5 Steps to Choosing the Right Puzzle for Your Child:
1. Consider your child's age. Some puzzles are appropriate for 1 year olds, whereas others wouldn't be appropriate until age 7 or older. Here are some general age ranges for the following puzzle types:
- Jigsaw Puzzles: Age appropriateness depends on the puzzle piece count and the size of the pieces (see note below). Generally speaking Up to 12 pieces, 2 years and up; Up to 24 pieces, 2-3 years and up, Up to 48 pieces, 3-5 years, Over 50 pieces 5 years and up.
- Jumbo Knob Puzzles: (1 year and up)
- Peg Puzzles: (18 months and up)
- Mix n Match Puzzles: (18 months and up)
- Sound Puzzles: (18 months and up)
- Chunky Puzzles: (18 months and up)
- Floor Puzzles: (3 years and up)
- Sequential Puzzles: (3 years and up)
- Brain Teasers (6 years and up)
Note: Puzzle pieces vary in size. Check the manufacturer's age recommendation on the box for safety. Small pieces area choking hazard for children Under 3 Years.
2. Choose a NEW Kind of Puzzle appropriate for his age. Parents often find that their child is easily mastering a certain type of puzzle. Why not try a more challenging kind? For example, if your child is finding it quite easy to finish his knob puzzles, move him into peg puzzles. If he's mastering individual object peg puzzles (one puzzle piece is the complete truck), move him onto multi-piece object peg puzzles (3 pieces to make a truck, for example). If he's doing great with all peg puzzles try a small piece count jigsaw puzzle.
3. Consider Your Child's Fine Motor Skills. Puzzles are fantastic manipulatives that allow a child to develop his fine motor skills. The muscles of the hand, fingers and thumb must all be used in coordination with the eyes in order to do a puzzle. Typical learners and special needs learners can both greatly enjoy puzzles. The fine motor skills of your child should be a guide to the type of puzzle you choose. Puzzle pieces that have large knobs or have chunky pieces make them especially easy to grasp. Peg puzzles have small pegs on them that require more skill to master. Jigsaw puzzles have to be lifted and then set into place which can be especially challenging.
One way to gauge your child's ability with fine motor skills is to ask yourself "How well is my child feeding himself?" A child who is just managing to grasp a spoon and has lots of misses may only be ready for jumbo knob puzzles. However, a child who is using a fork and spoon with relative ease is probably able to start using jigsaw puzzles.
4. Time to UP the Piece Count? Most puzzles come in a variety of piece counts. If your child is enjoying a particular type of puzzle but mastering it quite easily try introducing the next higher piece count. This makes it more challenging and fun for your child and they can still go back to the smaller piece counts if it feels too difficult.
5. Pick a Theme Your child Will Enjoy. Puzzles come in such a wide variety of themes that you should have no problem finding the perfect theme for your child. Does your child love dinosaurs? pets? cars? Or, does he have a favorite new DVD? Maybe he's fascinated by a new character in a book you're reading to him. Choose a puzzle in a similar theme.