Children and Valuable Life Skills Revealed by Doing Jigsaw Puzzles

Copyright (c) 2009 Elke Smith

Jigsaw puzzles have been a long-time favorite learning toy. Parents often appreciate the value of puzzles and their importance in enhancing a child's basic educational skills. By putting together a puzzle, a child's hand-to-eye coordination skills are sharpened as each piece is worked to "magically" fit into its proper space with its distinctive shape or form. Puzzles encourage cognitive development like memory, problem solving and decision-making skills. When shared with others, puzzles promote social interaction thereby helping develop a child's social skills. The educational value of a puzzle doesn't stop with basic educational skills, puzzles also teach life skills such as patience, persistence and self-worth, for example. The attitude with which a child completes a puzzle will be a small indication and reflection as to how they can and will relate to life as they mature.

PATIENCE: Puzzles teach patience. As defined in the Encarta Dictionary, "patience is the capacity for waiting without becoming annoyed or upset and to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties". The concept of waiting is difficult for a child. Using a puzzle as an example, we can show our children the importance of patience as each piece is maneuvered into place, sometimes with ease and sometimes by trial and error. As his patience is exercised, he will begin to realize that with patience each piece will eventually fit and he will achieve the desired result thereby realizing his reward in the end. Life (and puzzles) does not provide the instant satisfaction of "I want it now, I have to have it now" as understood in a child's world. The reward is the end result of delayed gratification. As adults we become aware of the benefits of working toward a goal. We learn that ethic and achieve that goal with time, hard work and persistence. As a result we achieve the satisfaction of accomplishment which becomes a reward within itself. Teach your child to compare the puzzle to life - how many times do things not make sense when we don't have all the facts (pieces)? We learn through patience that each piece contributes to the entire picture offering its own contribution or variable aspect to the whole. Puzzles help provide children with a better understanding that unless you have all the facts (puzzle pieces) organized, sorted out and put together you will not be able to see the puzzle to its completion to see the entire picture.

PERSISTENCE: Another life skill children learn from puzzles is persistence. This means to continue steadily or stubbornly despite problems, difficulties or obstacles. It is difficult for children to make progress when faced with obstacles. Sometimes these obstacles can hinder a child's self-esteem and the value they have to give to life itself. By the example of a puzzle and adult encouragement, children learn that obstacles do not have to have a negative influence on a task or life itself. With persistence children learn to accomplish goals and bring projects to fruition to reap their reward and eventually see the complete picture. With a puzzle, you can teach your child to take the time to think about color, shape and how the shape relates to a space and how each piece can be placed in its proper position through trial and error. Using logical thinking and problem solving skills, ask your child in what ways the puzzle pieces relate to the entire picture. Ask questions like, "Where do you think this piece should go?" Or encourage your child's persistence by saying; "I like how you keep trying." Let your child know that with persistence most anything in life is within reach. With the proper perspective children will be able to ultimately solve their problems (or complete their puzzle).

VALUE/WORTH: Puzzles help make children realize that the meaning of the picture is unclear with one piece of the puzzle, just as one person in life gains more value as he/she interacts with other people. One person alone (one isolated puzzle piece) has significance relative to his/herself (e.g. self-concept), but a connection or relationship with one or more other pieces an entire picture is created; and in life a sense of self worth is enhanced. We are unique in our own individual way. By ourselves we can have significant impact but through collaborated efforts life can take on a fuller meaning. What do you do with one piece of the puzzle? What value or worth does it have? Help your child understand some things don't make sense on their own but in combination with other pieces a new concept can be realized.

Puzzles help teach children to stretch their imagination. With persistence and perseverance their joy and reward will be inevitable, not only in the completion of their puzzle, but in life. Puzzles are an extremely valuable educational toy when worked independently, but can take on a whole new meaning when guided by a "teacher" who teaches how each piece relates to another puzzle piece, by its size, shape and color. Just as a single puzzle piece, children can learn how their individual contribution to life brings its own reward, just as each piece in the puzzle creates the entire picture.