As parents, we want the best of the best for our children. We want to equip them with high levels of intelligence and a great personality and the right morals and values. How much of that is down to nature and how much is down to nurture is debatable, but there is nothing against assuming that nurture plays a bigger part than nature. If we presume that, then it becomes very important that we give our children the right stimulants and activities to help them develop into that fantastic, well balanced adult we hope they will be. Puzzles for kids are a great way to help your child build their cognitive development.
How Puzzles Help
Puzzles entice children because they have bright colours and highly interesting shapes. However, there is more to it than just the visually pleasing aspect. Did you know for instance, that:
Children can learn that a whole is made out of lots of different parts.
Children develop their fine motor skills, particularly their hand eye coordination.
Children build their visual and perceptual skills.
Children learn to concentrate and pay attention, increasing their thinking skills such as remembering, recognising, sorting, problem solving and matching.
Children develop their language skills because they have to listen to the instructions and then follow them, as well as having to talk about what they are actually doing.
Later on in life, all of these skills are transferred into other very important skills, mainly literacy and numeracy. And you thought it was just a puzzle!
Choosing the Right Puzzles
Make sure that you choose the right puzzle. Generally, puzzles have age ranges attached to them, and you should pay attention to them. Puzzles that are too difficult will frustrate your child and can even lead to an inferiority complex. If you had to choose between a puzzle that is too difficult and a puzzle that is too easy, picking the one that is too easy is better, because it allows kids to feel good about themselves and have a sense of achievement.
Puzzles for kids
are a great way of developing your child’s essential skills.