Kids who love to use their hands from a young age often grow up to have high intelligence. This intelligence is reflected in five key areas, and parents should ensure they don’t overlook their child’s potential.
As children approach the age of two, with the development of self-awareness and hand muscles, they often enjoy tearing things apart and causing a mess for satisfaction. This can frustrate parents, who might wonder why their child is so mischievous.
In reality, children with strong hand skills often exhibit high intelligence. The more a child loves to use their hands, the more mature their fine motor skills are. Hands are like a second brain; the more coordinated the hand muscles, the more noticeable their influence on brain function.
Parents should actually be pleased with their child’s hands-on behaviours. After 18 months, children can be introduced to hands-on activities like puzzles, which are a great way to assess and enhance a child’s intelligence.
Kids who play with puzzles tend to have higher IQs
Observation Skills are Essential
Playing with puzzles requires children to carefully observe each piece, comparing colours, patterns, textures, and shapes to find the one that fits perfectly. This task is challenging for 2-5-year-olds, so when they engage with puzzles, they concentrate intensely and notice subtle differences.
Focus is the Key Differentiator
Puzzle play tests a child’s hand-eye coordination and mental concentration. While many children struggle with sitting still or reading for more than a few minutes, puzzle-solving involves continuous thinking and trial-and-error, which significantly improves their focus.
Hand Skills are a Deciding Factor
A child’s intelligence is influenced by both the brain and hand skills. Puzzle play involves numerous hand movements, grabbing, pinching, arranging, and placing pieces. This physical engagement stimulates blood flow in the hands, enhancing cognitive development.
Independent Thinking Ability
Some children habitually seek help and avoid challenges, lacking the ability to think independently. Puzzle-solving requires children to think, compare, search, and remember on their own, fostering independence and problem-solving skills, which are beneficial for their future development.
Resilience to Frustration
Many kids become frustrated and seek parental help when facing problems, demonstrating low resilience. Puzzle play encourages perseverance through repeated trial and error, helping children build confidence and the ability to handle pressure.
We’re grateful that from 18 months old, we introduced our kid to various puzzles. She can quickly complete three 40-piece puzzles in under five minutes with no mistakes, and her skills have visibly improved, addressing many of her previous issues!
