The creative thinking Feelings Puzzle with flowers is an amazing STEAM activity for three-year-old children.

The child’s goal in the Feelings Puzzle is to assemble 72 wooden details using patterns of 6 double-sided cards (12 pre-determined patterns). The smart activity with a variety of flowers develops vocabulary, construction and replication skills, spatial awareness, attention span, memory, logical thinking, creative and critical thinking, fine motor and even counting skills. And more importantly, emotions and feelings. The vibrancy of the flower garden is charged with emotional expressions, thereby allowing the adult and the child to identify and discuss different feelings and facial expressions.

How to extend the value of the Feelings Puzzle with flowers:

1. Examine the contents of the box with your child and ask to “plant” the flowers in the garden. Explain what a flower is made of (a stem with leaves, a core, petals). How flowers grow, how to take care of the plants. Ask your child what flower names they know? Discuss what a bouquet of flowers is.

2. Invite the child to organise the flower garden by specific features. For example, arranging the flower petals into the boxes according to their species (i.e., colour, shape).

3. Assemble a red, blue, purple flower from the puzzle pieces. Why not give a name for each flower?

4. Invite the child to create new flower varieties. Arrange the flowers according to the pattern on the cards.

5. Point out to the number of petals on each flower. Which flower has the least number of petals? Which flower has the most petals? Encourage the child to assemble a five-leaved or a seven-leaved flower.

6. Learn the number composition. To do this, choose a core with the right number of petals (e.g. 5) and petals of two contrasting colours (e.g. blue and red). Ask to assemble the flower, using two types of petals in different numbers each time (e.g. 1 red + 4 blue; 2 + 3; 5 + 0).

7. Point out different moods of the flowers. Suggest repeating their facial expressions. Ask to collect a cheerful flower, a surprised flower, a flower that winks. Together, make up stories about what had happened to the flowers that affected their moods. Ask the child what kind of flower is similar to his/her current mood?

8. Trace the assembled flower on a sheet of paper. Ask to colour the petals and draw a mood at the centre of the flower. Ask why the flower is in this mood, what is it feeling? Suggest to add other flowers to make a bouquet.

9. Use the puzzle pieces for a story time. Create stories about a fairy-tale flower garden.

Age: 3 years
Material: high-quality birch tree plywood, safe paints
Size: 21.5 x 19 x 3 cm
Set contains: 72 details + 6 cards