Image Source: FreeImages
The Complete Brain Exercise for Early Childhood
How many times have my son and I built jigsaws together? I lost count months ago. The benefits of jigsaw puzzles are UNDERRATED. Period. This form of entertainment is priceless for keeping your little one occupied, thinking, and quiet…
In this digital world of fast-paced phone games and Youtube shorts, it’s hard for little ones to keep their minds focused…so giving them a little ‘old school’ play time is what they might be needing.
Unlocking Their Creativity And Problem-Solving Skills
Puzzles have been around for centuries, and they are an excellent way to help preschoolers unlock their creativity and problem-solving skills. The benefits of jigsaw puzzles are numerous for this age group as they provide a fun and engaging way to learn and grow. Not only do jigsaw puzzles help children develop fine motor skills, but they also provide a great opportunity for them to practice their problem-solving abilities.
As preschoolers work on their puzzles, they learn to think critically and develop strategies for tackling challenges. The benefits of jigsaw puzzles also help children to practice their visual-spatial skills and memory, as they analyze the pieces and determine what goes where.
Additionally, jigsaw puzzles can help preschoolers build self-confidence as they discover that they are capable of doing something. Furthermore, puzzles are a great way to teach children the importance of persistence and patience, as they learn that it takes time and effort to complete a task.
**Affiliate Disclaimer—This page contains affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of the links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon and Share a Sale Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.**
What are jigsaw puzzles?
Jigsaw puzzles are a group of pre-cut pieces that are arranged to form a picture. The goal of the puzzle is to put the pieces together to create the final image. Traditionally, jigsaw puzzles have been made of cardboard with a wooden or plastic frame. However, in recent years, many puzzles have been made from plastic so that they are easier for children to manipulate. The pieces are usually fitted together with interlocking tabs.
Jigsaw puzzles have been around for hundreds of years, and they have proven to be a great way to help children develop their creativity and problem-solving skills. In the past, most puzzles were made for adults or older children. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of jigsaw puzzles made for preschoolers.
Benefits of puzzles for preschoolers
As preschoolers work on their jigsaw puzzles, they can develop a wide range of skills, such as fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, creativity and brain health!
Fine motor skills – Working on jigsaw puzzles is a great way to help children develop their fine motor skills. As preschoolers manipulate the puzzle pieces, they can improve their dexterity and hand-eye coordination. This is especially helpful for young children who are just learning to write.
Problem-solving skills – Jigsaw puzzles provide a fun and engaging way to help children practice their problem-solving skills. As children work on their puzzles, they have to analyze the pieces and determine what goes where. They also have to think critically about the best way to put the pieces together.
Creativity – Puzzles are a great way to foster children’s creativity. As preschoolers work on their puzzles, they can use their imagination to come up with different ways to put the pieces together.
Develop fine motor skills
As preschoolers work on a puzzle game, they are using a wide range of fine motor muscles. These include the muscles in their hands, as well as the muscles in their fingers, wrists, and forearms. In particular, they are working on strengthening their fingers and hands. While children work on their puzzles, they are strengthening these muscles by grasping the pieces and moving them into place and also using eye-hand coordination.
Problem-solving
This is great practice for their problem-solving skills. As children look forward to a complete puzzle, they are actually figuring out a way to complete the task. This helps them to practice their critical thinking skills, which they can then apply to other areas of their life.
Build self-confidence
When children work on the pieces of a puzzle, they can develop a sense of accomplishment as they get closer to finishing their puzzles. This sense of pride and confidence can help children to feel more comfortable with their abilities, which can be especially helpful for shy or introverted children.
This feeling of accomplishment and using different approaches to complete a puzzle can help children to build their self-confidence. They can also learn the importance of setting goals and meeting them. This can be helpful for children who have a difficult time getting motivated to do things or even kids that have a short attention span.
Learn the importance of persistence and patience
As children work on their puzzles, they learn that it takes time and effort to complete a task. They have to be persistent and patient as they work through the pieces to finish their puzzles. This can help children to understand the importance of following through with a task and a fun challenge until they are completed. It can also help them to develop good time-management skills, as they learn to work on their puzzles within a set time frame.
Tips for using jigsaw puzzles with preschoolers
As with any activity, it is important to set a few guidelines for working on jigsaw puzzles with preschoolers. Here are a few suggestions:
Have a quiet time: ‘Brain Games’ like puzzles and board games are a great way to foster creativity, but they can be quite loud. If you have a particularly loud preschooler, it might be best to do the puzzles during quiet time.
Choose the right size: Make sure that the puzzles that you choose for your child are the right size. If they are too difficult, your child will become frustrated. If they are too easy, they won’t gain any benefits from working on them. I’ve used large wooden jigsaw puzzles in the past when my son was much younger. They could fit well with your child as well.
At our place, my son started with 12 pcs puzzles and made his way toward much harder ones. We have a 500pcs puzzle that we have yet to touch, as it might be way too much for him to handle(and maybe Daddy too.)
Make it a family activity: Puzzles can be a good reason to start a new family activity. This can be a great way for children and parents to spend time together. It can also be a great opportunity for parents to foster their children’s creativity and mental stimulation.
Different types of jigsaw puzzles for preschoolers
As preschoolers work on their puzzles, they can develop a wide range of skills. This makes jigsaw puzzles a great activity for this age group. There are a variety of jigsaw puzzles available that are designed for preschoolers. This includes preschool-aged children’s puzzles with smaller pieces that are easier for children to manipulate.
There are also themed jigsaw puzzles made for preschoolers, such as Disney puzzles, animal puzzles, and transportation puzzles. These themed jigsaw puzzles can be a great way to engage preschoolers in new topics. For example, a transportation puzzle can be a great way to introduce preschoolers to vehicles. It really has to do with the age of the child and the gender. My son would not appreciate a ‘Frozen 2’ puzzle, I can bet on that!
Here are a few recommended puzzles for preschoolers:
In this day and age of parents ‘plopping’ their kids in front of their phones to keep them entertained, the ‘good old’ jigsaw seems like something that grandma does on Sundays, but there is fun to be had. There is collaboration between parents and child or just the productivity of all of this for the child and limit their screen time.
There are many different types of jigsaw puzzles for preschoolers or people of all ages. However, not all of them are appropriate for this age group. It is important to choose a puzzle that is appropriately challenging for your child’s skill level. It is also a good idea to choose educational puzzles, as this can help your child to learn new things.
24,000 pcs puzzle by Educa Borras Life: This puzzle is designed to be completed in a slow and paced manner and on your spare time… This monster comes with plenty of pieces to keep your family busy for the next year! All joking aside, this might be the biggest undertaking that your fam has ever done as a team. Why not try it?!
Melissa & Doug 100-Piece Floor Puzzles: This is a great puzzle for preschoolers. It comes with 100 different pieces, which is a good amount of pieces for preschoolers to work on. The puzzle is larger, so it can be placed on the floor. This way, preschoolers can sit on the floor to work on their puzzles.
Melissa & Doug Outdoor-Themed Double-Sided Puzzle: This is a great puzzle for preschoolers. The pieces are large and easy for young children to manipulate. It also comes with 48 jumbo pieces, which is enough for preschoolers to work on for a while.
Conclusion
I’m no puzzle champion nor a knowledgeable person in these jigsaws, but I know what works. The health benefits of jigsaw puzzles are mentioned in this post and they are well-documented too.
All of the above mentioned is what has worked here in our home and with plenty of laughs along the way and races to see who can finish the 48pc puzzles fastest. It’s a fun way to bond with your own children and basically…have time with them not to mention keeping your own brain active. So, go ahead and purchase their first jigsaw puzzle! They are only young once!
Hey You!! “At our Facebook group for fathers, you’ll find a safe and supportive space where you can share your experiences, ask for advice, and connect with other dads from around the world. Join us today!!”
