Puzzles for Children

8 Ways Puzzles Are Helpful in Developing Cognitive Skills in Children

We have all done them - puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles, floor puzzles, large and small - but are they just a time waster?

I don't believe so, and here are 8 reasons why:

Puzzle time can be a sharing time for Mom & child. Like sitting and reading a good book together, working on a good puzzle is a time of sitting close and enjoying each other’s company.
Helps with shape recognition. Puzzle time is perfect for discussing colours, shapes, and patterns.
Children learn to solve problems by trying one piece after another. Each small piece has a clue that a child can use to place each piece. Once they realize how a puzzle goes together, they can use those reasoning skills on more complex puzzles. Printing and reading skills benefit as well.
Most puzzles take time to put together, and while a whole puzzle does not need to be done in one sitting, patience is often required. Bit by bit, our children learn this skill.
Putting puzzle pieces together helps develop fine motor coordination in your child. Maneuvering small pieces into place requires manual dexterity.
As he tries and discards various puzzle pieces, your child will use his memory skills to pick up just the right piece for just the right spot in the puzzle.
Placing puzzle pieces requires that a child use and develop eye-hand coordination. This will help later in both printing and reading skills.
As your child gets familiar with each puzzle, he develops more confidence. And confidence is often transferred to other life areas.

Find great puzzles for all ages on CHER's Puzzle Pages.