I remember when Miss Marilyn used to complain that Kwabena didn’t like to do puzzles. Even when I would try to do them with him, he would show lack of interest, make excuses, act like they were too hard, etc. But after continuous prompting from Miss Marilyn, he began to work on the puzzles and easily put them together!
Yesterday on our way to Target, Kwabena said he wanted to get a car. Well, enough cars–he’s got plenty. I’m trying to vary the types of activities he does at home. I offered him a puzzle or a book. And then, since we’d gotten a new stack of books at the library yesterday, I encouraged him to get a puzzle.
Spoiled kid…..he ended up walking out of Target with a puzzle AND a book….LOL. How can I deny such educational, fun things??
Anyhow, as we were checking out their puzzles selection, Kwabena found this 70-piece puzzle he wanted:
I was hesistant to buy it, thinking that it was too many pieces….too difficult for him….that maybe he should go with the 24-piece “Cars Movie” puzzle. I never said to him, “No, Kwabena, let’s not get that one, because it’s too hard.” I just held the 70-piece one and the 24-piece one up and asked him to decide on his own, all the while thinking that he was going to give up when he saw all those pieces.
Boy was I wrong!! We opened the puzzle when we got home, and even though I tried to assist him with a “strategy” (i.e. doing all the outside edge pieces first, then the middle pieces), he took full control of what he wanted to do. He started sifting through the “like” pieces and putting them together. I assisted him by just pulling out more of the “like” pieces, and occasionally helping when I saw necessary, but what was amazing is NOT ONCE did he get frustrated…or say, “I can’t do it”….or even say “I need help”. Nor did he lose focus or interest.
Actually, we ended up having to go to bed before we could finish. But I left it up, and wouldn’t you know he picked up where he left off this morning, completing the puzzle! Yes, I helped a little, but really, it was just directing him with what section he might want to considering doing first, but other than that, it was all his own doing! I’m so proud of him!
And I’m sorry that I underestimated his ability, attention, and focus. Bad Mommy!!
I realized that I should continuously strive to challenge him, even if just to see what he can handle and achieve, because he may just end up surprising me 🙂 I wonder if other parents do this, or just me? Maybe from previous experiences that is why I underestimated his ability and desire and skill level at putting together this puzzle. But just because he may have given me trouble in the past with puzzles, doesn’t mean that he will NOW. It means that I should always expect more from him, and challenge him, and sit back and wait to see what happens.
You can best believe we’re heading to the store to get more puzzles! Hell, why not strive for 100 pieces….?
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