Recently I gifted a Djeco – 6 Animals in a box puzzle to Dr. Christina McDonnell from www.geniusjuniors.ie. Christina runs a charity website where all the profits from the sales on her website goes to buying books for children in Crumlin and Templestreet hospitals. You can even buy books directly on her website that will go straight to these children. She has an amazing Instagram Page, which is also worth following.

She very kindly reviewed this puzzle on her Instagram Page, @genijunis, and as part of the review, she outlined 6 benefits to children of doing jigsaw puzzles. I was so impressed, that with her permission, I’m posting the benefits here.

Djeco Duo Numbers 2 piece jigsaw puzzles

• Physical Development. Children develop fine motor skills through the coordination of small muscles. Children practiced in this tend to find it easier to write, draw, play instruments etc

Janod – 208 Piece World Jigsaw Puzzle

• Jigsaw Puzzles improve children’s spacial awareness and hand/eye coordination

• Doing puzzles help develop reasoning and decision making skills

(Pets – Baby Puzzle)

• Development of confidence and determination. As they work on the puzzle, they can see their persistence paying off and it gives them a sense of achievement when the puzzle is complete.

Djeco 16 piece Ice cream van Jigsaw puzzle

• Hands on, playful learning experiences like these make learning positive

• Doing jigsaw puzzles encourages social interaction and language development. It’s great to work on puzzles together to practice team work.

Thanks so much Christina for highlighting all these benefits of jigsaw puzzles. I stock a large range of jigsaw puzzles. Take a look at them here. I hope you can find one that suits your child.

xx Suzie