EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS OF PUZZLES - Kindergarten Lessons

As well as providing family fun, the educational benefits of puzzles are many.

To increase your child’s vocabulary when they play with puzzle pieces, use words such as straight, curved, edge, inside, outside, above, below, and beside.

Well illustrated puzzles entertain children of all ages and depending on the images they offer opportunities to review numbers, letters, and math and science vocabulary. Math vocabulary list here…

Puzzles that contain jumbo pieces are designed to fit in small hands. Wooden or thick, strong board puzzles are the best for younger kids. Also making sure there is a solid surface rather than carpet under the puzzle, will alleviate children’s frustration.

When children play with puzzles they:

Develop vocabulary
Increase small muscle development
Develop eye hand coordination
Improve memory skills
Increase problem solving skills
Build spatial perception
Build literacy skills

Teaching puzzle skills to children

Teach children that lots of puzzles (not all) have a straight edge on the outside and to look for similar colors and shapes that relate to each other.

Start with simple puzzles with few pieces.
When the child is successful move on to a more difficult puzzle.
Resist the temptation to point out which piece goes where, give the children plenty of time to figure it out by themselves.
Assist only when asked.

Children often like to repeat the same puzzle over and over again. Although developmental levels vary with kids, look for the following criteria when buying puzzles for beginners:

large pieces
sturdy pieces (kids will try to force them to fit together resulting in bent edges)
puzzles with one or two pieces (match chick with hen)
pictures that are easy to recognize
non-toxic paint and products
products that pass safety standards

Types of Puzzles

There are many educational puzzles on the market. Various types of puzzles are available to keep children interested depending on their ages.

Galison Mudpuppy produces a number of different style puzzles that are non-toxic and meet safety tests. They feature contemporary art and design and are an excellent choice for those looking for products without the latest movie characters and logos.

They have a line of puzzles, packaged in a reusable plastic pouch with colored zipper and ribbon edging that work well in the classroom, where boxes easily get stepped on and broken.

Mudpuppy Construction Site Jumbo Puzzle