Frequently Asked Questions About Puzzles for Toddlers
Traditional wooden toys continue to be some of the most popular on the market and when compared to noisy, plastic toys they have several advantages. Wooden puzzles, in particular, are great for your toddler to play with and they can help your little one to learn lots of essential skills. Although these are closed-ended toys, they can still be played with over and over again, and there are so many different puzzles to choose from.
Wooden puzzles for toddlers are often brightly coloured and feature simple shapes or easily recognisable animals, and they are designed to be easy for toddlers to grasp. With a variety of designs and difficulty levels available, wooden puzzles can bring a world of fun and learning to your toddler's playtime. If you are considering purchasing puzzles for your little one, below we have answered some questions we’re frequently asked by parents.
When can toddlers start playing with puzzles?
Often, toddlers can start playing with puzzles after their first birthday. Lots of wooden puzzles are designed for ages 12 months + and they feature colourful chunky pieces, which are perfect for small hands. However, some puzzles may be too difficult or too easy depending on your little one’s stage of development.
You may find that some number puzzles, like the Dinosaur 1-10 Puzzle, are too complicated for one-year-olds and they’re more suitable for younger children that are starting to learn how to count. It’s important to choose puzzles that are appropriate for your toddler's age and skill level, otherwise they won’t be enjoyable to play with.
Are puzzles beneficial for toddlers?
Puzzles are a great way to help toddlers learn several important skills and they’re not just fun to play with, they can also be really good for supporting development. Some of the main benefits of playing with wooden puzzles include;-
Improve problem-solving skills
Any type of puzzle is a problem-solving activity for a toddler. Puzzles require your little one to use their cognitive skills to identify shapes, colours, sizes and patterns in order to complete the puzzle. This helps them to develop important problem-solving skills.
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Enhance fine motor skills
By picking up small pieces and placing them where they should go to complete a puzzle, toddlers will be developing their fine motor skills. This process can also help to improve their hand-eye coordination, as well as their dexterity.
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Help with recognition
Puzzles involve the recognition of shapes, numbers, letters, animals and various other objects. Completing puzzles can help your toddler to recognise the different pieces and in the case of jigsaw puzzles, like the Dodo Puzzle Duo Pets, put them with other matching pieces. This is an important part of early learning.
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Promote social interaction
Often, toddlers will play with other people when they’re doing puzzles, whether this is a parent or another child. Puzzles can be a great way for your little one to learn how to play with others. When working together to complete a puzzle, toddlers can practise their language skills and learn how to share too, which helps to build important social skills.
How do you know which puzzles are best for toddlers?
Whenever you’re buying wooden puzzles for toddlers, you should double-check the recommended age on the puzzle. This will help you to ensure you’re buying puzzles that are appropriate for your little one to play with. Depending on their skill level, you may find that you need to go up or down an age range, and that’s absolutely fine. Look for puzzles with large pieces that are easy for small hands to grasp too and puzzles with pictures or patterns that your toddler can recognise, this will help to capture their interest.
What other wooden toys are good for toddlers?
In addition to puzzles, there are lots of other wooden toys that are great for toddlers. From shape sorters and building blocks to role-play toys and push-along toys, several toys are designed to be both fun and educational. All of these toys can help your toddler to meet their early-year milestones as well as prepare them to start learning at preschool and school.
Purchasing wooden puzzles for toddlers
It’s fair to say that if you don’t have any wooden puzzles for your toddler, it’s beneficial to purchase some and you can have lots of fun doing puzzles together. If you’re interested in ordering some new toys for your little one, be sure to visit the My Little Goody Box website.We supply a variety of high-quality toys, from sensory toys to puppets, and there’s something for everyone on our website. You can always purchase from us in confidence knowing we only supply toys that are suitable for small children and they’re completely safe. If you have any questions about the toys on our website, feel free to contact us today. We will happily provide you with some more information and help you to find the best toys for your little one.
