| Jigsaw puzzles have a lot of educational value for | | | | accelerates the child's learning process. Puzzles can |
| children of all ages. This is because to do a jigsaw | | | | create a great opportunity for increase in vocabulary, |
| requires a child to use several different aspects of the | | | | and recognition of objects and situations outside the |
| thinking process. | | | | child's immediate world. The fact that the child learns |
| A baby learns to recognize objects by their shape and | | | | that the piece only fits one way is in fact a pre reading |
| not necessarily what position the object is in. A chair is | | | | skill. A letter needs to be the right way up and not |
| a chair whether it is upright, lying down, or upside | | | | backwards or upside down in a word. |
| down-it doesn't matter. The simple puzzles produced | | | | These early childhood puzzles can be purchased in |
| for younger children develop more refined and defined | | | | varying degrees of difficulty as the child's spatial and |
| skills and recognition. | | | | reasoning skills become more developed. The child |
| One of the first things a young child will learn is that it | | | | also learns through puzzles the recognition of color and |
| does matter which way up the pieces to fit in the hole. | | | | shape with, of course, adult conversation increasing the |
| A typical early childhood puzzle is wooden with a | | | | potential of the child's understanding and development. |
| picture and has spaces where the pieces fit to | | | | The green shape only fits in the green hole. This type |
| complete the picture. With a street scene, for example, | | | | of matching activity develops early reading skills. |
| there might be a separate car shape, bus shape, and | | | | At this stage it is good to introduce a new puzzle and |
| a truck shape that complete a puzzle. These puzzles | | | | do it with the child at first. Make this a happy social |
| are typically robust as the first response of a child is to | | | | time and lots of fun. Do the puzzles with the child long |
| try to force the piece into place taking no notice of its | | | | enough to maintain the child's interest and attention, but |
| shape. With adult guidance the young child learns to | | | | be ready to move on to another activity. Eventually |
| manipulate the piece until it does fit exactly. | | | | when the child's dexterity and confidence has |
| There are several learning experiences that can be | | | | increased, he will want to do it by himself. With praise |
| drawn from these very basic puzzles. Firstly it's the | | | | and encouragement the child will practice until the skills |
| hand eye coordination to manipulate the puzzle piece | | | | become familiar. Then is the time to introduce puzzles |
| into position. To get the piece in also involves | | | | with greater challenge. |
| observation of the shape of the hole and the shape of | | | | Puzzles help develop the reasoning and deduction |
| the puzzle piece. At first the child deals with the | | | | process of thinking. As well as skills such as spatial |
| problem by trial and error. The example and guidance | | | | awareness, matching and sorting. Above all, jigsaw |
| of an adult begins to solidify the thinking process. The | | | | puzzles present a great opportunity for language |
| child starts to apply spatial awareness and mental | | | | development and a happy social interaction with your |
| manipulation as well as physical. This comes however, | | | | child. |
| after the child has learned to put the piece in correctly | | | | Learn about begonia flowers, strawberry begonia, |
| through trial and error and memory. | | | | pruning begonias, begonia care, tuberous begonia , |
| The role of the adult at this stage is very important. | | | | begonia flower and other information at the Gardening |
| The conversation about the picture, talking and | | | | Central site. |
| demonstrating the correct method to complete it, | | | | |