Category: Well-Being

Parents and guardians want the best for their children. We aim to assist young people in their quest for knowledge and growth. It is crucial to include mental and physical exercise in their everyday routine. Children can learn a lot from puzzles.

Puzzles in early childhood education have a long history. Although they are a simplistic form of entertainment, puzzles can benefit children’s development. Recognizing the good effects of this activity can have on your child’s growth and development is crucial.

Puzzles are a dynamic and excellent educational resource for young children. It supports development of hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and fine motor skills. In addition to this, it improves cognitive abilities, problem-solving and analytical thinking.

Working on a crossword puzzle can encourage imagination and creativity while teaching kids the value of perseverance and patience. Due to the fact that they may be done alone, with a partner, or in a group, it’s an excellent way to foster social skills.

Overall, solving puzzles is a fun and educational exercise for young children that fosters learning, development, and growth.

Why Are Custom Puzzles Good for Children to Play?

Custom puzzles made from a photo can provide children with a novel and engaging puzzle experience. They enable children to create a puzzle made with a photograph with personal significance. This could be a photo of the individual, their family, friends, pets, or a significant event.

A terrific approach to involve and strengthen your relationship with your kids is through custom puzzles from a photo can encourage emotional wellbeing, strengthen connections to one’s own identity, and strengthen bonds with family.

Children have the chance to talk about the memories and tales connected to the image as they put together these personalized creations. Purchasing a personalized puzzle for your kids is a simple approach to improve the activity’s significance and everyone’s enjoyment.

1. Develop Cognitive Skills

Acquiring, processing, and analyzing information are cognitive abilities. They are the basis of learning and development and enable us to think, reason, solve problems, and make decisions. Children use their intelligence to solve problems.

Puzzles aid in children employing problem-solving and critical-thinking skills thereby fostering their development. Additionally, the activity can help children develop the capacity to recognize and visualize spatial relationships. This ability is required for reading, writing, sports, and transportation.

Puzzles play an important role in cognitive development, helping to cultivate reasoning skills in children. Jigsaw puzzles motivate children to think critically by investigating how the pieces fit together and how to create the entire image. Meanwhile, block puzzles, while in many ways similar, require children to consider how to arrange the pieces in the correct order.

The benefits do not stop at cognitive development, as they can also be used as a fun and engaging way to incorporate leisure and learning.  Parents and caregivers can further enhance their child’s growth by introducing the occasional puzzle into the routine, allowing them to develop the skills necessary to succeed in school and in life. For even more convenience and versatility, the Newverest jigsaw puzzle mat roll up makes storage and setup easy, creating a tidy, portable space for play and learning.

2. Enhance Fine Motor Skills

Puzzles enhance the growth of children’s fine motor abilities.  Fine motor abilities are used to grasp, manipulate, and hold objects. These muscles aid children in getting, manipulating, and assembling puzzle pieces. This activity enhances hand-eye coordination, spatial intelligence, and agility. Increasingly complexity teach children critical reasoning.

This popular hobby also makes for a special personalized gift and improve children’s memory and concentration. When solving puzzles, children must focus on the details and memorize the shapes and hues of the puzzle pieces. As they progress, they must remember which pieces fit together and where they belong. Cognitive challenges construct neuronal networks, enhancing memory, focus, and attention.

3. Improve Language and Communication Skills

Puzzles improve language and communication abilities in young children. To solve them, children must identify shapes, colors, and patterns. This enhances communication and vocabulary. Solving special problems requires collaboration so children can practice social skills such as turn-taking and idea-sharing. As the children work together to solve personalized puzzles for children, they are able to listen and convey themselves effectively.

Critical thinking is also enhanced, which is essential for developing language and communication. Putting together puzzle pieces teaches children how to scrutinize and reason. As they discover novel solutions, this can enhance their creativity and help children acquire these skills and speak fluently.

4. Boost Self-Esteem and Confidence

For many years, young children have been enjoying custom photo puzzles to relax and enjoy themselves. Children develop a high level of self-confidence and self-esteem. Children learn critical reasoning. They feel accomplished after completing a riddle. Positive feedback increases self-esteem and confidence, which can be applied in other situations.

Puzzles also provide a low-stress environment where children can make errors and learn from them. Children can surmount challenges as they complete the task and develops resilience, perseverance, and confidence through trial and error. As they work on more complex tasks, children may develop a growth mindset and view obstacles as opportunities to build.

5. Encourage Social Interaction

Puzzles for young children promote socialization. Puzzles instill teamwork and communication. To solve any perplexing tasks, children must collaborate and compromise. These activities teach children collaboration, an essential educational skill.

Through this is engaging activity children develop social skills and make pals. Personalized puzzles for kids make toddlers feel successful. This positive experience can foster connections and can help your child develop social skills and lasting friendships.

6. Improve Concentration

A puzzle is a great way for children to focus and concentrate. This endeavor requires intense commitment, which may help a child concentrate in other areas. Puzzles are enjoyable and can be completed at a child’s pace, making them a stress-free method for enhancing preceptive abilities. This helps children concentrate longer and may nurture a lifelong passion for learning.

Children are also inspired to investigate potential solutions and attempt multiple methods to solve a problem, not matter the task. This is essential for many aspects of life that requires focus and teaches children to think critically and logically. As children mature, solving puzzles aids them in overcoming real-world issues.

7. Relieve Tension

Puzzles assist kids de-stress. They can help children concentrate on the job at hand and forget about their problems. After a long day, it can help children unwind and stay calm.

Additionally, puzzles help children comprehend and govern their emotions. Children will most certainly encounter obstacles requiring perseverance and tolerance. Parents and caregivers can instruct children on deep breathing and how to remain composed during this time.

Solving puzzles helps children employ these skills in academic, social, and personal contexts.  They aid children in learning, maturing, and emotional regulation.

8. Practice Colour Recognition

Learning hues through puzzles is a great way for children to learn colors. They understand color and visual perception more effectively. Children must recognize color patterns and associate colors and objects. In this way, they are more prepared for the next level of their education.

It is also believed that color recognition helps with both reading and writing. Children learn color recognition and spatial awareness. Whether at school or home, puzzles can help children develop their skills and help them learn. They provide a low-pressure, pleasant environment for learning and play.

Conclusion

The seemingly simple activity of fitting different pieces together is an excellent method of teaching kids new things. Parental participation in puzzle activities can be fun to connect with your child while fostering cognitive growth.

Remembering, there is no universal puzzle for any age group. Consequently, select ones that are suitable for your child’s age and level of development.

You can aid your child’s development of lifelong skills by including puzzle-solving in their regular activities. So, grab some puzzles and play with your kids!

Today’s children are using technology more than ever. According to the CDC, kids ages eight to eighteen average 7.5 hours of screen time each day. There are many potential benefits to screen time, but too much time can affect your child’s emotional state. Moderating and monitoring your child’s tech usage can ensure that they develop healthy self-esteem while online.

Let’s examine the impact of tech use on children’s confidence and explore strategies for parents to find a healthy balance.

The Pros and Cons of Tech Use Among Children

Technology is a double-edged sword for children. Children can gain valuable educational opportunities through online learning resources, educational video games, and interactive educational websites. Online math games or language learning apps can help kids build their skills in a fun, engaging way.

Similarly, multiplayer video games allow kids to socialize with their friends and make new connections. Children can collaborate and work towards a common goal in games, which aids in the development of problem-solving and communication skills. Playing video games has also shown improved decision making skills.

Technology can also offer children opportunities for creative expression. Digital creative tools to help them develop their creativity, self-expression, and technical skills. Furthermore, tech can be used to explore topics that children are passionate about, such as science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) subjects.

However, negative impacts from excessive screen time have affect a child’s physical and mental health. They may begin to choose online time over physical play, leading to obesity, poor posture, and fatigue.

Moreover, social media can be a significant source of stress and anxiety for children. They compare their lives to those they see online, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

How Tech Use Affects Children’s Confidence

Excessive screen time can have many negative effects on children’s mental health. When many children’s games and websites are designed to be addictive, reducing screen time may feel like an uphill battle. But here are a few reasons it is vital to do so.

For one, if your kids are spending most of their time in front of a screen, they are not able to practice their social skills like they would during face-to-face interactions. This can lead to increased social anxiety in offline settings and leave your child feeling less confident in themselves.

An over abundance of time spent online has also been linked to feelings of isolation and depression, which aren’t conducive to building healthy self-esteem.

Social Media and its Impact on Children’s Confidence

Social media can be one of the most significant factors impacting your child’s confidence. Children who spend multiple hours per day on social media may develop a distorted sense of reality, expecting their “behind the scenes” to look like a picture-perfect Instagram page.

Your children may also come across content they are not ready to handle while on social media. Many social media sites have inadequate content filters, and your young child could be exposed to adult content, cyberbullying, foul language, or other inappropriate sites. While there are ways to protect your child on social media, the chances of them stumbling upon unsafe content are high.

Children on social media also compare themselves to both their peers and online “influencers.” There is a significant link between juvenile social media use and body dysmorphia, as young girls feel the pressure to look like the edited photos they see online.

All these factors can inhibit a child’s ability to develop healthy self-esteem.

Balancing Tech Use and Building Confidence in Children

It’s essential that parents find a balance between tech use and empowering your child to develop authentic confidence. Here are some strategies to help:

Encourage Physical Activity

Physical activity can improve mood, reduce stress, and increase confidence. Encourage your child to participate in physical activities such as sports, dancing, or simply going for a walk. Even a ten-minute walk around the neighborhood after dinner can make a dramatic difference.

Monitor Screen Time

Set limits on your child’s screen time and stick to them. Install an app that stringently enforces screen time limits – and make sure the app cannot be uninstalled without it notifying you. Engage your child in other fun activities to keep them away from their device.

Foster Socialization

Encourage face-to-face communication with peers, family, and friends. This can help build social skills and increase confidence levels. Set up weekend play dates at the park or organize a backyard barbecue with neighborhood kids.

Introduce Technology Gradually

If you’re hesitant about giving your child unlimited access to social media, consider giving them a phone without social media access. This can help ease them into the world of technology without overwhelming them. Or you may consider restricting them to only using one social media app of their choice. This will help cut down on the hours it takes to interact on multiple social media avenues.

Practice Positive Reinforcement

Encourage your child’s interests and celebrate their successes – even if they use their devices to achieve them. If your child is proud of a piece of art they created on their tablet, share their enthusiasm! By being their biggest cheerleader, you help to build confidence and self-esteem.

The Recap

In a nutshell, monitoring your child’s tech use is job one. Secondly, work to find a balance between productive screen time and building their confidence levels IRL. Although technology can be a valuable tool, it should never replace face-to-face communication, physical activity, or other confidence-building activities. With these strategies, you can help your children build confidence while still enjoying the benefits of modern tech.

Team building activities are not just for adults, they can also be a valuable tool for children to learn important skills. Communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership are the main benefits for those taking part in a team building event. These activities also encourage creativity while fun with peers.

Let’s explore four exciting and engaging team building activities for kids that are sure to create lasting memories and valuable learning experiences.

#1 Marshmallow Tower

This classic team building activity is a unique and captivating task requiring teamwork and creativity. Divide kids into teams and provide each group with a set of marshmallows and toothpicks. Their mission is to work together to build the tallest freestanding tower using only marshmallows and toothpicks. Set a time limit to increase the challenge. The team with the tallest tower when time runs out is proclaimed the winner. Learn more about this and other games by visiting https://www.eteambuilding.org.

#2 Egg Drop Challenge

The egg drop challenge is an enthralling team building activity that requires kids to use their critical thinking skills. The primary goal is to protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a height. Divide the kids into teams and provide them with materials, including straws, tape, paper, and cotton balls. Instruct them to design a protective container for the egg using these materials, and then drop the containers from a height. The team whose egg survives the drop without any cracks or breaks wins the challenge.

#3 Human Knot

Have kids form a circle and extend both of their arms towards the center. Direct them to grab the hands of two different people on the opposite side of the circle. Both their left and right hands should not be connected to someone that is directly standing beside them. The challenge is for everyone to work together to untangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands. This activity requires communication, cooperation, and problem solving skills to untangle the human knot. It can also be a great icebreaker activity to promote bonding among any group, as well as providing a fun alternative to classroom learning.

#4 Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are a is a popular team building activity that can be done at any location, indoors or out. Create a list of items for kids to find, either in a specific location or around the house or yard. Divide everyone into teams and provide them with the list. Instruct them to work together to find all the items within a specified time limit. The winning team is the one that finds all the items first or the most items after a specified time limit. Scavenger hunts especially promote communication as everyone is separating to find different items more quickly before other teams do.

Team Building Benefits for Life

There’s no better way to foster team building skills than organizing activities that are also a ton of fun. Kids will naturally work together, drawing from their own personal skills, and offering them in service of their team to win any game set before them. The skills developed by each child will serve them well into adulthood, whether they are playing sports or games, working to develop their career, or volunteering with others for a common goal.

Many things in life cannot be controlled, and death is one of them. Although death is a normal part of life, it’s a difficult topic to discuss, especially with kids who have recently lost someone dear to them. This could be a parent, grandparent, best friend, or pet.

As a teacher or caregiver, know that children react to loss in different ways depending on their age among other things like their personality and their relationship toward the person who died.

For instance, a younger child might mourn by throwing temper tantrums while an older child displays regressive behaviors like bedwetting. Some may even avoid school or get in trouble in school. While these are normal, it’s important to support them through this difficult time.

This article explores ways to help a child deal with their emotions healthily and move forward in life.

Welcome their questions

A child who lost a loved one may approach you with questions like… Where do people go when they did? Why did they have to die? Did it hurt? What is a funeral? Who will take care of me now? These questions are valid and they need to be answered in an authentic way, using language they can easily understand.

Have ongoing conversations about death instead of allowing for only one conversation and ignoring other questions. And while you provide them with reassurance, be careful to avoid making any promises you cannot keep.

Maintain their usual routine

Routines bring a sense of familiarity to a child’s life. It allows them to feel safe and in control. Losing a family member causes a disruption in their daily routine, including school, meal times, and bedtimes. If you’re having difficulty keeping their schedule consistent, don’t hesitate to ask for help from trusted friends and relatives.

What would also be extremely helpful is to explain to a child what to expect so they won’t get confused. You could, for example, tell them who will take them to school tomorrow (in case you can’t do it) or when the funeral will happen and the people who might attend the funeral.

Use resources to help them express themselves

Taking advantage of therapy tools, such as trauma worksheets and handouts, is an opportunity for a child to heal from a loss. This might be their very first time to experience losing someone or a pet, which makes these resources beneficial for processing what happened.

For example, one of our trauma worksheets called “My Trauma Story” lets kids share about an upsetting event. It asks about the emotions they felt and encourages them to explore healthy coping skills, such as deep breathing, grounding, and positive self-talk.

Kids who are having frequent negative thoughts can find comfort in reciting realistic, encouraging statements like:

• What has happened to me does not define me.
• It’s okay that I feel this way. My feelings are allowed to be here.
• I can do things to help myself feel safe.

Reflect on happy memories

One of the ways people can move on from the pain of losing someone is through remembrance. It entails reflecting on and sharing the beautiful memories you’ve had with the person. This honors a person’s life and at the same time sparks positive emotions.

Turn this into a therapeutic activity by making something creative, like a scrapbook or memento of the child’s memories with their deceased loved one. It can be a collection of photos or objects (e.g. dried flowers or a piece of clothing that represents the loved one).

While completing the activity, they will be able to pour out their emotions. This is especially helpful for kids who won’t talk about their feelings yet.

Tip: Incorporate other activities that also relieve stress, such as yoga and scooter rides.

Consider grief therapy

This step is important because some children, unfortunately, find themselves struggling with the loss for a very long time. They may be feeling guilty and somehow responsible for the death even though they had nothing to do with it, or have had multiple traumas before the loss, which made them more anxious.

Watch out for warning signs that indicate the need for a child to receive grief therapy, such as being preoccupied with thoughts of the deceased loved one, changes in their personality, and losing interest in their hobbies and school.

Grief counseling comes in different forms like groups where they meet other kids, or individual therapy in which they speak privately with a counselor.

Wrapping It Up

Whether the loss of a loved one was sudden or not, children grieve in their own way. It’s normal for them to cry, regress, and worry a lot, but more importantly, we need to be there to help them cope and get professional help if necessary. Healing from grief takes time. Don’t hesitate to seek resources that will allow a child to make sense of their loss.

Related Resources

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