Although I am quite a fan of letting your toddler have an Ipad I still make sure Adan gets hands on learning.It may be a little old school but I still buy puzzles and not on the Ipad. I like to buy wooden puzzles and find a children’s song that goes with the puzzle. For example I have a farm puzzle for Adan once he completes it we listen to old MacDonald and I have him point out the animals and make the sound the animal makes.Here are why puzzles are important to a child’s development:

COGNITIVE SKILLS:

Puzzles come in a whole range of themes and topics such as alphabet letters, shapes, vegetables, numbers, pets, transport and colors.  It increases their visual awareness and they develop a deeper understanding of these themes and topics.

PROBLEM SOLVING:

Completing a puzzle, even the most simplest of puzzles sets a single goal to achieve.  Toddlers and children must think and develop strategies on how to approach in achieving this goal.  This process involves problem solving, reasoning skills and developing solutions which they can later be transferred into their personal/adult life

FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT:

Puzzles are a fun way for children to develop and refine their fine motor skills.  When engaged in playing with puzzles, children are required to pick up, pinch and grasp pieces and move them around, manipulating them into slots, sorting them and fitting them into the correct places.

HAND AND EYE COORDINATION:

Playing with puzzles requires a trial and error process which involves a lot of hand and eye manipulation.  For example, as a toddler or child places a piece of the puzzle that does not fit, they will try all over again where their actions involve doing what they actually see.

SOCIAL:

Puzzles are a great educational tool to enhance and promote cooperative play.  As kids work together to complete a puzzle, they will discuss where a piece should go and why, take turns and share and support each other when handling frustration, then sharing the joy of finishing the puzzle.

SELF ESTEEM:

The accomplishment of achieving a goal brings so much satisfaction to a child.  Overcoming the challenges involved in solving a puzzle really gives them a sense of achievement and pride within themselves.  It provides a boost to their self-confidence and self-esteem as this prepares them for other challenges in life.

I encourage you get your kids some puzzles and have a sing along! My Adan loves it!