Almost 3 Yr Old and Puzzles

3 of my 4 daughters never had ANY interest in puzzles. That may just be what's going on here. My oldest, graduated last year, from a technical highschool, valedictorian of a class of 438 kids, a year early, with her LPN (licensend practical nurse). She didn't care about puzzles. I wouldn't worry about it.

There's always going to be that parent out there that brags about how they potty trained their kid at 18 months, and they were playing piano at 2, and reading and writing at 2.5...that kind of stuff really bothered me and made me wonder if there was something wrong with my kids. So far...they've all been well adjusted, intelligent children. I'm sure you're little sweetie is just deciding what he likes and doens't like :)

He may not like puzzles. My daughter acts like she can't do certain things also because she doens't like them. A puzzle mayb not be challenging enough. When I was teaching my daughter to do puzzles when she got stuck or frustrated we said to her wiggle wiggle wiggle and reminded her to turn the piece and by wiggleing it she could try it from another angle.

I believe after 3.5 years old they want children to be tested at the pre kindergarten screening by your local school district. They will test him in many many different area's and can pin point any concerns or areas you should work with him on before kindergarten. It was fun and exciting for my daughter to go. I definately recommend going as early as possilbe. This is where I found out my daughter was behind on her gross motor skills enough to need physical therapy. I was also relieved when they tested her eyes she was fine. They weigh, measure, test hearing, vision, and have the kids perform little tasks with talking, or using a pencil, sissors etc. Take him as soon as you can and you will know exactly how he stands for his age.

Otherwise you can go through your local ECFE early childhood and talk with someone.

Hi S.,
I have 3 year old twins and they have just recently started completing puzzles. My son is extremely good at it and my daughter still will sometimes struggle getting started on the 4 and 6 piece ones. I don't know if this is "normal" or not, but it is where they are. We have a great set of puzzles from Discovery Toys--called Progressive Puzzles. It has a total of 9 puzzles (3 each of 4 pieces, 6 pieces and 12 pieces) They are fun animal pictures and my kids love to do them. It will keep them entertained for 20-30 minutes!!!

Hope this helps!
L.

My son is 2 1/2 and has NO interest in puzzles. But yet, he is a very advanced little boy.

Our friends have a son that at about 20 months was doing 4 piece puzzles.

I really think it's an interest thing. Instead of putting something together, my son would rather tear it down. And yet, this same little child can point out Milwaukee on the globe. Go figure!

D.