brain stretching capabilities and fall back on thought processes that have worked in the past. But in so doing you actually hinder the mind's ability to develop and grow.
Through simple yet creative brain training games including chess, crossword puzzles, memory match games and riddles you actively exercise the brain's many skills and in a sense stretch the mind's information processing ability. When you practice brain stretching you will notice in time how much more creative you are at finding solutions to common everyday problems and how much more clearly you are able to think.