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Did you know that educational toys are just as important as those that are simply for fun? That’s why puzzles are such a great choice – they can be both entertaining and educational for the whole family to enjoy!
Not only are puzzles a fun way to spend time together, they can also help develop hand-eye coordination, logic, and spatial skills in children.
Plus, they’re a great alternative to screen time!
No matter how old your child is or what their interests are, there’s sure to be a puzzle out there that they’ll love.
And the best part is, puzzles are a great way to get your child away from their electronics and exercising their problem-solving skills and fine motor abilities.
Best Puzzles For Toddlers
Color and Shape Wooden Block Sorters
These color and shape wooden block sorters are a huge hit in our family. All 3 of my kids had multiple of these puzzles. They’re really great for honing in those fine motor skills and figuring out shapes and colros too.
The blocks are usually chunky and easy for little hands to grasp, and they can be sorted into the matching holes in the box. This activity helps young children develop their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities as they figure out which block goes where.
Some color and shape wooden block sorters also come with additional features, such as pictures or numbers on the sides of the blocks. These features can help children learn about colors, shapes, numbers, and other basic concepts.
Big Knob Puzzles
Big knob puzzles are a type of jigsaw puzzle designed specifically for young children. They typically feature large, easy-to-grasp knobs on each puzzle piece, which make it easier for young children to manipulate the pieces and complete the puzzle.
The puzzle pieces are usually made of sturdy, thick cardboard or wood, and feature simple, colorful pictures of animals, objects, or people. The puzzles can have varying levels of difficulty, with some featuring just a few large pieces for very young children, and others featuring more complex pictures with more pieces for older children.
Chunky Clock Puzzle
Chunky puzzles are the best. They’re easy for toddlers to pick up and handle.
Children can manipulate the puzzle pieces and move the hands of the clock to learn how to tell time. Some chunky clock puzzles also feature removable puzzle pieces that can be placed back onto the clock in the correct order to reinforce learning.
Chunky clock puzzles are great for young children because they help develop important skills such as hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and time-telling abilities. They also provide a fun and engaging way for young children to learn about time and numbers.
Chunky Puzzle
Chunky animal puzzles are great for young children because they help develop important skills such as hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and problem-solving abilities. They also provide a fun and engaging way for young children to learn about animals, colors, and shapes.
Wooden Latches Board
Wooden latches boards are great for young children because they provide a fun and engaging way to learn about cause-and-effect relationships, as well as developing important motor and problem-solving skills.
Overall, a wooden latches board is a fantastic toy for young children to play with, as it provides a fun and interactive way to learn and develop important skills while exploring and discovering the world around them.
Magnetic Maze
The maze is usually brightly colored and features fun, engaging pictures that young children will enjoy. The magnetic wand helps develop important hand-eye coordination skills, as children figure out how to manipulate the wand to move the metal balls around the maze.
Magnetic mazes are great for young children because they provide a fun and engaging way to learn about spatial relationships and develop problem-solving skills. They also help children learn how to concentrate and focus their attention, which is an important skill for success in school and in life.
See & Spell Learning Toy
Children can match the puzzle pieces to the corresponding boards to learn how to spell and read words. Some See & Spell Learning Toys also come with spelling and reading cards to help children learn and practice new words.
See & Spell Learning Toys are great for young children because they help develop important literacy skills such as letter recognition, spelling, and reading. They also provide a fun and engaging way for young children to learn about words and language.
Best Puzzles For Older Kids
Map Puzzles
Map puzzles are a fun and educational toy that helps children learn about geography and develop important spatial and problem-solving skills. These puzzles typically feature a map of the world or a specific region, with puzzle pieces shaped like countries or states that children can fit together to complete the map.
3D Puzzles
3D puzzles require patience and problem-solving skills to assemble, which can help develop critical thinking and spatial reasoning abilities. Additionally, they provide a fun and engaging way to learn about the structure and design of different objects. Overall, 3D puzzles are a great option for anyone who enjoys a challenging and rewarding puzzle experience.
Space themed Puzzles
Space themed puzzles come in a range of difficulty levels and sizes, from simple and easy puzzles for young children to complex and challenging ones for older children and adults. Completing a space themed puzzle requires patience, focus, and problem-solving skills, which can help develop important cognitive abilities.
100 Piece Puzzles
100 piece puzzles are a fun and challenging puzzle option for both children and adults. These puzzles typically consist of 100 small puzzle pieces that need to be assembled to create a larger picture or image.
100 piece puzzles are a great option for both beginner and intermediate puzzle solvers, as they provide a moderate challenge that can help develop important problem-solving skills and cognitive abilities. They also offer a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when completed, making them a rewarding and engaging activity.
Completing a 100 piece puzzle requires patience, focus, and attention to detail, making them a great option for anyone looking to improve their cognitive and fine motor skills. Overall, 100 piece puzzles are a fun and challenging puzzle option that provides a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when completed.
Logic Puzzles
Mosaic Puzzle
Mosaic puzzles are a fun and creative puzzle option that allow children to create unique designs and patterns by fitting small colorful pieces together. These puzzles typically consist of a set of small plastic or wooden pieces that can be arranged and re-arranged in different patterns to create a larger mosaic image.
Mosaic puzzles offer a wide range of designs and patterns to choose from, allowing children to express their creativity and imagination in a fun and engaging way. They also provide a great opportunity for children to develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they manipulate the small pieces into place.
Perplexus
Perplexus is a fun and challenging puzzle toy that offers a unique twist on traditional puzzles. The Perplexus consists of a clear plastic sphere with a complex 3D maze inside, filled with twists, turns, and obstacles. The goal is to guide a small metal ball through the maze by rotating and tilting the sphere.
Perplexus provides a fun and engaging way for children to develop their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and spatial reasoning abilities. It also offers a great challenge for older children and adults who enjoy a mentally stimulating activity.
Completing a Perplexus requires patience, focus, and problem-solving skills, making it a great option for anyone looking to improve their cognitive and fine motor abilities. Overall, Perplexus is a unique and fun puzzle toy that provides hours of engaging entertainment while developing important cognitive and physical skills.
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How To Choose The Right Puzzle
With so many options accessible, it can be tough to know where to begin. Furthermore, some parents find it difficult to choose the appropriate puzzle for their child’s age.
Let’s iron out some of the wrinkles first, then go through our favourites.
Toddlers
Toddlers adore animals, colours, textures, and new experiences. There are numerous excellent puzzles available.
However, keep in mind that certain puzzles are intended for older toddlers, closer to preschool age. These may feature smaller parts that can cause choking hazards or are simply too difficult for a young mind.
Puzzles for early toddlers (ages 1 to 2) are often made of wood. They usually consist of a small number of huge 2D or 3D pieces that your youngster must rotate in order for them to fit. Some puzzles resemble jigsaw puzzles, while others may be a box with multiple cuts.
Pre-schoolers
More instructive puzzles are easily accessible to children aged 3 to 5. Everything from learning the ABCs to sophisticated jigsaw puzzles is available. The puzzle parts will be smaller but more numerous.
A fun approach for your preschooler to learn words and numbers is with an educational puzzle. These puzzles could include letter cutouts, planet puzzles, and possibly a map.
The best part is that your youngster will learn without feeling bored or compelled to do so.
big Kids
Puzzles will become more difficult as children progress through the preschool years. When it comes to entertaining educational puzzles, there are still plenty of possibilities. However, when kids become older, something more difficult, such as a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, may be more appealing.
For older kids, 3D puzzles are also a fascinating alternative. These can have the appearance of animals, buildings, or other big objects. Some 3D puzzles are also rather large, so your child may regard completion as a huge accomplishment. Just make sure you have adequate room on the floor!
Your older kids might also enjoy virtual jigsaw puzzles! This website has many free to use jigsaw puzzles that you can do on the computer, and choose how many pieces you’d like your puzzle to be!
How do puzzles help kids
Puzzles can be a fantastic tool for helping kids, especially younger ones, in various ways. Here’s how different types of puzzles can benefit children:
- Problem Solving: Puzzles, such as classic jigsaw puzzles, encourage problem-solving skills as kids need to figure out how pieces fit together to create a complete picture. Younger kids can start with puzzles featuring bright colors and chunky pieces that are easier to handle.
- Cognitive Development: Number puzzles and shape puzzles can aid in cognitive development by teaching kids about numbers, shapes, and spatial awareness. These puzzles can be a great introduction to math concepts.
- Fine Motor Skills: Puzzles with smaller pieces, like a 100-piece puzzle, help improve fine motor skills as children manipulate and place pieces accurately. This can be particularly beneficial for 4-year-olds.
- Creativity and Imagination: Puzzles with different animals, scenes, or themes can stimulate creativity and imagination, allowing kids to explore various worlds and ideas through play.
- Patience and Persistence: Puzzles require patience and persistence, teaching kids the value of sticking with a task until they complete it. A 48-piece puzzle can be an ideal level of challenge for younger children to develop this trait.
- Organization and Planning: Sorting and organizing puzzle pieces before assembling them can enhance organizational and planning skills, as children learn to group similar pieces together.
- Memory and Concentration: Number puzzles, like Sudoku, can boost memory and concentration as kids work to fill in the missing numbers strategically.
- Social Skills: Completing puzzles can be a fun activity for kids to do with others, promoting social interaction, teamwork, and communication. It’s a great way for them to bond with friends or family members.
- Parent-Child Bonding: Solving puzzles together with your own kids can be a rewarding and bonding experience. It can also serve as an excellent opportunity for quality time.
- Gifts and Celebrations: Puzzles make for great birthday gifts, especially wooden toddler puzzles. They are not only enjoyable but also durable and can become cherished keepsakes.
- Storage and Organization: Many puzzles come with a storage box, teaching kids the importance of keeping their things organized and in one place.
- Educational Fun: Puzzles, like Ravensburger puzzles, offer educational value in an enjoyable format. They can be the best puzzle game to keep kids engaged while learning.
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