The three basics of what puzzles do for your child
When your child is alone with a puzzle you can expect three basic skills to be built:
Physical skills -- from holding puzzle pieces and turning them until they fit
Cognitive skills -- as they solve the problems of a puzzle
Emotional skills -- they learn patience and are rewarded when they complete the puzzle
These three basic skills are the building blocks for a well rounded person. As Nancy Maldonado states in an article, puzzles allow “an opportunity for young children to focus on an activity that has an ending,” completing the pleasing image.
In addition to these three basics, doing a puzzle with a friend or family member also allows for the growth of social skills as they work together and communicate about what fits where. This is a minor point as nearly any activity done with more than one person will have this benefit.
Looking at the specific skills behind the three basics
Each of the three basics break down further into specific skills that a puzzle can build for your child. I’ll look at them in point form under each heading, for further reading check out this article from Parenting Today or this one from B -- Inspired Mama.