Lovers of LOL Surprise dolls have a new fun activity in the LOL Surprise Puzzle!
Each 60-piece puzzle is packaged in a cute ball slightly larger than the usual Big Sister size ball. The finished puzzle forms a 15 in x 13 in image of a doll in the LOL Surprise line.
Unboxing the LOL Surprise Puzzle
The ball has one layer. Since there isn’t a collector’s checklist for the puzzles, it’s not clear how many different variations of the puzzle there are. But if we take clues from the package, we can expect the current line of puzzle balls includes these dolls from Series 1:
- Queen Bee
- Diva
- Merbaby
- Rocker
- Fancy
Inside the ball, there is:
- A sheet of stickers with clothing, accessories, and a catch phrase for the finished puzzle.
- An image of what your finished puzzle will look like
- A package of the 60 puzzle pieces
Photo: Five Below
Once the puzzle is completed, the finished image can be decorated with the included stickers. Children can dress up the picture of their dolls, adding clothing, accessories, and even the doll’s catchphrase.
Little ones can remove the stickers. The puzzle can be broken down and reassembled if they like, or they can mix-and-match stickers and puzzles to trade outfits on different dolls.
The puzzle is also packaged in an attractive, reusable tin ball. Whether you want to take the puzzle apart and store and transport the pieces easily, or leave the puzzle assembled as art and use the ball for something else, the ball is a nice complement to the puzzle, and visually matches other LOL Surprise products.
Recommended for children ages 5 and up, not only is the LOL Surprise Puzzle a fun activity, and essential for LOL Surprise collectors, but these kinds of puzzles are also beneficial for healthy development in kids.
Benefits of Jigsaw Puzzles for Children
Years of scientific research has shown that jigsaw puzzles promote a variety of important skills in childhood development, including:
Improved hand-eye coordination
Hand-eye coordination strengthens the relationship between the brain and the body, and is key to processing visual information and acting accordingly. Good hand-eye coordination improves reaction times.
Gross motor skills
Moving and sorting puzzle pieces enhances the child’s ability to handle objects.
Fine motor skills
Manipulating pieces into place calls for precision of movement in the fingers, and is associated with other skills needed in adulthood, like handwriting and typing
Shape and pattern recognition
The ability to differentiate between the interlocking shapes of the puzzle, at the same time as interpreting continuity in the image or picture of a puzzle, challenges the brain in two ways.
Memory
Jigsaw puzzles challenge short- and long-term memory as they go through the process of looking at pieces that don’t fit, setting them aside, and then recalling them later to try them again.
Problem solving
Jigsaw puzzles can only be solved in one way, and having the patience to assess, evaluate, and attempt different solutions is an important life skill.
Goals and achievements
Jigsaw puzzles can be an important lesson in goal-setting for children. The bigger goal is to finish the puzzle. However, they may set intermediate goals, like sorting pieces by color, or assembling the edges first. Successfully completing a puzzle carries an emotional feeling of accomplishment, and rewards patience and persistence. The ability to envision a goal ahead of time and work toward its completion is a key life skill in strategic thinking, learned intuitively when working on jigsaw puzzles.
In fact, these kinds of puzzles are not only beneficial for children, but have been proven to benefit adults as well. Jigsaw puzzles force the left and right brain hemispheres to work together, as the puzzle is solved logically, visually, and creatively at once. Jigsaw puzzles sharpen the mind and improve focus. They are also associated with a decrease in age-related dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in seniors.
So, there are good reasons to go ahead and indulge your fun in the LOL Surprise Puzzle, and try to collect all 5. The finished puzzles can even be turned into artwork for your walls, quickly and easily!
How to Turn a Finished LOL Surprise Puzzle into an Art Piece Suitable for Hanging
- Slide the finished puzzle onto a sheet of parchment or wax paper to prevent any glue or adhesive from spilling onto the surface beneath.
- Use a puzzle glue to stick the pieces together (We like Mod Podge). These are special glues designed to stick jigsaw puzzles together without moisture that would distort the shape of the pieces, as well as preserve and protect the artwork. To avoid mess, or for small children, it might be easier to use puzzle glue sheets (these ones are great).
- The glue will bond the pieces together and make the puzzle stable. Follow package directions and allow it to dry thoroughly.
- Use a spray adhesive to glue the puzzle to a piece of foam core. Again, spray adhesives are dry and don’t introduce unwanted moisture.
- Using a box cutter or craft knife, you can trim the foam core to a desired shape or size. Then, hang your finished puzzle as artwork.
- You could even find a frame online or in a thrift store and make your LOL Surprise Puzzle into a truly unique piece of art, perfect for a kids or a collector’s room, or a wonderful gift for your LOL Surprise-loving friends.
What We Like
- It’s a great standalone gift for LOL doll lovers
- The puzzle is reasonably priced (check the price on Amazon)
- It comes in it’s own cool, spherical tin (we’re tired of losing puzzle pieces!)
- The LOL Surprise puzzle is an educational toy in disguise
- It’s a great introduction to puzzles for children
What We Don’t Like
- Once you know which doll the puzzle is of, it’s a little less fun
- There are only dolls from Series 1
Final Verdict: [usr 4.5]
For kids (and adults) who already love LOL Surprise toys and dolls, these puzzles are a fun addition to the collection. The puzzles provide enjoyment and a little challenge. And there is good reason for people of all ages to enjoy the mental challenges of jigsaw puzzles and boost their brain power. So, get started collecting these fun little puzzles today, and enjoy your LOL Surprise life.
Check the price of the LOL Surprise Puzzle!
