FM.H.72 COMPLETES A ONE-PIECE PUZZLE

What is a one-piece puzzle? It is a puzzle which contains one or more pictures, each picture corresponding to a single puzzle piece. The pieces do not touch or lock together; each one is quite self-contained.

Look for puzzles which show several different familiar objects. Puzzles showing rows of the same object in different sizes, or the same figure performing different actions, are harder and should be left until later.

The best puzzles we have seen have one or two rows of familiar objects, each with a fairly simple shape. Naming the objects will also help the child’s language development.

Please refer to the note about knobs at the beginning of this sequence.

How to Assess

Materials: A one-piece puzzle.

Method: Remove one piece only and hand it to your child. Say ‘Put the . . . in’. Give 4 tries,

preferably using a different piece each time.

Score plus if your child puts the pieces in, in 3 out of the 4 tries.

How to Teach

For teaching purposes it is preferable to have a variety of one-piece puzzles. Start teaching with the easiest one you have.

Teach in the same way as for the formboard pieces.

Encourage your child to look for cues about the way the piece should go. ‘Look, the car is upside down! You turn it around.’

Continue until your child can put in at least 5 different shapes.

Remember that only one piece should be removed from the puzzle at a time.

 Playtime and Round-the-house Activities

If you always sit your child at a table for his teaching sessions, try working on his puzzles on the floor from time to time, as the different height will present a new challenge.

Remembering and Extending

Some one-piece puzzles are harder than others, so there is plenty of scope for extending your child’s skills through the materials you choose.

Give plenty of practice at this level before moving on to the next item in this sequence.