In a world flooded with toys, TV and technology, it can be easy to fill up your living room with multiple items for toddlers. However, simple resources like books and jigsaw puzzles are some of the oldest and most effective forms of educational toys for toddlers, as they help them learn through pictures.
Research shows that doing puzzles from age two can aid creative skills through drawing and painting, as well as developing cognitive and fine motor skills.
Here are five reasons that jigsaw puzzles are good for toddles:
1. Fine motor skills
Children start to develop fine motor skills when they are babies by picking up food and toys. As babies become toddlers, jigsaw puzzles help to develop these skills further as children need to pick up pieces, move them around and slot them together with other pieces.
2. Problem solving
Toddlers will naturally sort out puzzle pieces by colour. They won’t piece them together correctly every time but they will start understanding that when linked together, they form a bigger picture.
3. Memory and attention building
As parts of the puzzle start to come together, toddlers will remember pieces they have previously discounted for not fitting at the time but realising now, that’s the piece they need.
4. Winding down for bed
Jigsaw puzzles are perfect for switching off in the hour before bed. They require concentration and time away from technology, giving toddlers eyes and minds something to concentrate on while avoiding bright lights.
5. Hand to eye coordination
Puzzles require lots of exploring and trial and error. Toddlers will pick up multiple pieces to see if it’s the one they need. If it isn’t, they will put it back and repeat the process. This is all fantastic practice for hand to eye coordination.