Why jigsaw puzzles are great for kids

Children tend to learn best through play, and jigsaws provide lots of learning opportunities, whatever their age.
 
According to The Genius of Play, an initiative led by the Toy Association to spread awareness of the benefits of play for child development, doing jigsaw puzzles with your child from a young age stimulates brain development and helps them develop cognitive skills.

With such a huge array of jigsaws available, ranging from simple two- and three-piece puzzles to 3D creations and those with completely different pictures from those on the box, it can be hard to know which to choose for your child.
 
‘A great children’s jigsaw puzzle combines fun and education,’ says Wentworth Puzzles’ spokesperson. You might want to look for:

• Puzzles that match your child’s interests, such as a favourite TV character, animal or theme like space or vehicles.
• A mix of attractive colours with an age-appropriate level of details.
• Pieces that suit their stage of development, such as chunky wooden peg pieces for pre-schoolers or robust cardboard shapes for older children.
• Subjects that tie in with what they’re learning at school, like nature or world maps. 

One of the most important things to bear in mind when you’re choosing jigsaws for your child is that it needs to be right for their stage of development.
 
‘If a jigsaw is too easy, they might become bored, while if it’s too challenging, it will be frustrating for them and may discourage them from trying puzzles again in the future,’ explains Anna.
 
So how do we make sure a jigsaw is age-appropriate? The clues are often on the box, with information about the number of pieces and an approximate age range, but it’s important to take your own child’s abilities into account, too.
 
‘Treat the age range on the box as a suggested guideline, rather than a hard and fast rule,’ Wentworth Puzzles’ spokesperson advises. ‘Look not just at the piece count, but also the size of pieces and how they slot together to see if the puzzle will match your child’s current skill level.’

1. Tap into their interests

‘Choose a puzzle with an image of something they really like, as they will engage with it and enjoy it more if it’s of a subject they find interesting,’ suggests Wentworth Puzzles’ spokesperson.

2. Show them different techniques

Some people like to collect all the edge pieces first and fit them together to make a frame, while others prefer to focus on a particular area of the image at a time.
 
‘There’s no right or wrong way: it really depends on how your child’s brain works,’ says Anna. ‘My niece and I like to look at the picture on the box and group together similar pieces, by colour or design.’

3. Work together

Doing jigsaws with your child isn’t just about helping them out; it also gives them opportunities to develop important social skills.
 
‘It can help to hone conversational and communication skills and show them how to work as a team, using each other’s strengths towards a common goal,’ Wentworth Puzzles’ spokesperson explains. ‘It also helps them learn to take turns and share, rather than hoarding all the pieces.’

4. Give them hints if they get stuck…

‘You could give your child a clue by telling them what sort of piece to look for, whether by shape, colour or pattern,’ Anna suggests.

5. …But let them be independent, too

All children need to learn how to solve problems by themselves, so while it’s fun to do jigsaws together, give them time to work through tricky bits independently.
 
‘As long as your child is safe with the puzzle pieces [i.e. won’t put them in their mouth], let them use trial and error on their own to find out what strategies work for them, which will help them develop confidence and their own unique style,’ says Wentworth Puzzles’ spokesperson.

6. Take brain-refreshing breaks

Children naturally have a short attention span, so if they’re getting frustrated or bored, it’s fine to take some time out.
 
‘Take a break for a drink and snack or to go outside to refresh their mind,’ Wentworth Puzzles’ spokesperson suggests. ‘If they come back to the puzzle with a clear head, things may fall back into place better, which teaches them patience and not to quit. They can always stop and leave it till another day, too.’

7. Rethink if you need to

Pushing your child to complete a puzzle that they’re really not engaging with could put them off completely, so be prepared to swap to another one if need be.
 
‘If the pieces are too small for them to grip and handle, or the image is too busy, it may be a good idea to re-evaluate the level of the puzzle they’re doing,’ explains Wentworth Puzzles’ spokesperson.

8. Praise and be patient

Jigsaws should be a pleasure, not a chore, so give your child lots of positive feedback for their effort and achievement.
 
‘Don’t lose patience, and be sure to offer lots of encouragement and praise when your child matches a new piece,’ says Anna. ‘I always make a point of describing how satisfying it is each time we put in a piece and get nearer to completion.’