When starting with puzzles, it’s best to start with good chunky ones which are easy for babies and toddlers to handle. They can start with basic shape sorter type puzzles (pushing through slots) in either plastic or wood from 12 months. Babies first start pushing circles and then move on to sort other shapes. They learn that boundary and the shape of block should match for it to go in the slot.
Size sorter is also a good one to introduce next. Toddlers start sorting by size from around 16 months. Once they have mastered it you could also create diy size sorters using cardboard.
Peg puzzles can be introduced for children from the age of 12 months. The knobs in the puzzle help them to hold it easily to fit in the boundary. Again they learn that pieces with certain boundaries go in certain places. At first they may not be able to fit the pieces snuggly in the boundary but they eventually succeed. Them you can move to puzzles without knobs.
Toddlers have better visual perception and are learning to match abstract shapes. These pieces still fit inside the base board.
This is important because toddlers can learn to fit pieces using both their sense of vision and touch – by looking at the shape and picture, and by feeling if it fits snuggly in its place. The more senses a child engages the better he learns something.
Next comes puzzle to sort an animal or vehicle in a board. This kind of puzzle is a lot more advanced than the previous one. There is still a wooden base that the puzzle fits into, but each piece does not have its own border. The entire picture, made up of multiple pieces, fits into the outline. To complete this puzzle, toddlers must rely more on understanding the visual parts of the picture (e.g. knowing the head of the duck will go at the top). The pieces still fit snuggly next to each other but since each one does not have its own border, there is more room to move them around, until all the pieces fit. With practice they do it much faster as they know what fits where.
Jigsaw puzzles- there are lots of varieties here by number of pieces. Start with 2 piece puzzles from 18 months. It’s mostly self correcting puzzles so the child learn by trial and error. As they grow you can move on to 3 or 4 piece puzzles depending on interest and their level. Increase the number of pieces depending on their level. That’s more important rather than going By age mentioned in the box. We introduced 2 piece at 19 months and now at 24 months my LO can do upto 6 pieces with ease. Head and tail puzzles are also good at this age. I have seen many mums do DIY jigsaw puzzles. Look up online for inspiration.
What skills do puzzles develop?
1. Fine motor skills - handling small puzzles and pegs strengthens little fingers 2. Hand eye coordination- improves the ability to match pieces in slots and jigsaw together 3. Visual perception - ability to match pieces together looking at size and details in it. Especially with big jigsaws 4. Language and concept development- puzzles improves their vocabulary skills and language development 5. Problem solving - all puzzles are basically problems to be solved. 6. Perseverance and confidence- tells them to try until they succeed. Improves confidence when they succeed solving it.
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