There’s nothing puzzling about finding joy in discovering shapes which fit together perfectly to form a complete picture. The satisfying creative process encourages us to think critically and visually, which in turn exercises our brains in all the right ways.
Often introduced to us as children, adult dissectologists will continue to explore the hobby later in life through an array of complicated, thousand-piece puzzles. However, there’s a reason so many parents and carers encourage their little ones to explore the world of puzzles as soon as they’re able to see in colour.
What are the benefits of introducing toddlers and young children to puzzles?
According to Orchard Toys, the popular manufacturer of educational children’s toys and games for over 50 years, playing with puzzles has a significant impact on children’s motor skills. In addition, grasping and matching up puzzle pieces helps to improve hand-eye coordination. Working on both of these essential developmental skills can help your little one when it comes to picking up tactile hobbies later in life – such as playing instruments or sports.
What’s more, engaging with educational jigsaw puzzles helps children to learn while playing. As such, themed puzzles such as geographical maps and vocabulary games offer oodles of fun while aiding your child’s development on multiple physical and mental levels.
Without further ado, keep scrolling for a curated selection of the best puzzles for kids on the market.
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Orchard Toys Shopping List
Age range: 3-7
Created by Orchard Toys to help improve cognitive and motor skills, this uber-fun shopping list puzzle game has been a bestseller for decades and continues to reign supreme in the world of children’s jigsaws. The game encourages matching and memory skills and can be bought alongside expansion packs to increase the level of difficulty and include additional players.
Buy now £5.25, Amazon
Skillmatics World Map Puzzle
Age range: 6-12
This 96-piece puzzle also comes equipped with country cards, a reference sheet and an instruction manual. Each card is filled to the brim with fun facts about each of the countries that you manage to piece together via a colour-coded and numbered system, offering a wonderfully educational puzzle experience. Whether enjoyed individually or with friends to improve social skills, this geographical game is bound to be a delight.
Buy now £14.97, Amazon
Puzzle Animal Reserve
Age range: 3-5
This delightful puzzle featuring a colourful landscape dotted with an array of wild animals comes in a handy carry case. The brilliantly sized pieces are safe for little ones to use and make matching together the cut-outs and shapes easier for little hands.
Buy now £14.50, Kidly
Bluey, 3 Wood Puzzles Jigsaw Bundle
Age range: 3+
Can’t get your child to engage in a puzzle of any kind? We recommend investing in this compendium set of Bluey-themed puzzles to get their attention. Just like the wonderful TV series, these puzzles feature scenes of Bluey and her family. Each of the three puzzles included has 24 pieces.
Buy now £13.95, Amazon
Titanic 3D Puzzle with Lights
Age range: 10+
If your child has surpassed traditional puzzles and tends to complete them with ease, we recommend purchasing a considerably more complicated 3D option. This model of the RMS Titanic even comes with LED lighting and doesn’t require any glue or additional assembly tools – the precisely punched foam pieces are all you’ll need.
Buy now £37.99, Amazon
Ravensburger Pokémon 4 x 100 Piece Bumper Jigsaw Puzzle Pack Assortment
Age range: 3+
Each of the four puzzles included in this value-for-money, Pokémon-themed pack has exactly 100 pieces. Enough to keep your little one occupied for a while, the puzzles feature wonderfully unique scenes including various Pokémon creatures and the intrepid trainer Ash.
Buy now £17.99, Amazon
eeBoo Opposite - Puzzle Pairs
Opposite Puzzle Pairs by eeBoo is a fantastic matching game for little ones which simultaneously helps to improve motor and cognitive skills by encouraging a bustling, comparative vocabulary. What’s more, the game is printed on 90 per cent recycled materials with vegetable-based inks.
Buy now £16.99, Fenwick
Ravensburger Pokemon 3D Pokeball Jigsaw Puzzle
Age range: 6-99
A 3D puzzle option which will also serve as some funky room décor once completed, this brilliant piece of kit offers a satisfying challenge.
Buy now £6.99, John Lewis
EUGY Dragon 3D Cardboard Model Kit
Age range: 3+
Available in a variety of animals both mythical and real, this lovely 3D model kit may not look like a traditional puzzle, but it certainly engages all the same parts of your little one’s brain. The collectable toys make for brilliant displays and are sure to encourage your child’s creative side.
Buy now £9.06, Amazon
Asmodee Dobble
Age range: 6+
A twist on the classic game of Snap, Dobble features an array of spherical cards which display a range of different symbols. Every card is different, though each will have one matching symbol with any other card. The first to spot the matching symbol wins the set. Action-packed and designed to be a race, you’ll be playing Dobble for hours on end.
Buy now £9.00, Amazon
