Are you looking for a fun, engaging, educational activity to keep your 2-year-old toddler entertained and learning at home? Look no further than this free printable animal puzzle for toddlers. Toddler activities don’t have to break the bank. Diy activities and resources are your best friend! Whether you’re homeschooling your toddler or just looking for great toddler activities, this free printable animal puzzle is easy to make and will engage your toddler.
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Why Choose This Free Printable Animal Puzzle for Toddlers
It’s easy to make, engaging for your toddler, and it’s free! This simple puzzle is perfect for homeschooling preschoolers and will help your little one enhance numerous developmental skills. Let’s check out the learning objectives for this activity.
Animal Puzzle Learning Objectives
Fine motor skills:
Picking up and connecting the puzzle pieces strengthens eye hand coordination and dexterity
Cognitive skills:
Matching the puzzle pieces to the correct match helps learn directionally, shapes, patterns, and problem-solving.
Vocabulary and language:
The colorful animal illustrations with animal name in print will introduce your child to new words,letters and letter sounds.
How to Use this Free Printable Animal Puzzle for Toddlers
1. Download and print the puzzle on sturdy white cardstock paper (Regular paper can be used too but I suggest backing each piece on construction paper to increase durability.)
2. Carefully cut out the puzzle piece squares, then cut each puzzle piece along the black line. Each square will be cut into 2 pieces.
3. OPTIONAL: Laminate your pieces with an at home laminator, I love this one, or by covering them in clear contact paper.
4. Play: Encourage your child to match the puzzle pieces to create adorable animals.
Looking for more diy toddler activities? Check out this daily cookie-counting activity!
Additional Tips
1. Make it interactive:
- Talk to your child about the animals on the puzzle and the sounds the animals make. Encourage your toddler to make the animal sounds.
- Ask your toddler to show you how they pretend to be each animal. Encourage them by doing it together!
2. Create additional learning opportunities:
- Point out the letter each animal starts with and emphasize the letter sound.
- Use the puzzle to teach colors, shapes, letters, and animal names.
3. Laminate for durability:
- Laminating the puzzle will make it more durable and reusable. Use a laminator like this one or clear contact paper.
- If printing on regular paper, glue the pieces onto construction paper after printing to increase durability.
4. Offer words of encouragement and engage in conversation:
- Use lots of encouraging words while your toddler is playing with the puzzle. If you’re child is getting frustrated try saying, “Try turning the pieces around” Or, “that’s ok you can try again”.
- Dictate what you observe your toddler doing to keep them engaged. Say things like, ” Wow, you made an elephant!”
- Ask your toddler questions like, “What animal is that?”, and “What color is this animal?”
Toddlers learn best through play and puzzles are a great play activity that enhance developmental learning skills. Use this animal puzzle free printable to create a simple but fun animal puzzle for your toddler that enhances learning through play.
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download your free animal puzzle printable here
I hope your little one enjoys this fun and educational activity! Follow me on social media to see more toddler activities and ideas, and subscribe to the Happy Mommying Blog to never miss a new post; it’s free!
Happy Mommying!
