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The benefits of puzzles are far reaching. Those large piece jigsaw puzzles help toddlers develop their fine-motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Logic puzzles and brain teasers can promote higher level thinking and problem solving skills in older children.
Research has also shown that people who do puzzles of various sorts from an early age have a lesser occurrence of the brain plaques found in Alzheimer’s patients.
I have seen the developmental advantages of puzzles with my kids first hand. Puzzles of all kinds have been part of their lives from almost day one.
Now that we homeschool, I can see some additional, practical benefits of puzzles for homeschool families.
Benefits Of Puzzles
Puzzles are boredom busters
Kids need to be busy. They need something constructive to do when school work is done, between activities, and while they wait for their turn. Puzzles can fill this void. Keep a variety of puzzles on hand for the kids to grab when boredom strikes.
Puzzles add variety to the homeschool routine
Growing up, I always enjoyed logic puzzles and brain teasers. My kids are much the same. We keep logic puzzle and sudoku books handy to jazz up the same old routine. We might start the day with them or do a puzzle or two instead of a subject that day.
Puzzles teach kids to work together
Face it. Even in the most perfect of families, siblings fight. They annoy each other…on purpose. There are some days when peace is hard to come by. I love finding activities and projects that can bring a truce. Lately, a card table and a jigsaw puzzle has done the trick.
Puzzles are quiet
Because of the aforementioned sibling relationship component, quiet times can be few and far between. When we all need a little peace and focus, I break out the logic puzzles, crosswords, or other mentally challenging quiet activity. There is quiet in focus.
Puzzles can promote family bonding
Many a winter night was spent around an enormous jigsaw puzzle growing up. The whole family worked together. This winter, I have started that tradition with my family. At any given time, members of our family can be found sitting at the card table working together, chatting, laughing, and making memories.
Types Of Puzzles
Jigsaw Puzzles
From toddler puzzles with just a few large pieces with handles to 2000 piece works of art, jigsaw puzzles are traditional favorites.
Crossword Puzzles
You can buy crossword puzzle books according to age or theme or you can create your own to go along with a homeschool lesson or just for fun.
Logic Puzzles
These brain teasers can be found in books and online sources.
Sudoku
These number-based logic puzzles can be found in books and online in various levels.
Do you use puzzles with your kids? What kind are their favorites?
a great article. I also think the puzzle or board game very developing children. toddlers have to think sometimesI may be a result of or why make such a step and not another.