The Role of Puzzles in the Development of Young Children
Puzzles have been in existence for many years. The oldest known puzzle was mentioned by Archimedes around 250BC; the dissection of a square. With time, there has been an emergence of other tough puzzles that continue to challenge adults regularly. People use moderately tough puzzles to pass the time and to engage their minds.
Contrary to the opinions and perceptions of many people, wood craft kits and tough puzzles can also be used by young children to pass the time. Just like puzzles have numerous benefits to grownups, they also have several benefits to children, some of which are discussed below.
1. Cognitive Skills
Tough puzzles come with various themes and topics of interest to young children. Some of the common themes in puzzles include colors, pets, numbers, shapes, and alphabet colors, among others. The fact that children learn differently makes puzzles the best opportunity for them to learn various themes. Most of them will develop cognitive skills and differentiate between colors, letters, and various shapes when they play tough puzzles.
2. Problem Solving
Wood crafts are essential in helping toddlers and young children to develop problem-solving skills. Completing a puzzle is not the simplest of the tasks available, especially when young kids are involved. To achieve this goal, children must develop strategies and approaches. The whole process of solving a puzzle involves developing solutions and polishing reasoning skills to solve a specific problem. These skills are later used in real life as the child grows.
3. Fine Motor Development
If you want for a fun way of helping your children to refine and fine their motor skills, you need to get them playing puzzles. In such puzzles, children are required to grasp, pinch, and grasp pieces using some small knobs such as chunky pieces or pegs. They will also be required to move the pieces around before finally sorting and placing them incorrect places. These puzzles are essential in ensuring that fine motor development of the children is addressed.
4. Hand and Eye Coordination
In most cases, most of the toddlers have yet to learn eye and hand coordination. There is no better way of introducing this skill than using tough puzzles. Playing puzzles involves repeated trial and error processes, most of which involves a lot of hands and eye coordination. When toddlers make a mistake by placing a 2000 piece puzzle in the wrong position, they will note that using their eyes and try to solve it using their hands.
5. Development of Social Skills
Puzzles are very useful in promoting the development of social skills in young children. They act as an educational tool that promote and enhance cooperative play. Kids will work together to find a solution to a 2000 piece jigsaw puzzle. When they fail, they will share frustrations and support one another. They will celebrate together when they complete a puzzle. Family games are also framed with the development of social skills and cooperative in mind.
6. Improved Self-Esteem
Playing tough puzzles is an essential strategy that helps young children to build their self-esteem. When children overcome the challenges of solving a puzzle, they are very happy and proud of their problem-solving skills. Most of them grow their self-belief and start believing that they can achieve many more goals in life. This confidence and self-esteem are transferred to schoolwork and other activities that a child undertakes.
7. Improving Concentration
For toddlers, paying attention to something for more than ten seconds is a problem. Most of them tend to lose their attention spasm with slight distractions. If your child is experiencing difficulties to concentrate for more than thirty seconds, you can use tough puzzles to improve their concentration. Puzzles play a critical role in enforcing concentration because toddlers have to concentrate so that they can get it right.
If you are there wondering how you will improve corporative skills, eye-hand coordination, and concentration of your young children, consider tough puzzles as your best friend. Puzzles will not only improve his concentration but will fine-tune motor skills while at the same time, boost his self-esteem.
