When she was three, my oldest daughter was obsessed with puzzles. I was amazed at how quickly she could master even hundred piece puzzles. My middle daughter didn’t show the same early interest, but at not quite four, she is slowly developing a taste for puzzles. Ravensburger puzzles are our favorite. They are extremely well-made and come in a number of fun designs. I like this bright Tropical Frogs puzzle, which encourages an interest in nature as it helps children hone their fine motor and spatial reasoning skills. At 35 pieces, it is a great starter puzzle. You can purchase one for $8.99 at puzzleworld.com.

This fun puzzle is a great way to help your child learn about his body. Made in five layers, the puzzle shows different systems in the human body. Twenty-nine pieces encourage fine-motor development, too. We have a books similar to this one that my older daughter loved when she was younger. You can purchase one of these great learning toys for $28 at blackwagon.com. I think this would make a great holiday, birthday, or big brother gift.

Charley Harper’s classic animal illustrations are suddenly all the rage in books and puzzles. The attractive animal images on this wooden peg puzzle invite children to improve their fine motor skills as they learn about the many animals of the world. Designed for children ages 3 and up, it retails for a very reasonable $12.95 at RonRobinson.com. This would make a wonderful gift.

My oldest daughter was addicted to puzzles when she was a toddler and preschooler. Our home was overflowing with puzzles of all kinds and shapes. One of her favorite activities was to spread out on the living room floor together and assemble a floor puzzle, like this Guess How Much I Love You one by Mudpuppy. Although it measures a full 2 x 3 feet, this puzzle has just 24 pieces, so it is a great starter puzzle for young children. The large size makes it feel like even more of an accomplishment when complete. I love the literary connection, since this is one of our favorite board books. What a great way to spend some quality time while helping to build your child’s  fine motor skills! You can purchase one for $12.71 at babyearth.com. I’ve found that bookstores often have a great selection of these kinds of puzzles as well.

I have found that since my son turned two he has become puzzle obsessed. I really love that they distract him for long enough to let me get on with some other things around the house, and I’m happy in the knowledge that they are safe and helping him use his brain and hand-eye coordination. This Melissa & Doug Wooden Bear Family Dress-Up Puzzle is his favorite puzzle right now and has been since we got it for him during the holidays. There are 45 mix and match pieces and you get to dress the bear family in 15 different outfits, whether it be rainy day clothes, summer’s day outfits or pajamas. You can even choose from a selection of different facial expressions, my son favors putting all the grumpy faces on the bears. It comes in a handy box, so it really is easy for little hands to help tidy up at the end of the day.

We got ours in a store, but I found one online that was much cheaper, at HuggableMe.com for $11.89.

This Puzzle Bookshelf by KidKraft is perfect for displaying and storing your child’s favorite books  and toys. I like it for its playful design and bright primary colors. You could add a similar pattern in an area rug. I’m sure you could find one in the shape of a giant puzzle piece.

Make a designated reading corner in your child’s room and set up the shelves, the rug, and a few bean bags. This would create a perfect spot for rainy days.

The bookshelf measures 25″ x 11.5″ x 37.5″H.Visit Walmart.com to view this item, priced on sale for $69.88.

Every child should have the Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit books in their collection. Those stories were among my favorites as a child. This Classic Peter Rabbit Puzzle, Toy, and Book Set by Cricket would make a wonderful gift for any child, and is a great way to introduce him or her to the world of Peter Rabbit. The set includes a Peter Rabbit board book, lightweight blocks that can be combined to make six different puzzles, and a 13 inch plush Peter Rabbit toy. This would be the perfect new baby gift as well. You can purchase this set for $39.99 at Cricketmag.com.

This is a neat gift that can teach your child about size and spatial relationships while they’re having fun. The Kid O Narrow to Wide Puzzle challenges kids to discern various changes in width and learning about differences, while putting together a seven piece puzzle. It’s safe, too, made from 100% Beech wood from German forests, meeting ASTM and EN-71 standards. Recommended for ages 3 and up, this puzzle can be purchased for $14.49 at Oompa.com.

Both of my girls are big fans of puzzles.  My older daughter has incredible spatial reasoning skills and I truly believe it has something to do with all of the time she spent figuring out puzzles from an early age.  I bought this Melissa & Doug Fish Bowl puzzle for my middle daughter on her first birthday, and although it is now far too simple for her, it remains a favorite in our house and will no doubt be passed down to daughter number three in another year or so.

This wooden puzzle is great for a number of reasons.  The colors are bright and cheerful, which draws the attention of toddlers.  The fish theme is also a draw for many kids who are often starting to show an interest in animals around the same time they are starting to be able to manipulate puzzles.  Finally, the large, simple pieces and the knobs that allow for easy handling make this puzzle great for yougn toddlers who are just starting to hone their fine motor skills.  Overall, this is a great little puzzle that your family is sure to enjoy.  I highly recommend it. You can purchase it at EducationalLearningGames.com, where it’s on sale for $7.99.

I was so excited to find this puzzle today while browsing through the GoingApe.com website. I’ve been looking for an aid to help my 4 year old son learn to tie his shoes, and haven’t found anything I like. This Shoe Lacing Activity Puzzle by Melissa & Doug is perfect. The puzzle is fashioned out of wood and looks like a high top sneaker. The shoe measures 8.75″ x 5″ x 3.75″, which is the perfect size to help a child learn to tie his shoes.The wood is smooth and sanded, so it’s safe for your child to play with (like all of Melissa & Doug’s products).

Recommended for ages 3 and up, you can purchase the Shoe Lacing Activity Puzzle on sale for $8.27 (reg. $11.02) at GoingApe.com.

Too bad this won’t be available to buy until next year - it would make the ultimate Christmas gift! This Coral Reef Activity Center is made by Hape-Educo and designed to keep children ages 2 and up happily busy and learning for hours. Designed for use in waiting rooms, this hexagon actually has 7 sides to keep kids busy - counting the bead maze on top.

The 6 sides include a sea creatures pathfinder panel, turtle zig zag game panel, googly eye blowfish spinner panel, hide and seek blocks, bubble gears spinner panel, and diving helmet mirror panel. The hexagon measures 29 1/4″ x 29 1/4″ x 39 3/4.’”

It might be a bit much to buy for just one child, at $599.95, but this activity center has enough fun to entertain six or seven of them! You can view it at SensoryEdge.com, where it will be available in 2009. Put it on your child’s list for Santa next year.

This beautiful puzzle is a great way to teach a child about Hanukkah. Made by Gund, it features a brightly colored Menorah with nine branches and wooden puzzle pieces that help count the eight days of Hanukkah. It also includes a centerpiece with the Star of David and a shamash. There are 10 wooden pieces in all.

This puzzle measures 8.5″ x 11.6″ and is recommended for ages 3 and up. You can purchase it on sale for just $7.99 (half price) at TysToyBox.com.

Here is a great wooden puzzle that is both attractive and well-made.  My older daughter was a puzzle-addict from a very early age and it was difficult to find nice puzzles that weren’t based around cartoon characters.  Crafted by hand in the USA by Waldorf, this Joyful Gnomes puzzle features a fun picture of two little gnomes romping in a forest setting.  Because each puzzle is hand-made, yours will be unique, and its colors may vary slightly.  I think this only adds to its charm.  Best of all, the artisans who make these puzzles are part of a special-needs community, so your purchase supports a wonderful cause.

You can purchase one of these fun puzzles for $23.95 at BlueberryForest.com.  Many other puzzle designs are also available.  Any of them would make wonderful gifts.

My son has adored puzzles of this sort for the longest time. Even as a tiny expert at 2 and a half, he’s happy to sit and put them together, making choo choo noises and vroom noises to go with the various shapes. This brightly colored option by Melissa & Doug would surely please both his puzzle loving hands and his little eyes as well. The pieces on this particular puzzle can even be stood up for play outside the puzzle board as well, something any child would enjoy. I’d also consider setting them up on a nursery or play room shelf as decorations. With 9 pieces and a $10.00 price tag, the Chunky Vehicles Puzzle measures 12” by 9” and can be found at www.flyingpeas.com. A great addition to any play room!

Children love puzzles and not only that but mommies do too, because they keep little ones busy and are educational tools. This delightful little cow would be a sure hit with my 2-year-old (however, the recommended age because of small parts is 3.) craftsburykids.com has a great selection of wooden animal puzzles in the shapes of cows (as shown), lions, tortoises, elephants, pigs, and rabbits. Though they are not colorful, they are eye-catching and will make great nursery decorations (set them up on shelves above a dresser, for example—baby’s little zoo) until baby is old enough to play with them. From the look of them, chubby little hands won’t have trouble working with them, which is a plus for the easily frustrated toddler. Priced fairly inexpensively at $12 a puzzle, they are made with 100% natural material, which is good news for mommies who are worried about the numerous toy recalls recently. Mommies will certainly brag to their friends that the puzzles are designed by a sculptor and point out the artistic features of the pieces.