Nautical Jigsaw Puzzles: Ships and the Sea

(Shown above)

As a cruise ship departs Port Canaveral, she navigates between the buoys marking the safety of the ship's channel, on her way out to the open sea.  Pelicans fly overhead, and an inbound charter boat passes by on the ship's port side.

This, and other nautical jigsaw puzzles are available from on demand printer Zazzle.  Choose from two sizes:  110 pleces (8"x10" when finished);  and 252 pieces (11"x14" when completed.)  Each size comes boxed, with the image printed on the lid.

Both sizes are done up on sturdy chip board backing, with a wipe clean surface, and new designs are added on an on going bases, so there's always something new to see at Zazzle.

Designed to be used in the teaching of geography, it was was a map of the world, with the various pieces being countries. How perfect is that?

I think he was really on to something! You know what? Puzzle maps are still great for helping to learn geography today. I had one when I was very young, and it was actually one of my favorite "toys." Little did I know I was learning like crazy every time I put it together again

Children can enjoy simple puzzles even before their second birthday. Those especially designed for toddlers have a small number of large, easy to handle pieces, like the simple five piece chunky boat puzzle shown below. These fun toys help develop motor skills, and also very beginning cognitive skills.

The puzzles shown immediately below have just a few pieces, and are made for little hands.

Before you know it, a child may be ready to graduate to a simple jigsaw puzzles with more than 25 interlocking pieces. As they master this level, you'll be happy knowing that they are also developing basic spatial reasoning and logic.

When that level becomes 'too easy' for them, move them on to something more advanced, perhaps one with around 100 pieces. Before you know it, they'll be ready to double their efforts and the number of pieces they are willing to take on. Just take care not to present them with a task that is TOO advanced, unless it's one you'll be working on WITH them.

Don't forget that puzzling together is a great family activity!

Note that I have not associated an age range with these puzzle groupings.  Each child is unique, and advances at their own pace.  You'll know when your son or daughter has become bored with the level they have been working at and are ready to move on. 

The sea themed puzzles shown below have even more pieces for when a child gets a little older and is ready for a project that requires a little more skill, time, and focus.    This may also be the age at which he or she is ready to help a bit with family puzzling.  But, be sure to keep some easier ones on hand for them to work on alone, as well.  That will serve to keep their interest in the hobby should they become frustrated with the more difficult family puzzling projects, which can takes days, rather than hours to complete.

Puzzling is a wonderful family activity.

Each August, our family meets for a week on the coast of Texas. We gather from our various homes in New York, California, Arizona, and Florida.  

In the main house, there's a designated puzzle table.  And we cooperate in working a new one each year.  Each person works whenever they feel like, for as short or long a time as they want.  With so many people, there's almost always at least one person sitting at the puzzle table.

 Once you complete a puzzle, you may be tempted to just leave it in place for just a few days.  After all, you did put a lot of work into completing it.  Besides, some of them do resemble works of art.  Some are actually reproductions of the great masterpieces.

So, why break it up and put it away?  Why not preserve and display it?

You can do just that!

The following video shows you an easy way to glue your completed jigsaw puzzle together.