Our Fair Oaks location recently celebrated National Puzzle Day! Puzzles are critical in early learning as they provide physical, cognitive, and sensory education.
Some of the benefits puzzles offers are:
- develop finger strength
- problem-solving
- hand-eye coordination
- memory skills
- shape recognition
- Learning colors
- concentration
- perseverance
- patience
- cognitive skills through learning about shapes and colors
- fine-motor abilities
- Independent play
- goal setting
- social skills
- concept of a ‘whole’ and how each piece is a part of something bigger
- A sense of achievement.
Have your child turn, flip, slide, and wriggle pieces into position. This encourages fine motor skills as well as problem-solving. Try to provide your child with various puzzles, from knob puzzles for young children up to 100-piece puzzles for elementary kids. Find time to play with your kids. Find a safe spot on the floor or for older kids at a table.
Putting a puzzle back before getting another and only playing with one puzzle at a time are two rules that help keep the play area tidy and avoid losing any pieces. Keep a selection of puzzles on hand, but only put out a few at a time. Periodically rotating puzzles provides versatility, which will help keep your child engaged. Remember to offer an assortment of table and floor puzzles that range in content and difficulty to maximize interest and engagement.
Puzzles can be fun for the whole family, so be sure to make them a regular part of your child’s play!
