Puzzle practice together
2–3 yearsSuccess MindsetMaterials: Simple puzzles with 4-8 large pieces
Work on simple puzzles with your child, focusing on the process rather than completion. Choose puzzles with four to eight large pieces that require some effort but are achievable. When your child struggles, resist the urge to help immediately. Instead, narrate their efforts and celebrate each attempt, whether successful or not.
Part of the Imprint developmental journey — personalized to your child.
How to Do This Activity
Work on simple puzzles with your child, focusing on the process rather than completion. Choose puzzles with four to eight large pieces that require some effort but are achievable. When your child struggles, resist the urge to help immediately. Instead, narrate their efforts and celebrate each attempt, whether successful or not.
Why It Works
Process praise during challenging activities shapes growth mindset patterns that persist into school years. Research shows that praising effort and strategies rather than ability leads to greater resilience and achievement, with children of parents using growth mindset language showing greater persistence and improved reading capabilities (Song et al., 2022). Parent praise to toddlers predicts children's motivational frameworks years later (Gunderson et al., 2013).
Tips for Parents
Say 'You're trying different ways to make it fit' instead of 'You're so smart.'
When they struggle, acknowledge it calmly: 'This is tricky. What else could you try?'
Celebrate persistence by saying 'You kept trying until you figured it out.'
Materials Needed
Simple puzzles with 4-8 large pieces
Learning Methods
Interactive Play-Based LearningSymbolic and Pretend Play
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