Use Jigsaw Puzzles to Help Your Young Child Learn to Read

Do you want to help your child to develop valuable skills needed for reading, and life long learning? By introducing jigsaw puzzles to your child from an early age you can encourage the development of vital skills needed for reading and learning for the rest of their life.

Early recognition skills for a baby are very simplistic. A favorite toy is the same toy no matter what position it is in. Position is not important. A toy is the same whether upright or upside down. Position is important in puzzles however, just as it is important with recognizing letters and words, when learning to read.

An infant initially learns to recognize objects by their shape and not necessarily what position the object is in. A chair is a chair whether it is upright, lying down, or upside down-it doesn't matter. The simple puzzles produced for younger children help to develop more refined definition and recognition skills.

When trying to do a jigsaw puzzle children soon discover is that it does matter which way up the puzzle piece is. It does not fit in the space unless it is in a certain position. A typical early childhood puzzle is wooden with a picture and has spaces where the pieces fit to complete the picture. With a street scene, for example, there might be a separate car shape, bus shape, and a truck shape that complete a puzzle. Early learning puzzles are typically robust as the first response of an infant is to try to force the piece into place taking no notice of its shape.

There are valuable learning experiences that can be gained from puzzle activities. Firstly hand-eye co-ordination is necessary to manipulate the piece into the correct position. To fit the piece exactly involves observing the shape of the hole as well as the shape of the puzzle piece. At first a young child deals with the problem by trial and error and sometimes force. The guidance and example of a parent begins to solidify the process. The green shape only fits in the green hole. This type of matching activity develops early reading skills. The youngster starts to develop spatial awareness and mental manipulation as well as increasing physical dexterity. Skill and ability develops as the child learns to place the piece in correctly and internalization of the process occurs.

Parents can use puzzles as an opportunity to increase their child's vocabulary through discussion. It is a great way to expand learning horizons far beyond your youngster's immediate world.

Early childhood puzzles can be purchased in varying degrees of difficulty as your youngster's spatial and reasoning skills become more developed. Children learn to recognize color and shape by playing. Adult conversation increases the young learner's understanding and development potential.

When introducing a new puzzle spend time doing it with the child at first. Make this a happy social time and lots of fun. Do a puzzle with your child long enough to maintain interest and attention, but be ready to move on to another activity as focus begins to tire. Eventually children will want to do puzzles by themselves as their dexterity and confidence increases. With praise and encouragement children will practice until the skills become familiar? Then is the time to introduce puzzles with a greater challenge.

Jigsaw puzzles are a fun as well as educational opportunity to spend quality time with your child. Parents can use the simple puzzle to give children a firm foundation for learning that will last them a lifetime.

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