4 Benefits of Jigsaw Puzzles in Early Childhood Development

“Puzzles allow an opportunity for young children to focus on an activity that has an ending,” - Nancy Maldonado

There are countless benefits of Jigsaw puzzles for early childhood development from bonding to boosting self esteem to fine tuning motor skills. But, the main skills puzzling exercises in a child are: physical skills, cognitive skills, social skills and emotional skills.

The physical skills are exercised when your child holds the puzzle pieces and uses touch to figure out which pieces will fit and where.

“It is funny to watch my daughter with her chubby fingers try and figure out where to put the puzzle pieces. I never realized how clumsy toddlers actually are. But, she didn’t give up. She finished the puzzle,” - Tanisha R.

Consequently, the physical skills required are hand eye coordination along with fine and gross motor skills.

The cognitive skills exercised are the completion of the actual puzzle. The puzzle completion will require problem solving techniques, memory skills along with shape and color recognition.

The emotional skills exercised are the ability to create a strategy and patiently execute the goals and feeling the reward of finishing the puzzle.

“My daughter loves her puzzle. She actually facetimed her grandparents to have them all do the puzzle together. It was so cute. She was so proud of completing the puzzle,”- Kareen R.

When kids do puzzles together their social skills are exercised and kids begin the lifelong learning of working together, learning to negotiate with one another as well as controlling their own action. Therefore, watching others solve puzzles helps kids develop their own strategies and encourages sharing which allows for a child to develop early leadership skills.