| Are you looking for a good way to help your child | | | | Older Preschoolers (4-5 years): 5-10 pieces |
| grow? Have you ever thought about the benefits that | | | | School-age (5+ years): 10+ pieces |
| puzzles have to offer? | | | | Even though babies lack the hand-eye coordination to |
| There are many primary skills that a child can develop | | | | put a puzzle together, they are attracted to bright |
| when constructing puzzles. Persistence and adaptable | | | | puzzle pieces, as well as puzzles that make sounds. |
| thinking are learned as kids search for different ways | | | | As babies move into their toddler and preschool years, |
| to make puzzle pieces fit together properly. A child's | | | | large-piece puzzles with pegs or knobs aid in the |
| hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills are | | | | development of a child's hand-eye coordination and |
| improved by maneuvering the puzzle pieces and fitting | | | | problem solving abilities, while sound puzzles help them |
| them in their proper locations. Assembling puzzles | | | | associate sounds with objects. At this age, children |
| helps children enthusiastically apply crucial skills such as | | | | learn that if a piece does not fit a certain way that it |
| suggestive and deductive reasoning, categorizing, | | | | can fit a different way. |
| problem solving, and classifying. | | | | Puzzles with smaller pieces help older preschoolers to |
| The most important thing to consider when picking out | | | | continue developing their skills by challenging them to |
| a puzzle is the age of your child. The puzzle should be | | | | look for more details within the puzzle. These details |
| thought-provoking, but not so difficult that it discourages | | | | can include matching pieces using colors or locating |
| your child. Other things that you should take into | | | | pieces that form an object. |
| consideration are ease of use, durability, and number of | | | | Finally, one must consider the durability of a puzzle. The |
| pieces. Although all three are important, the following | | | | younger a child is, the more durable a puzzle must be. |
| rule of thumb can be helpful when determining the | | | | Therefore, wooden puzzles and rubber puzzles are a |
| appropriate puzzle to select. | | | | much better match for little children, such as infants |
| Infants & Toddlers (0-2 years): 1-2 pieces | | | | and toddlers, while cardboard puzzles are much more |
| Young Preschoolers (3 years): 2-5 pieces | | | | suitable for preschool and school-age children. |