Young Children Benefit From Doing Jigsaw Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles can be a great learning tool for children of all ages. Doing a jigsaw puzzle requires several aspects of the thinking process and encourages mental development in these areas.

Initially a baby recognizes objects by their shape rather than its position. A cup is a cup whether it is standing upright, or upside down. The simple puzzles created for young children require more refined and defined skills and mental assimilation.

Skills Developed by Jigsaw Puzzles

A basic puzzle provides several learning opportunities. Early childhood puzzles are often sturdy with large spaces where the pieces fit. At first a child will try to force the shape into the hole without taking notice of the shape. With adult assistance the young child learns to manipulate the piece until it does fit exactly.
The child learns that the position of the puzzle piece is important it fit into the puzzle hole.Eye and hand coordination are needed to manipulate the puzzle piece into position. The child discovers that to to be successful that the shape of the hole, and the shape of the puzzle piece need to be observed. At first the child deals with the problem by trial and error. The example and guidance of an adult begins to solidify the thinking process. The child learns to put the piece in correctly through trial and error and memory. Then the child starts to develop and apply spatial awareness and mental processing

The social interaction with an adult while doing jigsaw puzzles is also very beneficial to the child’s development. The conversation about the picture, talking and demonstrating the correct method to complete it, accelerates the child’s learning process. Puzzles can create a great opportunity for increase in vocabulary, and recognition of objects and situations outside the child’s immediate world. Through talking and interacting a child can learn to recognize and match like colours. Matching is a pre-reading skill. The blue shape fits into the blue hole. An adult can take opportunities through shared experiences to develop language, build self esteem through encouragement and success as well as create a bond with a child.

When introducing a new puzzle, do it with the child at first. Make this a happy social time and lots of fun. Do the puzzles with the child long enough to maintain the child’s interest and attention, but be ready to move on to another activity. Eventually when the child’s dexterity and confidence has increased, he will want to do it by himself. With praise and encouragement the child will practise until the skills become familiar. Then is the time to introduce puzzles with greater challenge.
Puzzles help develop the reasoning and deduction process of thinking. As well as skills such as spatial awareness, matching and sorting. Above all, jigsaw puzzles present a great opportunity for language development and a happy social interaction with your child.