Questions about jigsaw puzzles

[Judegirl]

When do they start being able to comnplete simple (10-15 piece) jigsaw puzzles on their own?

Does anyone know where I can find nice wooden ones at about that level?

Thanks,
Jude

[muskiesusan]

I think puzzle ability really depends on the individual child. Alex is trying to do these types of puzzles now, albeit not very successfully! But, I know several other children who were more 2.5+. You would want to get the inlaid or tray type with the picture underneath.

Melissa and Doug make some with pegs and Schylling has them w/out pegs that are wood. I have found all of ours at TJ Maxx. Here are some of the Schylling ones:

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=post&forum=12&topic_id=46842&mesg_id=46842

In addition to the above, we also have tray puzzles that are made of the traditional cardboard type material. I have picked these up at places like K-Mart.

HTH

ETA: I just realized that I wasn't giving you a true jigsaw puzzle answer! Anyway, we also have M&D 4 to a box puzzles and several floor puzzles. All are very popular here and again, Alex is trying to put the pieces together. We also really like Ravensburger puzzles.

Susan
Mom to Nick 10/01
& Alex 04/04

[pixelprincess]

DS started doing puzzles from a little over a year (various peg ones), and jigsaw ones closer to two. We have some simple Chelona puzzles (4-5 pieces- http://www.padilly.com/childpuzzles.html), M+D (the ones that come 4 in a box with firetrucks, planes, etc. The other Chelona ones that I really like are the layered ones that are bit more complicated http://www.padilly.com/gameandpuzzle.html, but nice to grow into.

[Momof3Labs]

DS was doing 25 piece puzzles at 2yo, but was something of a puzzle prodigy. We also liked the Melissa & Doug wooden 4-packs, but also liked the M&D floor puzzles (which are not wooden) for that age/ability. Ravensburger makes some really nice, sturdy puzzles too.

[Judegirl]

Do the Schilling's have the picture underneath? I'm actually looking for puzzles without the picture. The only jigsaw Riordan has has no picture, just a wooden tray, and I'd like to find her more like those.

Thanks,
Jude

[Judegirl]

Lori, which 25-pieces did he have?

Thanks,
Jude

[eb1]

We have some of these: http://www.smithsonianstore.com/catalog/search_command.cmd?keyword=puzzles&index=0

They are thick wooden jigsaw puzzles with 26 pieces, and there is no tray or picture. They are reversible, with the alphabet on one side and numbers to 26 on the opposite side. The pieces are maybe 3/4"-1" thick, which is a good size for a little hand. These may be a little more complex than what you're looking for, but maybe not or not for long.

I've been interested in the Chelona puzzles a pp mentioned, but haven't seem them IRL. Oompa also carries a bunch of them, in varying levels of difficulty.

[Momof3Labs]

You can get inexpensive 24pc puzzles at Target. M&D makes 24pc floor puzzles. And I believe that the M&D 4-pack wooden puzzles are also four 24pc puzzles.

[bluestar2]

DS just turned two and recently completed his first jigsaw puzzles on his own. We have two 20 piece wooden/fiberboard ones from Ikea which are a few years old but I don't see them on the website now (maybe they have them in the stores?) The ones on the website aren't true jigsaw puzzles like the ones we have, but seem a bit easier to piece together depending on ability:

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15567&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=62277&langId=-1&parentCats=15567*16117*16164

I agree with the PP that it seems to depend on the individual child when he/she will be able to do them. DD is the same age and is no where near being able to complete the jigsaw puzzles on her own.

Here are some nice ones but they all seem to start at 25 pieces:

http://store.padilly.com/framepuzzles.html

DC love the multi-layered puzzles. We don't have these but seem pretty fun and seem like they have fewer pieces:

http://www.ravensburger.com/US/What-s-in-the-Barn-__2430009-2430056-2437327-2437328-2437611.html

In the beginning I only put out the pieces from one layer at a time, and as they got better at them I put them all out.

[lablover]

We have some of the 4 pack M&D puzzles that come in a box and they are 12 piece puzzles. They are true jigsaw puzzles that you do on a table. DS loves to do them. I think my mom got them at Marshall's or TJ Maxx.