Early Childhood Development and the Benefits of Wooden Puzzles

The American Academy of Pediatrics defines early childhood as the ages one to five years, encompassing the toddler and preschool periods. Early childhood development occurs rapidly and is widely recognized as extremely important in laying the foundation for future learning, including the social, cognitive, and motor skills necessary to handle the demands of preschool and kindergarten. During these formative years, parents and others interested in their lives have the ability to enhance this development by wisely choosing activities that stimulate and challenge their minds.

While there are a lot of references to the benefits of reading books, playing games, etc., this article focuses on the value of wooden puzzles as a catalyst for early childhood learning. Even with the many gadgets and electronic gadgets, children are often drawn to simple things like a bouncing ball, an interesting book, and well-designed intriguing puzzles.

The benefits of puzzles can be grouped into two periods of early childhood, toddlers (1 to 3 years) and preschool (3 to 5 years).

Young children should be given puzzles that have large pieces and simple content. As the simplest are mastered, caregivers can introduce more complex puzzles and smaller pieces. As a result, these young people will receive the following benefits:

  • Hand-eye coordination when grasping and placing puzzle pieces.
  • Knowledge of various shapes and sizes.
  • Problem solving skills when they master the assembly of each puzzle.
  • Sense of pride in a job well done, which improves self-confidence / self-image
  • Improved memory abilities, as they remember what they did and learned
  • Understanding of the concept of sequencing in the placement of puzzle pieces.
  • Recognition of various colors.
  • Identification of objects, animals and other puzzle content.

Additionally, puzzles provide opportunities for parent / caregiver interaction with a young child, especially when a new puzzle is presented. While it is a valuable linking experience, it is also an opportunity to assess the suitability of each puzzle, even if they are too difficult or too simplistic, which can frustrate the child. Also, by having more than one puzzle available, other children can be included in this quiet time activity, providing an excellent opportunity for social interaction.

Preschoolers will continue to benefit from puzzles, with an increasing number of pieces and more complex / challenging content. As they promote what they learned when they were little, they will receive the following additional benefits:

  • Recognition of geometric shapes, such as squares, triangles, circles, etc.
  • Familiarization with the letters of the alphabet and the concept of spelling.
  • Ability to recognize and spell their names, as well as simple words.
  • Identification of basic numbers and the concept of counting.
  • Knowledge of more complex elements in puzzles; for example, the shape of the US and its regions / states, dinosaurs, birds, marine life, etc.

To ensure that the above benefits are realized to the greatest extent possible, it is very important that parents, or anyone else considering “gifting” a wooden puzzle, are aware of the purchasing considerations listed below. “check list”:

  • Age appropriateness to provide the appropriate level of challenge
  • Educational value
  • Bright and varied colors
  • Lead-free paints (Note: make in the USA suggested)
  • No sharp edges or part sizes to avoid choking hazard, especially with young children
  • Excellent quality and durability; paints / colors must not fade or crack and puzzle pieces and frames must not break from frequent and harsh use over time; Quality wooden puzzles are generally much better at meeting this criteria.
  • Solid reputation of artisans; How long have they been in business? Check a series of testimonials / references for constant customer satisfaction. Are they willing to refund or replace the product if they are not completely satisfied?

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