One of the best ways to develop a child's fine motor and cognitive skills is through simple jigsaw puzzles.

Jigsaw puzzles help prepare young children for reading, because it gives them the needed eye coordination. The younger you start children with puzzles, the better. Studies have shown that children who create puzzles under the age of three have better self confidence and problem solving skills than children who do not.

Puzzles allow children to play independently, explore their world and make mistakes that they can clearly recognize. Some of the best puzzles also allow children to learn, by including information such as colors, numbers, or the alphabet. Others include information about the world around them with themes such as animals, vehicles, and geography.

One interesting study showed that when children were given a puzzle to work on together, they naturally developed a team mentality and differing strategies for solving the puzzle. One child might put all like colored pieces together while another would separate out all the straight pieces.

Puzzles encourage concentration, so if you have a little one with a limited attention span, puzzles may be a good way to expand that. Kids are learning but having fun at the same time. In addition, when they finish a puzzle, most kids like to tear it apart and do it all over again to see if they can do it faster. Unlike adults, who finish a puzzle and put it away, kids love to do them over and over again.

Obviously, the older your child is the more complex the puzzle can be. Pay attention to age limits on puzzles. You might consider starting an older child who has no experience with puzzles with one that is geared for younger children. They'll quickly get up to speed and be ready for a more difficult challenge in no time.

Puzzles can be a wonderful family activity. Nothing is more fun than a group of people looking for that one elusive piece that will complete a section. Children enjoy helping adults with puzzles that are far too difficult for them to do on their own.

In addition, sitting together with your child affords you a chance to get to know them better and gives you an opening to discuss subjects other than finding the right piece. It's not just a rainy-day activity, but a way to spend a little bit of extra time with your child doing something stimulating and somehow calming at the same time.