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HOW SHOULD I USE YOUR PUZZLES
WITH MY TODDLER?
You might notice that our puzzles are a
little different than other puzzles on the market. While
most puzzles are generally pictures that are cut up into
interlocking pieces, our puzzles feature recognizable
pieces in and of themselves. This allows your
child the added opportunity to discern relative shapes of
the characters in addition to realizing subtle differences
between pieces. Talk to your child as they take each
piece out. Ask them what it is and what it
does. (Play with the pieces outside of the
puzzle...."Can you put the Flamingo on top of the hippo's
back?")
WHICH PUZZLES ARE
BEST TO START MY CHILD WITH?
Remember
that it is best to challenge but not frustrate your
child. Start them with a puzzle that will give them a
sense of accomplishment. Then try to give your child
a variety of design experiences and step them up through
ability levels. If you do this, you've given your
child a spatial problem solving experience that will
benefit them for years to come!
WHICH DESIGN SHOULD I
PICK?
Its always a tough decision for adults
picking between puzzle designs in the same age group.
If your child is there, ask them which one they like! If not, try to think of what the child is
exposed to and what they get excited about. Kids who
live near zoos might appreciate a design like "Earth
Summit" more than a child who lives in the country who may
prefer "EIEIO". Children who live near the ocean
might be more likely to appreciate "Family of
Whales". A child who has parents who garden, might
love our "Vegie Garden" puzzle. We try to provide a
variety of design possibilities so that there are choices
for most any interest level!
WHEN IS THE "TEN NUMBERS
PUZZLE" APPROPRIATE?
Even though this puzzle is
intended for children who are starting to recognize numbers
and count, many parents have discovered that it can be used
much earlier. It can first be used as a color puzzle.
(ie; Where's the red piece?) Then your child
can discern light versus dark colors. (ie; Where's the
light green "5"? Where's the dark green "6"?)
Next you can count the "counters" under each piece.
(Let's count the Scottie Dogs under the number "2"!)
Once your child has learned the numbers, he or she can then
take the numbers out of the puzzle to create bigger
numbers. (See if you can make a big number like
"452"!) So, for those who might want to get one puzzle that can provide a lot of puzzling
mileage, "Ten Numbers" is a great choice!
DO YOU DONATE PUZZLES TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS?
Over the years we have been approached by a variety of organizations for donations to help raise funds. We are committed to supporting those involved in helping people and children less fortunate than ourselves. (please see our service oriented "Links" page.) As we've grown, we have been able to increase our donations! Due to our being a small (2 person) business, we have had to limit donations to our local community. Thanks to your support, we have been able to donate hundreds of puzzles to charitable organizations! |
