Anyone else think age guides on toddler/childrens puzzles are wrong?

[asouthwoldmummy]

My DS is 2.2. I have thrown away all of the boxes of 2 piece puzzles as tbh he could do them without even trying. He has a tin 2, 3 and 4 piece ones and even the 4 piece are too easy (they're 18 months - 3 yrs supposedly). He also has three 12 piece puzzles, from age 3. Two of these he has recently started doing by himself, the third he only really needs minimal help with.
Is my DS a genius or would anyone else agree that age guides on some puzzles are just ridiculous?

[TheFallenMadonna]

2 piece puzzles?

[StealthPolarBear]

you can get them, we have some where they're just animals in two pieces, from 18m I think.
DS is 3y4m and I think can now do 4 piece ones so your DS is very clever.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Sorry - obvioujsly your DS is a genius

[activate]

it's based on the size and manufacture of the pieces and whether they can meet the exacting standards of an under 3 toy

most 2 year olds are very capable of doing big many piece puzzles - but they're aged 3 plus because of the cost of making them for under 3s

[ShatnersBassoon]

The ages on them are a broad suggestion, hence the wide age range on those for very young children.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

'most 2 year olds are very capable of doing big many piece puzzles'

really???
mine must be thick then....

[StealthPolarBear]

mine too ssam :)
well not thick, jigsawly challenged

[asouthwoldmummy]

Seth - all children are different. DS was quite behind with his physical development and a little behind with his speech. It's more than likely yours are forward elsewhere, it all evens out in the end anyway!

[activate]

oh that's a shame - they'll never pass their jigsaw exam you know - you should look at tutoring

[ShatnersBassoon]

It doesn't all even out. I'm still rubbish at jigsaws :(

[asouthwoldmummy]

Why do some people have to be so pissy?

[StealthPolarBear]

lol SB :)

[EddieIzzardismyhero]

I think age ranges on most children's toys are crazy - once you're past the baby stage everything seems to be for age 3 plus, trying to buy presents for a two year old is a nightmare!

DS1 (who is 2.2) loves puzzles but then I was a total puzzle nerd for years so I know where he gets it from !

[TheFallenMadonna]

I wasn't trying to be pissy. I was a bit at the thought of a 2 piece jigsaw, because, well, I've never seen one.

I agree that age ratings should be approached with some caution (like with clothes ), but I also smirk at people whose children always have activities (I was going to say toys, but that would be too frivolous a word) that are a good few years too difficult for them. You want something that's ability if not age appropriate at least.

[asouthwoldmummy]

Sorry madonna, it was aimed at activate rather than you. I wasn't bragging, and tbh I really don't care if anyone's DC is a genius or completely stupid, it was just a genuine question!

[activate]

you called me pissy because I bothered to answer your question? well fuck you very much

[AlgebraRocksMySocks]

anyway.

my DD has never been into jigsaws much but in general I don't follow age guidelines on toys (actually started a thread on it recently) they are purely due to legal reasons.

[EdgarAllenPop]

DD1 evidently needs a Jigsaw coach activate - could you recommemd a good one?

[bruffin]

My DD burnt her had at 2.4 and got obsessed with puzzles when she was bandaged up for some reason. Went from doing 2 pieces to 5+ (tiny pieces ) ones in a matter of weeks. DS was always uninterested.

DD did actually have 2 piece puzzles, they were animal shapes in two pieces that went together like a jigsaw.

[Adair]

Both ds and dd could do a 12 piece puzzle by 2 (dd 24 piece). However, dd would do them happily independently. Dd only with me but still wants to do them with me sitting right next to him .

At 2, dd would do her puzzle mountain (four or five puzzles all mixed up) religiously every night. She still does puzzles now at 4 but not so often and not that any more pieces tbh - maybe 50/60 or 100 occasionally?. Drawing is her thing now, and making. She has v good spatial awareness but it was the concentration and dedication that was unusual for her age then IMVHO. Agree age guidelines are mostly about safety.

And they both enjoy playing with 2 piece puzzles too!

[FallingWithStyle]

I wonder of there is a link between size of feet and jisaw ability?

My theory is that children with small feet are better at puzzles than their boat-footed peers.
Kids with massive flapper feet probably have less blood flow to the jigsaw-solving part of the brain because it all pools in their -rather mad and unresonable- gigantic feet.

[Adair]

be careful with size of feet judgement - someone apparently got flamed for that

(though true with my two )

[Lionstar]