Puzzles, How Do You????

[daycare]

How do you store your puzzles


My group LOVES puzzles. we have been having some puzzle issues where some of the younger ones will come and dump a puzzle and then move on to another center. They are not able to put it back together.

My rule is dump one, finish it before you move on, but that is not always possible for some of the kids.

I have learned pretty much who can do what puzzle, so I try to limit which ones they get.

But it seems like when they get put back, we are missing pieces.

[Great Beginnings]

I have learned to HATE puzzles for this reason! I keep them up high on a shelf and only get them down when the school agers are here to use them. Otherwise I have missing pieces, some down my vents, broken because they try to jam them in a space they don't belong etc! Ugh, stressful just thinking about it !

[daycare]

I have learned to HATE puzzles for this reason! I keep them up high on a shelf and only get them down when the school agers are here to use them. Otherwise I have missing pieces, some down my vents, broken because they try to jam them in a space they don't belong etc! Ugh, stressful just thinking about it !

you are sooo funny.

I have a 3 year old who can do a 250 piece puzzle. He has a great sense of spacial awareness.

I am starting to hate them too.....

[daycarediva]

Mine are on a puzzle rack. They ask for them, have to sit at the preschool table to work on them, and put them away before moving on. No free for alls and I just tossed a puzzle because it was worn out from use. It has no missing pieces.

[daycare]

Mine are on a puzzle rack. They ask for them, have to sit at the preschool table to work on them, and put them away before moving on. No free for alls and I just tossed a puzzle because it was worn out from use. It has no missing pieces.

I have them set up on the floor. we have out 4 at a time. Two people work together to build the puzzle. When they are done, they bring it to me and they can change for another one or they can choose to help someone out that is struggling to finish one. That part works out ok. I have a lot of puzzles, all different sizes and shapes, so the puzzle rack did not work for us.

[DaycareMom]

I have a big plastic storage container. I only let them take one out at a time. They can't pick another until they finish. I do not have any other options when we do puzzles - it's just puzzles! I usually have to sit and help them.

[snbauser]

I have a puzzle rack near our table. Puzzles ONLY go at the table and yes, you have to put one back before you can take another out. I have a ton of puzzles so I rotate them based on the kids, the theme, the season, etc.

[Maria2013]

I keep mine out of reach, I take down one at a time for the kids to build in the library room, where no little one is allowed

[harperluu]

I always have puzzles or other small manipulatives on my kitchen table where the toddlers cannot reach them to dump them. I also have some open ended puzzles (they are picture tiles that can be arranged however a child would like) for the young preschoolers. This set up has worked well for me. I will take out a floor puzzle on occasion but only if I know the children are capable of constructing it on their own with only verbal guidance from me. I have floor puzzles of varying degrees of difficulty. Toddlers can help with the floor puzzle as long as they do not take apart the others work. If this becomes a problem then they are redirected.

[Scout]

Mine are also up high and I always buy them at Dollar Tree so they are only $1 each and range from 24-100 pcs. When I open them I mark the backs with marker with some initial related to the puzzle, i.e. MM or minnie mouse. They also have to ask and can only have one at a time and must clean up before moving on.

[MCC]

I used to have my puzzles on a low shelf that they could reach, but it was a constant mess with my under 3s. I have moved them to a higher shelf, and now we just get them out for a short period of time, and then put them back.

I was also starting to hate puzzles, so.much.mess.

[MarinaVanessa]

I'm transitioning from regular puzzles to pattern block puzzles. This way I don't worry about losing pieces. The point of puzzles is manipulation and small motor skills and the pattern block puzzles take care of spacial skills too so it makes things so much easier for me.

We have both of these but the first ones are my favorite because the boards help keep the pieces in, even my 2 year olds can do them.

[daycare]

I'm transitioning from regular puzzles to pattern block puzzles. This way I don't worry about losing pieces. The point of puzzles is manipulation and small motor skills and the pattern block puzzles take care of spacial skills too so it makes things so much easier for me.

We have both of these but the first ones are my favorite because the boards help keep the pieces in, even my 2 year olds can do them.

I love those. I have both sets. I forget about them. I think I'll have to bring those out for puzzle time too.

Thanks for posting

[Laurel]

I only have 2 children who are old enough to do puzzles so I just get two puzzles out at a time. When they are tired of those 2 (in a few days) then I get 2 more out. They are up on the higher shelf that the baby can't reach.

I also have those thicker cardboard puzzles with 24 puzzles in the box (each have 3 pieces and they spell out three letter words). Those types I use on the kitchen table with the older two while the baby is in the high chair finishing up his bottle after meals.

Laurel

[Lucy]

I cut the picture of it off the box, then I put the pieces and the cutout in the smallest ziploc they will fit in. Many fit in quart size, but some need a gallon size.

My dc kids are age 5-10, so the puzzles are where they can reach them, but they still have to ask first. I'm usually ok with it, because it's a good way to occupy their time! They do it on my dining table. Whenever I have had younger kids, I've put the puzzles where only the 4 or 5 yo and up could get to them.