Lazy Sundays are the things of my dreams. I love reserving this one day of the week for family time. I try to get all the "need to do" items done by Saturday, so there is no pressure or distractions. I also try to give my kids one-on-one time on Sundays. It is ideal to have this time every day, but life happens and things get busy. I think it is so important to give our kids that time when it is just us to play and explore and bond without any interference. It doesn't have to be extravagant or lengthy. A simple 10 minutes will do. It is easier to plan this time if your kids are on different schedules, so you can do it while the other kids are asleep. If this isn't possible, you can get your other kids invested in an activity and then slip away to have special time with the other one. I wanted to dedicate Sundays to sharing ideas for things you can do with your kids during this special time.
Today I wanted to start with puzzles. Always choose an age-appropriate puzzle and one that can be completed during the allotted time. Older kids might be able to handle a puzzle that isn't able to be completed, but my toddlers are certainly not there. Puzzles offer numerous benefits for kids, including:
Cognitive development: Puzzles help improve problem-solving, critical thinking, and spatial reasoning skills.
Fine motor skills: Manipulating puzzle pieces enhances hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Patience and perseverance: Completing a puzzle teaches patience and the satisfaction of accomplishing a task.
Concentration: Children learn to focus and concentrate on the task at hand.
Social skills: Group puzzles encourage teamwork, communication, and cooperation.
Memory improvement: Solving puzzles can enhance memory and recall abilities.
Self-esteem: Achieving success in puzzles boosts a child's self-confidence.
Creativity: Some puzzles, like jigsaw puzzles, can spark creativity and imagination.
Emotional benefits: Puzzles can be relaxing and reduce stress.
Overall, puzzles are a fun and educational activity for kids. Here are some of my favorite puzzles.
ABC's Puzzle by Melissa and Doug. It is wooden which makes it very durable for repeated use. It also makes sound helping your little one learn the alphabet. As a bonus, this comes in a set with a numbers puzzle.
Name Puzzle by South Bend Woodworks. This can be customized to your child's name and works as both decor and as a toy. You can choose your color palette to match their bedrooms and add pegs to make it easier for little fingers. I also love the stand to make it a decor item. You can even write a personalized message that can be engraved on the back. It is a keepsake that will be fun for years to come.
Wooden Cube Animal Puzzle by Melissa and Doug. This is a more advanced puzzle but is a 6-in-1 puzzle. The pieces are shaped like a cube and can be turned to make a different puzzle. It is for older kids (3 and up) but keeps things fresh with different puzzle options. It is also compact and easy to store.
Shapes Puzzle that is Montessori Educational. This is a great starter puzzle. It has pegs to make it easy to grab the puzzle pieces and helps teach shapes and colors.
Construction Vehicle Puzzle by Klevly. This comes as a set and is a little more advanced. My boys love to build construction vehicles and we get to talk about what each one does. These puzzles pair well with the Construction Site series by Sherri Duskey Rinker. Here is the first book in that series.
Relax, laugh, and be present. Sundays are a great time to focus on your kids as individuals and connect with them wholeheartedly.
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