There are many reasons puzzles are great for Learners:
Puzzles contain cognitive content
Puzzles all display different content – the alphabet, pets, farms, shapes and colors. Using the puzzle increases spatial awareness and develops a different understanding of these objects and themes. Each child learns differently and presenting topics in different mediums supports the building of new knowledge.
Puzzles encourage problem solving
Each puzzle provides a problem to be solved. The Learner must develop a strategy to solve the problem, and Role Models can help Learners strengthen their problem solving skills by talking about or showing how they solve the puzzle. It’s okay to allow the Learner to try and not arrive at the right outcome. These types of outcomes help the Learner understand what strategies don’t work and fosters an eagerness to find new ways to solve the problem next time.
Puzzles help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
The Learner must pick up and fit the pieces correctly into the puzzle. This requires a lot of fine motor and eye/hand coordination. All this refines their skills in these two skill domains.
Puzzles boost self-esteem
Finishing a puzzle correctly provides the Learner with the satisfaction of accomplishment.
There are lots of puzzle-type activities which require the Learner to solve a problem or puzzle. We encourage Role Models to come by the Lesson Planning Room at 10BH headquarters to check out the great resources we have available!