- 18 months to 2 years old: Less than 15 pieces
- 2 to 3 years old: 15 to 30 pieces
- 4 to 5 years old: 30 to 80 pieces
- 6 to 12 years old: 80 to 1,000 pieces
Maps were the subject of the very earliest puzzles and they are still a wonderful learning tool for youngsters. JR Puzzles produce an excellent range of map puzzles like the one on the right – all at reasonable prices. Colored maps are regarded as one of the easiest types of puzzle to construct.
Choosing jigsaws for children needs to be based upon their developing abilities but choosing for adults needs to be based on the jigsaw player’s enthusiasm. The aim should be to find a puzzle that is challenging enough to be considered ‘difficult’ but not so challenging that it is considered ‘impossible’.
So what determines the degree of difficulty? A surprisingly large number of things…
Firstly there is the total number of pieces. You might logically think that a 1,000-piece puzzle is twice as difficult as a 500-piece puzzle but you would be wrong. The mathematicians tell us (and they can prove it!) that all other things being equal then the DOUBLING of the number of pieces QUADRUPLES the level of difficulty. Thus a 1,000 piece puzzle is four times as difficult as a 500 piece one and a 4,000 piece puzzle is 64 times as difficult as a 500 piecer. That explains why several 4,000 piece puzzles are sold but only a tiny proportion are ever completed.
