Kids love puzzle but puzzles come in all sorts of types, materials and difficulty levels. The following is a guide for picking the perfect puzzle for toddlers:
Materials
Since toddlers do not have the same dexterity as adults, regular puzzle pieces may be harder for them to manage. Because of this, choosing a foam puzzle that snaps together, or a wooden board with pieces that have handles is helpful. Also choose a puzzle that is waterproof and washable as toddlers put just about everything in their mouths.
Subject matter
Look for puzzles that feature your toddler’s favorite things, be it Barbies, princesses, cars or dogs as this will grab and hold their interest. Little girls will probably be more interested in a princess puzzle while little boys will probably be enraptured with puzzles featuring trucks and planes. Puzzles have both themes, like animals or vehicles, and characters from your child’s favorite movie or television show. Usually, if they are interested in the subject matter they want to see the finished result. When they want to see the picture, they will give the puzzle their full attention.
Pieces
Some puzzles are a board with cut outs that fit into the slots and others are a made up of little interlocking pieces. When you’re choosing a puzzle for a toddler, it is important to choose a puzzle with just enough pieces to make it interesting. A 100 piece puzzle may be too difficult but a puzzle with 24 pieces is probably good. Start with a ten piece puzzle and evaluate your child’s personal capabilities then increase the level of difficulty and number of pieces accordingly.
Durability or ease of use
When you select a puzzle for your toddler, look for one that will last. Make sure the pieces are big enough that they can handle them with ease and that you don’t have too many pieces to keep track of. Durability is also very important as toddlers abuse their toys. A puzzle for toddlers needs to be made of sturdy, waterproof, washable materials such as wood or foam.
Consider the fun factor and learning factor
Puzzles aren’t only about matching. Today they can stimulate other senses. Puzzles with textured pieces are great for developing a sense of touch, while puzzles that light up or make noise will engage hearing and sight. Puzzles do many things today, including changing pictures. The possibilities are endless, so choose a puzzle that will help your toddler learn, explore their world and have fun all at the same time.
If you consider these five tips, you will be able to pick the perfect puzzle for your toddler, and they will get hours of enjoyment and learning from it.