When you were little we are willing to guarantee you played with puzzles. Wooden puzzles for children are a staple, classic and timeless toy that every family would have.
But why? Why are puzzles a style of toy that will always last the test of time even when new and flashy trends emerge year after year?
Let’s have a look at our top benefits that using wooden puzzles with your children so you know that when you play with them you’re providing a wonderful foundation for early learning.
6 BENEFITS OF PUZZLE TOYS
The feeling you get when you finish a puzzle is a pure sense of achievement. Your child will love having that feeling too when they complete the puzzles you give them. Puzzles are unlike other toys in that they have a definie completion – when all the pieces are in the right spot – allowing your child to start and finish a set task and gain that sense of accomplishment. But what are some of the benefits of playing with puzzles?
- Hand-eye coordination – by placing the pieces in the correct position, your child is developing a connection between their arms, hands and fingers and being able to place the piece down.
- Problem solving skills – this is a wonderful skill. First, your child needs to make sure the pieces are up the right way, in the correct position and the picture they are trying to create is completed.
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Shape, colour and object identification – if the puzzle is a board puzzle or a chunky puzzle, with pieces that are different shapes, you are giving your child the opportunity to learn whatever it is that the puzzles theme is – it could be shapes, numbers, colours or any range of objects from cars to animals! By giving you child puzzle pieces in a range of different themes, you are helping them learn through a tactile way.
Need more shape toys? We have great shape toys here. -
Gross motor skill development – if you’re completing a puzzle and the pieces are scattered around, you can assist with gross motor development by getting your child to reach, walk or crawl to the piece they need next. Turn a simple puzzle into a hide and seek activity by placing the pieces around the room!
Looking for a fun way to work on gross motor skills? Try this scavenger hunt!
- Fine motor skill development – puzzles are fantastic for developing fine motor skills. When your child picks up the pieces, turning them in their fingers and placing it gently in place requires definite motor skills, and these toys give so many opportunities to develop this skill.
- Goal setting – by having a goal, or task, and setting out to complete it, that’s where that look of accomplishment we started with comes from – and isn’t that something special?
So, there are just 6 of many reasons to give your child puzzles to play with – but remember, as we always say, your child will learn from YOU. YOU need to help them, because without you helping and teaching them, they’ll never know to put the pieces together.
