Logic puzzles for kids strengthen problem-solving, promote sustained attention, and can help build self-confidence. Logic puzzles encourage kids to…. think. They are basically exercise for the brain. Logic puzzles also make great quiet time activities.
We know that encouraging kids to play with their peers is crucial in teaching social skills, cooperation and empathy. However, knowing how to play by yourself is just as important as being able to play in a group, only it requires a different skill set. One player logic puzzles teach children to focus, rely on themselves, and work independently. Check out a few of our favorites below.
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1) The Three Little Piggies
Place the piggies on the board as indicated by the challenge cards and then figure out how to set up the houses so that the piggies either play outside or inside (depending on the card you choose). Playing this game encourages critical thinking, visual perception, spatial reasoning, and attention. Ages 3 and up. You can read more about it or purchase here.
2) Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood is a sequel to Three Little Piggies.The goal of the game is to follow the challenge cards to create a path for Little Red Riding Hood to get to grandma's house. Ages 4 and up.
3) Day and Night
Day and Night is a simple first puzzle game for preschoolers. The concept of the game is to stack the wooden pieces so that they replicate the picture designs in the booklet. This game promotes fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, visual perception, and logical reasoning. Ages 3-5 years old.
4) Castle Logix
Manipulate the blocks and towers to copy the different castle designs on the challenge cards. Playing this game works on spatial reasoning, problem-solving, visual perception, and attention. Ages 3 and up. You can learn more about the game or purchase it here.
5) Bunny Peek A Boo
Bunny Peek A Boo is another interesting game that requires problem-solving and spatial reasoning to solve. The goal is to arrange the 3 wooden blocks and the bunny as shown on the challenge cards. Ages 2 and up.
6) My First Rush Hour
If you love the classic Rush Hour logic game, you’ll be happy to hear that My First Rush Hour is coming out this spring (will be posting a link as soon as it does). This game targets 3-year-olds, and is first focused on positioning the cars into the right spots (matching), then moving the red car to get it “out of traffic.” In the meantime, check out Rush Hour (for ages 8 and up), and Rush Hour Jr. (ages 5 and up). It is a must-have game if you haven’t yet played.
7) Hoppers
Hoppers is a solitaire game that incorporates cute little frogs. The idea is to set up the game as shown on the challenge cards (game comes with 40 different challenges), then jump the frogs over each other until you are left with just one frog. Each challenge card increases in level of difficulty as you go. Super fun and engaging logic game for ages 5 and up. Great for travel and during wait times.
8) Zoologic
Zoologic is an innovative puzzle game for kids. It comes with animal pieces, food pieces and, a booklet full of puzzles to solve. The idea is to position the pieces in such a way that complies with all the rules of the game. For example, an angry dog can not be placed next to a friendly dog, etc.
9) Tumble Maze
Tumble Maze is AMAZING! No, seriously. The idea of the game is simple. Choose a card (challenge) and set up the game as shown, then figure out how to position the pieces indicated on the card to make a marble roll down the maze to its target. This game is super fun, engaging and most of all incredibly rewarding. You’ll love it just as much as the kids. Tumble Maze encourages problem-solving, attention, and perseverance. Rec for ages 8 and up.
10) Logic Land
Logic Land is an interesting fairy tale inspired brain teaser for ages 8 and up. The compact magnetic set is perfect for travel. The goal of the game is to use deductive reasoning to figure out which rooms the different characters are in by following the clues.