6 Benefits Of Puzzles In Early Childhood Development

In most parts, puzzles appear as simple games offering a fun and relaxing way to spend time. But they also play a profound role in shaping a child’s cognitive and emotional development. As seemingly simple as these games are, research has shown that they can indeed make your child smarter. Even better, they come in all shapes and forms, appropriate for kids of different ages. If you’re thinking about getting your child to play beneficial games, consider introducing them to puzzles. Here are some benefits the games offer for childhood development.

 

Boosts the learning of important math-related skills

Does your kid struggle with math-related subjects? Then you know what their next gift should be. Struggling with math is common among kids, but that's no excuse for your child not to do well in the subject - or any other math-related subject. Letting them play some puzzle games could be the trick they need to boost their math learning experience.

UChicago researchers (University of Chicago researchers) have found that playing puzzle games can help improve the learning of math-related skills. According to these experts, children who play puzzles between the ages of 2 and 4 can develop better spatial skills. How is this important for math? Various studies have shown that children with good spatial skills often do well in math. Other studies suggest that this skill can predict future mathematics.
 

Improves fine motor skills

If you want your child to develop fine motor skills, encourage them to play more puzzle games. Motor skills are the different ways the body uses its muscles to perform various tasks. Children crawling, sitting up, and learning to walk all require good motor skills.

That is where puzzle games come in.

As your child learns to handle the small pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, they strengthen their finger muscles in the process. Picking up a jigsaw piece, handling it, and connecting or joining it to other pieces require good control, which improves motor skills.
 

Strengthens vocabulary, word acquisition, and language development

Believe it or not, a child's vocabulary growth is directly linked to overall school performance. For example, a child’s vocabulary in kindergarten can affect their ability to learn to read. And needles to say, the more words your children know, the more information they have access to. 

Problem-solving games, collaborative puzzles, and word search games can improve vocabulary acquisition and language development in children. They can play with peers or adults to engage in natural conversations during the gameplay to improve their ability to express their thoughts while picking up new words.

 

Boosts self-esteem and confidence

Not many consider this, but playing puzzle games can help boost self-esteem in children and improve their confidence. These games present challenges, riddles, or problems a child has to solve. Each successful solution can create a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction, making the little ones feel good about themselves.

Of course, there’s also the added confidence boost of kudos from a parent or guardian. This type of positive feedback feeds into the child’s mind more than you can think. It increases their esteem and encourages them to take on more difficult problems. That is a building block of a strong character they’ll take through life. Even better, these games are played in a low-stress and friendly environment, so the child can make errors and learn from them without fearing judgment. Each task they surmount helps them to develop a positive mindset towards tackling obstacles in the future.
 

Enhances cognitive skills

One of the prime benefits of puzzle games is that they can enhance cognitive skills, especially in kids. Cognitive learning is characterized by understanding, organizing ideas, and applying them through evaluation and choice. As children play with puzzle games, they learn the power of strategy and choice. Slowly, they begin to recognize and understand how pieces fit together to create a larger ‘picture.’ That enhances their cognitive skills.

Shape recognition, memory improvement, and enhanced problem-solving skills become added benefits with time. Children can remember pieces that don't fit and understand how to manipulate shapes and objects to make them fit into a larger piece.
 

Creates an avenue for better social development

Another noteworthy benefit of puzzles is that they can help build a child’s social development skills when they play with others. Puzzles create a great avenue for children to socialize and ‘work’ together with their friends or family members to accomplish a goal - in this case, solve a puzzle. They can understand a lot about teamwork and collaboration from childhood and also learn how to socialize with others.

Puzzles allow kids to manipulate objects and learn about the world around them. Some studies show that learning how to manipulate the world around them influences children’s brain development.