Puzzle for kids Power: Five Things Children Learn from these Preschool Puzzles

March 19, 2021 / Learn About Osmo

There’s a reason why parents, educators and kids all consider interactive crossword puzzles for kids are some of their favorite interactive games for kids. Puzzles for kids are fantastic learning tools because they promote fine motor, cognitive and emotional skills, all at the same time. Let’s look at what these specific skills are!

Skills Puzzle Games for kids to Build

  • Spatial vocabulary – Moving pieces and sorting through shapes and colors helps kids develop spatial awareness.
  • Problem-solving – Each puzzle opening is a chance to test different solutions. Puzzles let kids problem solve through trial and error.
  • Fine-motor development & hand-eye coordination – As kids choose, turn, and flip preschool puzzles pieces to find the right fit, they develop small-muscle control and hand-eye coordination.
  • Memory – Completing these interactive learning activities for kids requires setting pieces aside for later and keeping track of colors, shapes, and positions, which boosts memory.
  • Persistence – Solving puzzles teaches kids that hard work eventually pays off! This is a great activity for building patience and persistence.

puzzles for kids can also promote social skills if it is completing the puzzle with a partner. So, why not make taking turns or discussing where a piece should go part of the educational fun?

How to Pick the Perfect Puzzles for Kids

When you are choosing your puzzles for kids, here are three things to keep in mind:

The Degree of Difficulty: Puzzles For Kids

Find a sweet spot with a puzzles for children that is not too easy and not too hard. If it is too simple, chances are your child will solve it a few times and not touch it again. On the other hand, you also do not want to discourage kids with harder puzzles that confuse or frustrate them.

When it comes to older kids, you might want to consider if your child would love taking on a more challenging on preschool puzzles with friends. A partner will make the extra time your child spends on the puzzle fly by.

The Format: Preschool Puzzles

Puzzles typically come in two formats: mechanical and jigsaw. Jigsaw puzzles for children involve putting pieces into place to complete a picture. They are often used as fun educational games for kids. Mechanical puzzles, meanwhile, involve manipulating objects. These types of puzzles include 3D brainteasers and Rubik’s cubes and may require more advanced thinking.

The Age: Puzzles for Children

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation to make sure your kids are the right age to enjoy the puzzle games. Puzzles for children that are large and colorful. For older kids, more intricate, educational puzzles for kids like 3D models are a great choice.

If your child loves interactive screen time, one of the online puzzles for kids is Tangram. In this game, kids put pieces together to mirror the image on their screen, turning pieces this way and that till they get it right. It’s the perfect preschool puzzles for kids who get bored easily and want immediate feedback on how they are doing. 

Puzzles for kids are one of the easiest ways to encourage your child to build a variety of skills. Make sure to pick up fun learning games with different formats and levels of difficulty to maximize the benefits of educational puzzles for kids.