Puzzles for Toddlers: The Benefits of Fun and Learning
Updated: Sep 7, 2023
Have you ever thought about the benefits of puzzles for toddlers? Puzzles are not just a fun pastime activity but are also a great learning tool for children. By completing puzzles, they can improve their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, language skills, and cognitive abilities. This is especially important as toddlers develop and grow. In this blog post, we will explore these benefits in depth and provide insights into why you should encourage your little ones to engage in this activity.
Improvement of hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills
Puzzles for toddlers require hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills to complete, which, over time, will help improve these abilities. A child must learn how to coordinate their hand movements with their vision when they are searching for puzzle pieces and trying to fit them in the right places. By doing so, they learn how precise movements are necessary to achieve the desired outcome. This improves their fine motor skills, which are critical for many other activities, such as writing, drawing, and using utensils.
Assists language skills as children talk about what they are doing while completing the puzzle
Completing puzzles with your toddler is a great opportunity to develop their language skills. They can learn new vocabulary and communicate with you about what they are working on. This strengthens their ability to express themselves, and it allows you to connect with your child in a meaningful way. When asking them questions like “What color is this?” or “Can you find the yellow piece?” or “What shape does this piece have?”, it encourages them to articulate themselves in answers while extending their vocabulary.
Enables children to extend thinking skills such as remembering, matching, sorting, recognizing, and problem-solving
Solving puzzles is an excellent way to practice cognitive abilities. Toddlers must concentrate and focus on the puzzle, hold pieces in memory, and remember where they fit. They must also be able to recognize what goes where, which helps with their recognition memory. Puzzles are an excellent teaching tool for matching, sorting, and categorizing skills. From identifying patterns to solving problems and developing y relationship between shapes and colors, puzzles are all supportive of developing analytical thinking skills.
Boosts the ability to work independently and to be persistent
Encouraging your toddler to solve puzzles on their own boosts their independence and self-esteem. Kids gain their confidence when they eventually complete the puzzle by themselves. They also develop persistence as they work through difficulties in completing a puzzle. When they obtain a sense of accomplishment, they learn that, when they attempt to do something challenging, they will have to exert some effort and patience, which supports them in the long term.
Strengthens social skills
Puzzles can also promote the strengthening of social skills, particularly when completed with other children or with a parent. In a group setting, children can learn to take turns, share puzzles, and encourage each other to finish their puzzles. Also, parents can encourage their children to talk about different topics while they are completing the puzzle, which strengthens their communication and listening skills.
Conclusion:
Giving your toddler puzzles to solve brings many benefits in cognitive and physical development. Encouraging your child to engage in a mix of activities, including puzzles, while young, can help build their skills and form a strong foundation for future learning. By improving their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, language, cognitive ability, persistence, and social skills, they are developing their confidence and creativity. Helping your child learn while having fun is a great way to give them a head start. Give them a puzzle today, and you'll be amazed at how much they can learn!
Personal Perspective:
Growing up with a talented artist brother, 'Baza', I developed an appreciation how beautiful pieces of art connects with others. However, when I discovered the numerous wellness benefits of jigsaw puzzles, I realized the importance of sharing these positive influences in the lives of others. That's why I established our Etsy store - to share my passion for art, while also providing a fun and challenging activity that anyone can enjoy. There's something special about putting together a jigsaw puzzle, slowly revealing the image that was previously hidden. And when that image is a work of art, it's even more rewarding. I hope our puzzles not only bring joy to those who solve them, but also showcase the beauty of art in a unique and interactive way.
