The standard 500 piece jigsaw puzzle is not the only one that can provide entertainment and education for all of us. There are easy puzzles and difficult puzzles, all of which are able to help with the development of children at all stages of growth. There are many factors, both mental and physical that are beneficial in the completion of puzzles. Given the connection that is made during the puzzle-completing process, brain development is aided.

More than the 500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

You may remember the different levels of puzzles that you completed growing up, from the 100 piece puzzle to the 200 or 300 piece puzzles and much more. For those of us that enjoyed the challenge of taking on harder tasks, there are the 750 piece puzzles, 1000 piece puzzles and much, much more than that. Sometimes it is incredible to see the puzzles that spread the entire floor space of a room.

The Beauty of the Puzzle as Artwork

Ever thought of the idea to frame your 500 piece jigsaw puzzle? Or even if you have taken on the time to complete a 2000 or 3000 piece jigsaw puzzle, especially one that copies a historically relevant piece of art, you can keep that accomplishment. A frame can be used to keep it together and put it up on the wall. The connection of the pieces of the puzzle adds to the beauty of its artistic nature as well.

History of the Puzzle

More than the little cardboard puzzle pieces that we are used to, the first puzzles date back to ancient cultures. The earliest recorded back to the dates of Archimedes. Supposedly, his remark to a dissected square sometime around 250 B.C was the first reference to a puzzle.

Benefits of the Puzzle

Completion of a puzzle is a form of movement, both physical and mental. Movement is good for the body and gets the brain going, so making education an active event is a way to make it more beneficial for those in need of mental stimuli. Additionally, the brain produces dopamine when working on puzzles. The neurotransmitter is a chemical that helps with both educational intake and mood. Finally, researchers have proved that while activating the brain, puzzles also help to relax the body and brain together.