The Jigsaw Puzzle Performance of Preschoolers and Its Relationship with Inhibitory Control

The appeal of jigsaw puzzles lies in their varying levels of difficulty and thematic diversity, which engage children across developmental stages. This study investigated the effects of puzzle difficulty and thematic content on preschoolers’ jigsaw puzzle performance and examined the role of inhibitory control, a key cognitive function. Employing a mixed design, the study assessed 94 children aged 4 to 6 years, categorized into three age groups, across three puzzle themes (vehicles, animals, and characters) and two difficulty levels (high and low). Participants completed six types of puzzles, inhibitory control tasks, and a sustained attention task. A three-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed that puzzle performance was significantly influenced by age, puzzle difficulty, and theme. Notably, 4-year-olds showed less sensitivity to puzzle difficulty, while 6-year-olds excelled in character-themed puzzles. Hierarchical regression analyses and a mediation effect test revealed that both age and inhibitory control significantly predicted puzzle performance, with inhibitory control partially mediating the effect of age on puzzle performance. These findings underscore developmental differences in puzzle-solving abilities among preschoolers and highlight the importance of inhibitory control. The results have implications for designing educational materials and interventions that align with preschoolers’ cognitive development.