A preschooler can begin to use visual cues such as patterns and colors to help match pieces together. Puzzles teach children how parts fit together to form a whole. For the inexperienced preschooler, choose a puzzle that has a clear single image such as one large puppy or fish. Also look for puzzles that have pieces based on recognizable parts of a single image, such as the tail, nose, eye or fin. Parts of the body are easier to learn when each one can be picked up individually and fit in its proper place.
Puzzles help exercise a child s memory.
Many children delight in seeing just how fast they can fit puzzle pieces together once they have figured it out. A valuable tool in remembering how pieces fit is the ability to verbalize or talk about how pieces go together. Another way to encourage the use of verbal skills is to ask your child to tell you where he is going to put a piece, or encourage him to describe the kind of piece that will fit. A small gift box can become the base for an endless variety of puzzles. Begin by gluing a piece of felt on the lid of the box.