PRETTY WATER PUBLIC SCHOOL

   Pre-K students should be able to work a 12 or higher piece puzzle. We have excellent puzzles on our Pretty Water Website.  Go to student Links and click on Starfall.  Click on Kindergarten and Pre-K.  Click on Geometry and Measurement on the bottom left.  Click on the colorful egg on the right side.  
The Benefits of Puzzles in Early Childhood Development by Michelle Manno
  The three basics of what puzzles do for your child
*Physical skills- from holding puzzle pieces and turning them until they fit
*Cognitive skills- as they solve the problems of a puzzle
*Emotional skills- they learn patience and are rewarded when they complete the puzzle
  Each of the three basics break down further into specific skills that a puzzle can build for your child.
Physical skills
*Hand-Eye Coordination- your child will develop a keen relationship between what their eyes see, what their hands do and what their brain relates to this information.
*Gross Motor Skills- Larger puzzle pieces and stacking puzzle games can enhance the large movements of your child to the point where they can then work on their fine motor skills.
*Fine Motor Skills- small and precise movements, such as the movement of fingers to get a puzzle piece in exactly the right spot, are built and can lead to better handwriting and typing skills.
Cognitive Skills
*Understanding the surrounding world-there is no better way for your child to gain an understanding of the world around them than by letting them literally manipulate the world around them.
*Shape recognition-the first puzzles we use are simple shapes-triangle, squares and circles. From there more complex shapes are used until the abstract jigsaw puzzles are used.
*Memory- Your child has to remember the shape of pieces that don’t fit for when they will fit later on.
*Problem solving- Either the puzzle piece fits or it does not. Your child uses critical thinking skills to solve the puzzle and, best of all, you can’t cheat a puzzle!
Emotional skills
*Setting goals-The first goal is to solve the puzzle, the next goal will be a series of strategies your child comes up with to solve the puzzle. Such as putting familiar shapes or colors in one pile for future reference.
*Patience- Puzzles are not like sports, you can’t just step up to the plate and swing until you knock it out of the park. You must practice patience and slowly work through the puzzle before you reach the ending.