Guest Author - Jeanette Norman

You will find in this center children may need most of all encouragement to complete what they start. Tempting as it will be, don’t finish a puzzle for a child. Remember that sometimes the best teaching is done by asking instead of telling!

Encourage children to be problem solvers. Ask them to show you how to do the activity. If they aren’t succeeding, ask them if there is another way to solve the problem. This area is ideal for Montessorri Method activities.

Social skills can be greatly fostered in this center. Encourage the puzzle expert of the group to assist other children. Or if a child is struggling with an activity, have them ask their peers for help.

For the first few weeks of school, you may want to check this center daily to make sure all materials have been returned to their proper containers and to look for damaged items.