Jigsaw Puzzles are a great way for children to learn, have fun, and have a special bonding time with their parents or siblings.
The benefits of jigsaw puzzle in kids includes:
(1) Development of fine motor skills. Jigsaw puzzle is made up of smaller pieces that the child has to pick up with their fingers and fit together to recreate the big picture that it was.
(2) Hand-eye coordination.
(3) Sorting. Their understanding of colors and shapes will broaden.
(4) Matching. Same as above.
(5) Concentration and Focus.
(5) Perseverance.
(6) Creativity and Imagination. Once the puzzle is finished, try to talk about the finished picture with your child. This is also a good way to introduce new words in his/her vocabulary. Make him/her describe or name what are seen on the picture. Make the child tell a brief simple story regarding the picture.
(7) Visualization
(8) Improves or develops self-esteem. Since doing any kind of puzzle takes time and concentration (and kids usually have a shorter attention span than adults), finally being able to finish one is a real achievement, and would indeed give your child a happy can-do feeling. This fosters their growing independence too since they will realize that they are able to do this activity with no or little help.
(9) A fun activity to bond with your kid.
(10) If building the jigsaw with one or more friends, he/she learns of the concept of sharing, teamwork, and being able to get along well and communicating with others.
Puzzles are safe, inexpensive, and promotes cognitive, emotional, and social skills in children.
It would be best to do puzzles in a quiet comfortable place with a flat surface, free from distractions. My son likes to do this on the floor where he can view each and every piece spread out clearly.
Choose age appropriate puzzles. Manufacturers includes age indications on the carton. Start your child from a 3-4 piece puzzle and increase the number once he/she is ready to tackle a bigger sized picture.
Vary the sensorial experience for your kid by getting wooden or cardboard puzzles (textures).
It would be good to choose a puzzle picture that your child has interest in (like in Albert's case, its vehicles like airplane and cars), and try to link the picture to your child's lessons.
You as parent can assist them in case the child encounter some difficulty by giving tips like "try to turn that one to this way". You can hand them a piece but let them match it on their own.
Namaste!
