OT Approved Toy | 12 piece puzzle

I LOVE these 12-piece puzzles from Melissa and Doug! They are a great way to introduce interlocking puzzles to preschool age kids. Twelve pieces seems to be just the right number for it to be a challenge, but not too much of a challenge. In the OT world we call that the just-right fit. I have this set of vehicle puzzles, and they are a hit among boys and girls. Another thing that I really like about these puzzles is that the back of the puzzle pieces are labeled with a shape. It helps keep the puzzles organized, and also adds another educational factor: sorting!

 
Best for ages: 3-6 years

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• hand eye coordination
• visual perceptual
• sorting
• matching

 

Where to buy:

Michaels carries Melissa and Doug products and they frequently have 40% off coupons available on their website! That's how I purchased mine! Michaels in-store selection can be better than their online, but it really varies by location. You can also find a wide selection of 12-piece puzzles by Melissa and Doug on Amazon.

For younger kids interested in puzzles, smaller peg puzzles are great for 2-3 year-olds developing a pincer grasp, and larger knob puzzles make a great first puzzle for babies!


For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.