Educational Benefits of Jigsaw Puzzles

It is a well know fact that children learn through play. One toy that helps your child develop and practice a number of skills are jigsaw puzzles. From babyhood through adulthood these toys can provide a variety of learning opportunities. Starting with simple puzzle blocks and building up to extremely challenging 3d jigsaw puzzles these toys offer learning opportunities and fun galore!

Infant and Toddlers

One of a baby's first toys once he is sitting up is a puzzle ball or block. Infants and young toddlers love these toys because of all the different shapes that they can handle and play with and eventually when they are ready begin to fit into the appropriate holes. This activity helps develop their fine motor skills and the first beginning ideas of shapes and even colors.

Older Toddlers and Preschoolers

Older toddlers and preschoolers also love jigsaw puzzles and love to work first those alphabet and number puzzles and later simple 5 and 6 piece puzzles. While they are playing they are learning several developmental skills that they will need all their life. They are learning to sort and match and also increasing their hand eye coordination and their improving their fine motor skills.

Elementary Age Children

Elementary age children love doing more intricate puzzles especially simple 3d jigsaws in which the finished product resembles a model. Their fine motor skills increase by leaps and bounds and they begin to understand how to problem solve as well as cooperation as often at this age children love working these puzzles with one or two friends.

Junior High Through Adulthood

From Junior High age on upward working 3d jigsaws or a puzzle 3d as kids like to refer to them becomes more and more challenging as children complete one and ask for a more demanding one to complete. This gives rise to increasing problem solving skills, cooperation and also aids emotional development as children learn perseverance and have a feeling of accomplishment when they complete a really difficult masterpiece.

Unfortunately this is also the age where sports and peer pressure makes demands on a child and these vital learning toys fall by the way. Parents can encourage the use of these toys during quiet times in a number of ways.

· Buying challenging puzzles that holds a child interest. The great thing about puzzle 3d is that they come in a wide variety of interesting designs. There are puzzles that are planes, train cars, cars, motorcycles and various types of heavy equipment. There are also various animal, insects, houses, castles and even bridges to choose from. Choosing something a child is interested in will make him more likely to spend the time putting the puzzle together and increasing his skills.

· You can also make it a family activity with the entire family working to build the 3d jigsaw from the bottom up. Doing a puzzle 3d together is a great way to spend quality family time together while encouraging cooperation and problem solving techniques and skills. Besides it is fun.

Jigsaw 3ds or puzzle 3d can make a wonderful gift for someone of any age allowing them to work alone or share an activity with friends and family. They offer a host of learning opportunities and can be challenging and fun for all ages.