Boost Cognitive and Emotional Skills with Stimulating Puzzles for Autistic Students

Who doesn’t love sitting down on a rainy day, in peace and quiet, and working on a relaxing puzzle? For adults and children on the autism spectrum, puzzles are not only a way to relax but they help boost cognitive development, build motor skills, help them problem solve with peers, and boost confidence. In this blog we dive into more detail about the benefits of puzzles for autistic students.

Enhance Cognitive and Problem-Solving Skills

Puzzles are great for increasing cognitive function because they promote real-time critical thinking skills. Students are tasked with figuring out how each piece fits together while analyzing and recognizing patterns. They recognize the visual spatial relationships of the pieces while planning and organizing future matchups. Puzzles are a problem-solving activity where students identify complex situations and work through handling them.

Build Upon Motor Skills

Building fine motor skills is essential to children with autism and working on puzzles is the perfect sensory-friendly activity to do that. The action of picking up and grasping puzzle pieces helps with strengthening their hands as well as when they press the matching pieces together. Puzzles are also great for hand-eye coordination. Students strategically choose and visualize how the pieces are going to fit together and then they use hand-eye coordination to place and align the pieces.

Boost Self-Esteem and Accomplishment

Puzzles engage students in teamwork and emotional exercises. When students work together to solve a puzzle, they are practicing social skills like sharing and conflict resolution. Puzzles can also help students learn how to invite peers to join them in a low pressure setting that feels comfortable. They develop self-esteem and accomplishment pride when the puzzle is complete and they are happy with the result.

Learn at The Deron School

Looking for a school that will nurture and pay attention to your child’s unique needs? The Deron School is a state-approved private school that tailors programs and services to students with a variety of disabilities; including autism and down syndrome. We strive to help all of our students reach their greatest potential! Contact us to learn more!