Ever thought about the connection between your brain and jigsaw puzzles? You might have noticed the struggle your brain does when solving complex puzzles. Puzzles are not just for passing time, they have countless benefits for your and your kid’s health.
Well, interestingly jigsaw puzzles are the perfect partner for the development of your brain. Puzzles are great for brain health as they improve cognition, and visual-spatial reasoning, and aid in the improvement of short-term memory and problem-solving skills.
You will find different ways and methods to solve a puzzle that will affect your problem-solving skills and teach you to adopt differing perspectives when doing a particular task.
Puzzles can be solved collectively or in solitude. Puzzles are great for all ages.
Here are some of the benefits jigsaw puzzles offer for your brain development and overall wellness:
1. Exercising the Brain:
The brain is composed of two sides, the left, and the right side. The left side is associated with logic and reasoning while the right side is concerned with imagination. Solving a jigsaw puzzle strengthens both parts of the brain and according to studies and tests, jigsaw puzzle solving involves both of these parts hence, enhancing your problem-solving skills and concentration. It prevents cognitive decline and both parts of the brain work together. You can think of it as a mental workout.
2. Improving Short-term Memory:
Many people suffer from short-term memory loss and jigsaw puzzles are the best option they can choose to improve their short-term memory. Jigsaw puzzles enhance your brain-cell connection while at the same time refining mental functioning. These puzzles are extremely beneficial for kids as they need to memorize loads of things.
A school-going kid’s memory can be boosted by jigsaw puzzles and your child will never complain about forgetting things. Jigsaw puzzles refine brain cell connections and also make new cells while stimulating new cell connections.
3. Evolving Abilities in Kids:
Your kids can develop various skills by solving puzzles. Their hand-eye coordination and motor skills are flourished as they pick up individual pieces and fit them into a jigsaw puzzle. Their memory is refined while simultaneously, they can learn shape recognition. The kid's brain will be strengthened and his/her imagination will prosper.
Kids learn to fit different pieces according to size, shape, and position. Learning how to solve puzzles at an early age will help your kid to easily read, write, play, hold a pen, etc. Topic-specific puzzles can introduce a whole array of ideas to your kids in an exciting way.
4. Relieving Stress:
Jigsaw puzzles can be a great stress-relieving partner. When you solve these puzzles, your attention and mind are focused on just the pieces of the puzzle. This helps your brain to shut off all other thoughts thus, reducing your stress levels. Your self-confidence will increase and your blood pressure will be lowered. Puzzles allow you to meditate as you focus on one thing and this helps you feel relaxed.
5. Living Longer:
You will be stunned to hear that jigsaw puzzles can increase your life expectancy. Studies have found that people who solve jigsaw puzzles live longer and have reduced risks of memory loss in old age, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
According to new research published in the Archives of Neurology, playing puzzles keeps the brain functioning and helps to reduce plaque accumulation in Alzheimer's patients. Jigsaw puzzles can help a member of your family with dementia or Alzheimer's disease at any stage. Brain connection formed while solving a puzzle reduces the amount of brain damage in Alzheimer’s patients. For older adults with dementia, brain stimulation can be soothing and may help alleviate some of their symptoms.
6. Focusing and Concentration:
You may have heard of 100-pieces puzzles and even 10, 000 pieces puzzles. These puzzles contain various tiny pieces that can be hard to assemble. Solving them and distinguishing among the pieces requires an intense amount of focus and attention. There can be pieces very similar to each other and you can’t differentiate between them properly. Consequently, jigsaw puzzles supplement concentration and focus that will benefit you in class and at your workplace and thus, increasing your IQ.
7. Increasing Productivity:
A person is supposed to work more efficiently when he/she is stress-free and is concentrated on just one task. Solving puzzles has a significant effect as it enhances dopamine production in the brain. This neurotransmitter is in charge of mood and optimism regulation. Learning, memory, focus, and motivation are all affected. As a result, you will become more productive.
8. Stimulating Problem-solving and Spatial Reasoning:
Problem-solving skills are an essential part of our daily activities. Jigsaw puzzles improve these skills as we learn to solve problems with various approaches.
Spatial reasoning is a type of reasoning that refers to the ability to think about three-dimensional objects and draw conclusions about them based on limited information. Your visual and spatial reasoning abilities also grow when solving a puzzle which are super helpful when driving and doing your daily activities.
The relationship between spatial awareness and puzzles has been proven by University of Chicago researchers. It turns out that children aged 2 to 4 who played with puzzles improved their spatial awareness abilities far more than those who did not.
9. Family Time and Teamwork:
Puzzles are great if you want to spend quality time with your family. You can grab a puzzle from Planet junior and sit with your family and friends and enjoy each other's company. This way your communication will improve. It doesn’t end here. Puzzles also develop teamwork and especially introverts can analyze and practice social skills with some friends and a puzzle.
Puzzles are the best partner for your kid’s development and growth. Don’t wait and shop now from our variety of options to avail the benefits of puzzles.