| A common sight at daycare centers, preschools, | | | | first day of kindergarten. |
| and even libraries is children playing on or with | | | | Kids' play mats are available in a variety of sizes, |
| jigsaw puzzle mats. It's also an option for families | | | | ranging from 24 square feet to as large as 72 |
| looking for playroom flooring for their home. | | | | square feet. Alphabet play mats that can be |
| Typically, these foam tiles are five-eighths of an | | | | pieced together are most likely sold in larger and |
| inch thick, so, when pieced together, they provide | | | | smaller sizes, but, for many daycares, schools, |
| a cushioned play surface for active preschoolers. | | | | and parents, the ones that are around five or six |
| Another advantage is hygiene. A six-by-six foot | | | | feet in each direction are the most practical. |
| foam play mat can be a lot easier to clean and | | | | Putting together a large puzzle mat is an activity |
| disinfect than the much larger floor of a | | | | that several toddlers can do together, so not only |
| classroom or an entire home playroom; so there | | | | is it educational and entertaining, but it also |
| are potential health benefits to using foam play | | | | encourages social interaction and development. As |
| mats, especially during the cold and flu season. | | | | many parents and all early childhood educators |
| Here are other reasons why puzzle play mats | | | | know, the first five years of a child's life are |
| continue to enjoy such enduring popularity and | | | | highly formative, in terms of both cognitive |
| widespread use. | | | | abilities and social skills. That may be why this |
| Perhaps the main reason that interlocking foam | | | | simple learning tool continues to be popular, year |
| mats are such a mainstay at daycare facilities and | | | | after year, even in the age of interactive |
| nursery schools is that it keeps toddlers busy, | | | | computer games and the Internet. |
| entertained, and mentally stimulated for more | | | | In addition to the standard alphabet and |
| than five minutes at a time. Not only do | | | | primary-numbers version, there are also a variety |
| preschoolers enjoy the colors and texture of | | | | of other choices, including a digitally printed map of |
| interlocking foam mats, but many kids become | | | | the world, which displays international flags and |
| engrossed in the challenge of piecing the jigsaw | | | | has other educational features. |
| puzzle tiles together. | | | | Depending on your perspective and budget, prices |
| Interlocking play mats which have alphabet letters | | | | from $90 to $135 may seem either prohibitive or |
| and numbers on them are also an excellent | | | | reasonable. However, when you consider the |
| learning and teaching tool. It can help kids learn | | | | number of uses you'll probably get from the |
| their alphabet and primary numbers, early on; and | | | | mats, and the hundreds of hours of educational |
| set a precedent for making learning a fun | | | | entertainment it provides, the prospect of buying |
| experience. Children can also gain an advantage in | | | | a large interlocking play mat becomes much more |
| the self-esteem department when they know | | | | cost effective, whether it's for your daycare |
| their alphabet, numbers, how to write their name, | | | | center, nursery school, or home playroom. |
| and a few other basics before they start their | | | | |