Hey Mumma, Daddy, did you know that I learn a lot of cool things when I do puzzles? I'm getting better at the skills I need for a 1,000-piece puzzle right now, even though we might not be putting one together for a while. Let me tell you how puzzles help me get better.
Early Skills Developed Through Puzzles
Fine Motor Practice: The little muscles in my hands and fingers get stronger when I pick up, point, clutch, and squeeze puzzle parts. Daddy, isn't that cool?
Hand-Eye Coordination: Mumma, puzzles help me learn how to make my hands do what I see. As I get older, this will help me do more difficult things.
Gross Motor Practice: I use the bigger muscles in my arms and legs when I do big floor puzzles because they make me bend and stretch. It's like having fun working out.
Recognizing Shapes & Spatial Awareness: I learn how different shapes fit together and how space works. Not only does this help me in games, but it also helps me with everyday things.
Memory Enhancement: For better memory, I do puzzles because they make and strengthen neural links that help me remember things.
Plus, puzzles teach me to be resilient, work with others, manage frustration, and understand math concepts like symmetry and parts of a whole.
Puzzle-Solving Progression in Babies and Toddlers
Puzzle Coin Box: Improving their problem-solving abilities, hand-eye coordination and perseverance.
Circle Puzzle: Promoting size discrimination, visual discrimination and spatial awareness
Geometric Puzzle: Promoting grasping skills, hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills.
4 Piece Puzzle: Promoting shape recognition, logical thinking & problem-solving abilities..
6 Piece Puzzle: Solving the same puzzle in two different ways.
Slide & Spin Puzzle: Improving visual tracking, visual discrimination and spatial awareness.
Life cycle puzzle: Enhancing memory, visual discrimination & shape-colour recognition skills.
Advanced Shape Puzzle: Promoting usage of multi- solution approach for problem-solving.
Encouraging Puzzle Play
Mumma, Daddy, it's important to remember that I grow and change at my own pace, so how I solve problems may be different from how other kids do it. I need a lot of time to try new things, play, and look into puzzles, even if I'm not answering them the "right" way. This will help me build a strong base for my brain growth, fine motor skills, and large motor skills in the future.
Thanks for helping me on my puzzle adventures. Playing puzzles is a simple but amazing thing that helps me grow in so many ways. Let's puzzle together and have fun.