Problem-Solving Skills: Floor Puzzles

Toddlers and preschoolers usually find puzzles intriguing. The goal of completing one is pretty clear but it isn't always easy for small hands and brains to master the process of completing one right away.  When they do master solving them, they get a sense of accomplishment that makes them feel good about themselves and fills them with pride. Because our puzzle box actually contained four different puzzles, each depicting a scene from a different season, Kaya helped me sort the pieces out using the picture "code" on the back of the pieces. Kaya stacked all of the Winter snowflakes, Fall leaves, Spring flowers, and Summer suns into four different piles.

In order to complete the Summer puzzle, Kaya needed to stop and think about how to go about reaching her goal. She used problem-solving skills by looking for the edge pieces, the ones that are flat on one side. She also noticed the images on the pieces and tried to match up the pictures with their counterparts. Puzzles can help preschoolers develop important cognitive skills and visual spatial awareness.

Once children understand how to problem solve and determine which pieces fit together, they also need to use their fine motor skills and hand-eye-coordination. Adele used these developing skills to grasp the pieces, pick them up, and  place them where they belong by manipulation.

Zoe chose a piece, picked it up, and attempted to make it fit. When it didn't, she put that piece aside and started the process over again until she had chosen the correct one. She learned to use her eyes to see an object, and her hands and fingers to pick it up, coordinating the two skills together.

Puzzles can be enjoyed as a solitary activity, but they also give a preschooler an opportunity to learn about cooperative play. Once they completed one of our Seasons puzzles, the preschoolers wanted to trade them with each other and complete another one! Anna Lee and Kaya, our three-year old preschoolers, were happy and eager to help their younger classmates when they got stuck.