Completing the puzzle

The children were offered a range of puzzles with a few large pieces and large knobs to aid them in successfully completing the puzzle. The children in baby plus were all very keen to become involved and displayed very positive attitudes and with some support from the practitioners many stayed focused and carried on even when unable to fit the puzzle pieces into the correct gaps.

Activities such as a puzzle time give opportunity for children to develop their problem solving skills and to really engage in some effective learning. Puzzle time has its own section in the baby plus room so children always have an opportunity to challenge their own abilities and to develop their motor and coordination skills. Puzzle time does not always involve jigsaw puzzles or inset boards but can be shape sorters or stacking blocks and the children have to explore and discover for themselves which objects go where in order to get the shapes in the gaps and to make the tower stay up.

The children at Daisykins nursery love puzzles, they enjoy finding out how parts make up a whole picture this is an important part in children development. Puzzles are good for children’s minds and their cognitive development; it also aids children’s self esteem as they are very proud of their achievement. Practitioners at nursery will encourage children to fit the puzzle piece themselves as it is very easy for some adults to complete the puzzle for the child however this prevents the children from learning some vital skills.

It is believed by physiologists that puzzles provide a key opportunity for developing children's minds, as children look at a puzzle piece and decide whether to flip it over or turn it around this enables them to make the connection between their hands and their eyes.