My middle son has proven to be very different than his older brother. Just when I started to figure out my first child, number 2 came along and changed everything I thought I knew.
My oldest is an extrovert, constantly needing me around. He bounces from toy to toy or activity to activity faster than a ping pong ball. His younger brother, on the other hand, is an introvert, requiring quiet, alone time. He likes to tinker and fiddle with things.
One day he was digging through a cupboard in our playroom and discovered one of the neglected puzzles I had purchased for my oldest son a few years earlier. He was almost three but he sat with the puzzle for over 30 minutes. Piecing it together over and over again, each time incredibly proud of his work.
He was captivated by this jig-saw puzzle, sometimes building it upside-down or other times border first. I took it as a sign that we needed to invest in more puzzles for him. Over the past year we have collected quite a nice collection.
Let me share the puzzles that have received a 5-star rating from my 4 year old.
As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. These are all puzzles that we personally own and love.
Melissa and Doug Barnyard Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle – 24 pieces
This was the puzzle that started it all. It captivated my middle son. The 24 pieces and board are made of wood and are easy the handle and store.
Melissa and Doug Space Floor Puzzle-48 piece
My mother-in-law gave my son this Solar System puzzle on her last visit and he calls it his “ground puzzle.” It has 48 large pieces and fills up 3 feet on the floor. It’s great to see him sprawl out on the ground piecing this one together.
Chuckle and Roar Giant US Floor Puzzle – 50 Pieces
Our latest purchase was this large United States map ground puzzle. My older son has been interested in learning about the 50 states and he actually will jump in and try this one with my 4 year old. Most of the pieces are in the shape of the state and have illustrations that depict each state. This is a great way to learn US Geography at the same time.
Melissa and Doug 4-in-1 Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle Set
Melissa and Doug has nailed it when it comes to puzzles. They have created these ingenious 4-in-1 puzzle sets.
Each box set comes with 4 different wooden puzzles that are sorted by dividers in the wooden box.
The pieces have 4 different shapes on the back (square, triangle, circle, diamond) each corresponding to a different puzzle which allows for easy sorting.
The lid of the box slides back on and creates a frame or outline for the puzzle building.
The end results is 4 complete puzzles.
We have loved the following sets:
Mudpuppy Hot Dogs to Go Puzzle – 36 pieces
What we love most about this puzzle, other than the cute dogs and bright colors, is the fact that it comes in a small bag. We take this puzzle to restaurants to keep our boys busy while we wait to order.
If you have a puzzle lover like I do, run out and get some of these!
Amazon Links for the Puzzles We Own and Love:
As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. These are all puzzles that we personally own and love.
Melissa and Doug Barnyard Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle
Melissa and Doug Space Floor Puzzle
Chuckle and Roar US Map Giant Floor Puzzle-50 piece
Melissa and Doug 4-in-1 Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle Set – Pets and Farm
Melissa and Doug 4-in-1 Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle Set – Vehicles
Mudpuppy Hot Dogs to Go Puzzle – 36 pieces
