A collaborative puzzle - what a great idea! In this age of individualism, solving a puzzle together is a great way to get together. But that's not all. Collective puzzle games offer other benefits: promoting cooperation, developing team spirit or simply encouraging exchange. This unifying pastime requires few resources: a table and, of course, a puzzle! Simple to set up, it's an excellent way of strengthening social ties without the need for screens. And it can be practiced in a wide range of settings, including workplaces, schools and communities. At last, an activity for interacting and really reconnecting with others!
A collaborative corporate game
Well-being in the workplace has become a major concern for companies. Not only to protect their employees from psychosocial risks, but also to boost performance. According to a study by the University of Warwick, happy employees are 12% more productive!
This rather convincing argument is prompting more and more companies to integrate playful or relaxing activities into their daily work routines. In addition to the relaxation rooms, yoga classes and swimming pools that have sprung up in the common areas of large companies, the trend is now towards slow working and team-building activities!
But these cooperative games, which take the form of escape games or sports tournaments, are one-offs and involve a few organizational constraints. A collaborative game like the puzzle is much simpler to set up! A real meeting point, it becomes the ideal pretext for exchanging ideas, sharing an informal moment and cultivating a collective spirit.
A puzzle in a coworking space
Coworking space managers understand the importance of a friendly, cozy atmosphere in attracting freelancers. The common room is often furnished with magazines, green plants, soft sofas... Everything is designed to promote well-being. And yet, we usually gulp down a coffee with our noses in our smartphones, and go back to work without having really decompressed...
That's where the collaborative puzzle comes in! Installed in a small corner of the coworking space, it offers a real break and encourages you to disconnect. Putting a few pieces together allows you to momentarily forget your responsibilities and release tension. No performance expectations, no competitiveness, no deadlines! Everyone contributes as they wish, and then returns to their computers, relaxed. What more could you ask for?
👉 Also read: Puzzles, the ideal way to de-stress
A collective puzzle game at school
Cooperative games at school have become increasingly popular in recent years. They foster solidarity by emphasizing collaboration rather than competition. No one is left on the sidelines: we all win or lose together.
Group puzzles offer this positive experience. Students help each other achieve a common goal: solving the puzzle. They share ideas and solving strategies and encourage each other. Cooperation, empathy, communication, concentration - it's the ideal activity!
These patience games can also be set up outside the classroom. Some CDIs have already introduced them! And why not in the teachers' lounge? The adults in the school deserve a break from stress too!
A cooperative family activity
There's nothing like playing a board game with your children to strengthen family bonds. We know that, but... who really wants to play Croque carotte after a hard day's work? Or even worse, the dinette! No, as we all know, there's no such thing as the perfect parent!
So yes, our motivation as parents is often sorely tested. But rather than sticking them in front of a screen, offer them a challenge: solve a complex puzzle together. It's a family project where everyone can cooperate, and the little ones can get stuck into sorting the pieces by color.
As well as being fun, this type of activity is conducive to peace and quiet and encourages discussion. It's a great way to spend quality time together as a family. And since it's an intergenerational pastime, grandparents can join in too. Are you bored with Sunday lunch? Well, puzzle away!
A participatory puzzle in media libraries
The mediatheques have started to set up participative puzzles, and have met with great success. The activity is open to all, and every user is invited to contribute to this collective work. It's up to you whether you want to put a piece down in passing, or spend several hours working on it.
This activity encourages socialization and creates an environment conducive to unexpected encounters (and while we're on the subject, closer relationships...). At Jour Férié, we base our creations on poetic illustrations inspired by everyday life, inviting people to tell their stories. At last, a direct, face-to-face communication experience. Far more rewarding than virtual contact on social networks!
Setting up puzzle corners is another way to reconnect with a hobby considered obsolete by some. And, above all, rediscover its many benefits. It could even lead to the creation of a puzzle library for enthusiasts.
👉 Read also:The benefits of puzzles at any age
A game of patience in waiting rooms
Group puzzles are an innovative idea for waiting. Today, we all have our eyes glued to our phones when it comes to waiting. No one looks at each other, no one talks to each other... everywhere: at the doctor's, in railway stations and airports, in hospitals and reception halls.
So what better way to start a dialogue than by sharing a pleasant distraction? Assembling a few pieces keeps time busy and encourages social interaction. The atmosphere becomes more convivial, and waiting less stressful. This game of patience lives up to its name!
The collaborative jigsaw puzzle is a unifying activity that can be practiced in a wide variety of settings. It provides a respite from our hectic lives, while promoting social interaction. It could even be therapeutic! So, when can we expect to see jigsaw puzzles in children's homes, retirement homes or even prisons?
👉 Also read: 13 handicrafts for adults
Source :
Happiness and productivity - WRAP: Warwick Research Archive Portal
After the rain - 1000-piece puzzle
