Puzzles: tips and tricks
An exciting activity that teaches patience, puzzles also stimulate the thinking process. Here's what you need to know about this puzzle game.
What you need to know about puzzles
How do you play puzzles?
Here are some essential tips on how to play puzzles easily:
- Assess the size of the puzzle frame before you start;
- Group together the pieces that have a straight edge because they make up the frame;
- Form the frame;
- Make small piles of pieces that represent the same pattern or that are connected to a colour field;
- Avoid wasting a lot of time on one piece;
If in doubt about whether 2 pieces fit together, simply turn them over and observe whether or not the edges match to be sure.
What are the age levels for a jigsaw puzzle?
Age levels for jigsaw puzzles are generally aimed at children and are expressed in terms of the number of pieces.
Here is the ideal level for a child aged : 1 year old: less than 10 pieces; 2 years old: 10 pieces; 3 years old: 10 to 30 pieces; 4 years old: 30 to 50 pieces; 5 to 6 years old: 50 to 100 pieces; 7 to 8 years old: 100 to 250 pieces; 9 years old and upwards: from 250 to 500 pieces.
How do I choose a jigsaw puzzle?
Apart from the number of pieces that make up the jigsaw, there are other factors to consider when choosing a jigsaw puzzle:
- The size of the pieces;
- The image and theme of the puzzle;
- The level of colour contrast;
- The strength of the puzzle pieces;
- Puzzle experience.
What are the benefits of jigsaw puzzles?
Playing puzzles has a number of beneficial effects. For example, puzzles allow you to
- Disconnect;
- Reduce stress;
- Train short-term memory;
- Improve dexterity
- Consolidate cognitive capacity;
- Reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and dementia;
- Socialising;
- boost self-esteem.
What are the puzzle brands?
Some of the best-known puzzle brands are :
- Ravensburger ;
- Educa ;
- Wrebbit Puzzle ;
- Clementoni ;
- Castorland ;
- Djeco.
What are the most popular puzzle themes?
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the most popular jigsaw themes:
- For monuments : Eiffel Tower (illuminated Eiffel Tower); Statue of Liberty; Big Ben; Arc de Triomphe; Empire State Building; Notre Dame de Paris; Coliseum; Taj Mahal; Tower of Pisa; Mont Saint Michel; Buckingham Palace.
- For films/cartoons: Harry Potter; Star Wars; Disney (Disney Castle); Patrol; Pokémon; Snow Queen; Titanic; Cars.
- Other popular themes: Dinosaurs; Horses; Cities (Paris, London, New York); Football stadiums (Stade Vélodrome, Parc des Princes);
Back