Puzzles Teach
Often puzzles are seen as simply a toy to occupy a child, but puzzles are so much more. Children can learn many concepts from puzzles such as hand-eye coordination, spatial relations, math, and problem-solving. They also give children a sense of accomplishment when they complete a puzzle that is developmentally appropriate. (You don’t want to give a two-year-old a 50-piece jigsaw puzzle because she will simply get frustrated. And, if that child is anything like my child in the “terrible two” phase, the pieces will then get thrown across the room.)
While putting the puzzle together, very young children practice fitting pieces into the correctly shaped space. They learn how to turn the pieces to make them fit correctly, and they use beginner math skills, such as matching and one-to-one correspondence to place each piece in the correct space. Through repetition, young children are able to also learn from the puzzle itself. Some puzzles teach the alphabet or numbers, colors or shapes. Others focus on groups of items such as things that go, dinosaurs, farm animals, or food.
As children progress to jigsaw puzzles, a whole new set of learning skills are introduced. Even very basic jigsaw puzzles require children to problem solve and spatial relations as they examine each piece to determine how that piece fits onto other pieces and where it goes in relation to the entire picture that is being created. Of course these puzzles can teach about any other subject matter, such as geography, art, or science, or it may simply be completed for the enjoyment and satisfaction that is earned.
One other type of puzzle that preschoolers may enjoy is the search-and-find type where children must look for hidden objects amongst a harried backdrop. This type of puzzle helps strengthen observation skills as well as vocabulary. It has also been my experience that search-and-find puzzles help build a child’s patience.
If you don’t own many puzzles, consider looking for them at your local library or dollar store. Puzzles can also be printed from online sources and glued onto thick paper to make them sturdier. A great way to mix up your puzzles is to exchange ones you have with a friend who also has a preschooler. The kids get to try out new puzzles without having to purchase new ones.
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Written by BRWI Staff on March 28, 2009
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