One of the ways to support children as they learn and develop their kindergarten readiness is to give lots of hand-on activities. What can be more hands-on than a puzzle? Puzzles with Halloween pictures are extra fun at this time of the year.
Puzzles come in a variety of materials including digital. Digital puzzle pieces do not spill all over the floor, but kids also need to be able to feel a puzzle piece in their fingers and figure out how to match up all the ins and outs so that it fits into the space. There is quite a feeling of satisfaction in the trying and doing and brains get a chance to connect how things feel to how they look.
As hands are moving to fit the pieces, brains are working on solving problems and reasoning skills. Children are practicing focusing skills and increasing their attention span. Sometimes, even when concentrating, doing a puzzle can be frustrating, but children are learning to cope and developing patience and emotional control.
Puzzles are primarily visual, but kids are also using lots of language and self-talk. Parents and caregivers can add to the language learning by giving clues and suggestions such as: Check the color. What color do you think fits right there? This looks like a very pointy space maybe it needs a very pointy piece. Kids need to use lots of color and shape words as they do puzzles. Halloween puzzles need some spooky and scary words.
Some other skills are patterning and comparing. Children are also using some high level thinking strategies such as figure-ground details and part-to-whole relationships. Does your child want to finish the puzzle? That’s very early goal-setting.
Do you think somebody put a spell on this puzzle? Or could it be just a Halloween trick?