| Last night, I took down an old favorite, | | | | olds. Keep in mind not only the size but |
| the ABC Floor Puzzle from Mudpuppy | | | | the time, patience, and focus required. |
| Press, to play with my 22-month-old. The | | | | Age 5-10: 100 piece puzzles are usually |
| puzzle is made up of 24 big 8" square | | | | just right for ages 5-10. |
| pieces that fit easily together and are | | | | Age 8-11: 200 piece puzzles. |
| easily manouverable by a little tyke. | | | | Age 10-12: 300+ piece puzzles will match |
| The box says 3+, but he enjoyed seeing | | | | the skill level of 10-12 year olds. |
| the picture come together and was pretty | | | | My daughter (age 6) and I often put |
| darn happy when he could fit one piece | | | | together a 40 piece puzzle before |
| to another. And I found it sufficiently | | | | bedtime. It's quick, fun, and gives us a |
| stimulating to enjoy spending seven or | | | | chance to wind down before the pre-bed |
| eight minutes down on the floor with it. | | | | routine. |
| Check out Mudpuppy's other puzzles, too | | | | Recently, we also tried the highly |
| - they are well made and designed, and | | | | recommended Global Puzzle. With 600 |
| they come in boxes that make storage | | | | pieces and dimensions measuring three |
| easy. | | | | feet wide and 18 inches tall, it's a |
| There is something zen about putting a | | | | big, big puzzle. But it's also a fun |
| puzzle together. It has no real | | | | learning tool. Except for the oceans, |
| productive purpose and is therefore very | | | | most of the puzzle is made of pieces in |
| effective at driving Type A family | | | | the shape of the countries they |
| members up the wall, though I've seen | | | | represent. The puzzle is somewhat |
| obsessive-compulsives unable to focus on | | | | fragile that way, since most countries |
| anything else until every last piece was | | | | do not naturally interlock with their |
| put in the puzzle. Me, I like it because | | | | neighbors. Some of the pieces are very |
| I think it focuses the brain on colors | | | | small, though very tiny countries and US |
| and shapes and their inter-relationship. | | | | states are conglomerated into pieces |
| With Brain Awareness Week coming up, | | | | that don't require a pair of tweezers to |
| it's a good time to think of | | | | manipulate. My daughter, still at six, |
| incorporating puzzles to stimulate | | | | was a bit young to do more than fit |
| neural pathway development (in your | | | | together big pieces of land in the same |
| child) and maintenance (for you, old | | | | color (Antartica), but her grandmother |
| codger). | | | | and I spent two days trying to figure |
| A good puzzle is a great way to spend | | | | out where to put Cameroon and |
| time with your kids. Here's a rough | | | | Madagascar. |
| guide for puzzle size, though kids will | | | | For a slightly older child (the box says |
| vary greatly: | | | | nine years, but could go younger |
| Ages 1-3: Very simple block puzzles will | | | | depending on the child), and for most |
| help the child understand relationships | | | | American adults, this puzzle is a great |
| between colors and shape. | | | | exercise in humility as you realize you |
| Age 2-4: 20-35 piece traditional jigsaw | | | | can't even get Canada or Latin America |
| puzzles are appropriate. | | | | in the right order. It's also sold by |
| Ages 4-7: 60 piece traditional jigsaw | | | | the National Geographic on-line store. |
| puzzles are perfect for most 5 year | | | | Highly recommended. |