As a parent AND an engineer, I'm slightly obsessed with this question:
"Do puzzles actually help kids learn, or are they just fun?"
Spoiler: BOTH! 🎉
Let me share what I discovered...
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WHAT PUZZLES DO TO YOUR CHILD'S BRAIN
When your child works on a puzzle, their brain is:
🧠 Building spatial reasoning (crucial for math later!)
👁️ Strengthening visual perception (reading prep!)
🤲 Developing fine motor skills (writing prep!)
🎯 Practicing focus and patience (life prep!)
But here's what surprised me most:
**Puzzles are one of the few activities that engage BOTH hemispheres of the brain simultaneously.**
That's why kids who do puzzles regularly score higher on spatial reasoning tests—which predicts success in STEM fields.
(Source: University of Chicago study, 2012)
This made my engineer heart so happy. ❤️