A Brief History of Jigsaw Puzzles and Are They Relevant Today for Children?

1. A Brief History of Jigsaw Puzzles, Are They Relevant Today For Children? Whether in kindergarten, on the carpet in the living room or on the desk, jigsaw puzzles are one of the most valuable ways to pass the time. Not only is it a kind of brain jogging, it also has many advantages for young and old that cannot be found in other games. In this article, we would like to discuss the history behind the origins of puzzles. We will then discuss the advantages of puzzles for childrens of different age groups. Let’s begin! History of Puzzles As early as the 18th century, the London engraver and map maker John Spilsbury developed the first puzzle with his collapsible map of England. The game, which was launched in 1763 as a teaching aid for geography lessons, was expanded to include 30 more maps over the course of the next decade, and from 1775 the first puzzles for pure entertainment were made. The cult that is still current today was born. Children and The Puzzles Whether for the little ones to learn, or for the older ones to have fun and relaxation, puzzles are no longer just a map design. Your child's favorite heroes and many other motifs give this leisure activity a personal touch. Depending on the preferences and level of development of your child, there is just the right thing for every Knobler. Babies and toddlers can already practice simple wooden puzzles from the age of 18 months. The sense of the first forms and colors, i.e. the visual perception, as well as fine motor skills can be promoted in this way even at a young age. Hand-eye coordination, patience and perseverance, as well as spatial thinking also benefit from the classic game. For the youngest, high-quality mini-puzzle packs made of wood, where you can see a uniform design, are suitable. You can arouse the curiosity of your future racing driver with a vehicle puzzle and inspire your young animal lover with exciting marine animals. As with adults, children stay focused longer when they are engaged in something that suits their interests. Therefore,

2. pay attention to your child's preferences and don't try to force them to do jigsaw puzzles. Only when your little one wants to solve the puzzle of their own accord does their intrinsic motivational attitude develop. Small puzzles are particularly suitable for traveling, which can simply be packed up again after the game and taken with you. It is not without reason that jigsaw puzzles have been a widespread employment opportunity for centuries. From laying the map of Great Britain in geography lessons to the popular classics in the children's room on sociable afternoon games, the advantages are not to be neglected and are sure to delight children of later generations! How To Choose Puzzles For Your Kids? Correctly chosen puzzle games can be the source of a satisfying and developmental game. On the other hand, a task that is too difficult can lead to boredom or even frustration in the child. Therefore, one should keep this in mind when choosing a puzzle. We are giving a few pointers for the optimal adaptation of the puzzle to the skills and development of a child. Puzzle for 3 Year Olds It is suggested that the youngest children begin their puzzle adventure with products made up of large pieces that are easy to grip and twist. It is important to adapt the puzzle topic correctly to the interests of the child. At this age, a child likes to put together objects or figures that they have come into contact with earlier. We suggest topics from the most popular fairy tales, which are read to children around the world as bedtime stories. There are also cute animals, vehicles or small genre scenes. The game should start with the picture that consists of the fewest parts and after the first success it should be continued with the other, not much more difficult pictures. As the next puzzle for toddlers aged 3 years and older, who now have a certain amount of experience, we recommend puzzles of a set of 4 pictures divided into 8, 12, 16 and 20 pieces respectively.

3. 4 to 5 years In accordance with the experience gained in putting the first puzzles together and increasing, the child begins to cope better and better with turning around and putting the pieces together. Although the child still makes frequent use of trial and error, it begins to learn the first systematic methods of assembling verification. This is a sign that you can move on to the puzzles which consist of several parts or are more complex in terms of content. When a child approaches their fifth year of life, a puzzle with about 30, 40, 50 or 60 pieces can be ideal. 6 to 8 Years 6-year-old children have such developed synthetic skills that they are able to identify the puzzle positions and sort them accordingly. They can also work out their own methods (strategies) for putting them together according to the shape and color as well as the representation on a picture. In this age group, children generally look for more sophisticated puzzles. Depending on their previous experience with puzzles, 8-year-old children can handle 260 or even 500-piece puzzles. It should be remembered, however, that the suggested number of parts and the level of difficulty may differ according to the individual abilities of a child.