December 23, 2021
December 23, 2021
A lot of the fun for kids on Christmas morning is looking into their stockings – what has Santa left them this year as stocking fillers? While candy and little toys are always fun, you can also add something educational too, thanks to stocking-filler puzzles.
There are plenty of challenging and exciting puzzle games (pocket-sized, perfect for stockings!), designed to appeal to children of all ages. If you’re trying to come up with stocking filler ideas that will challenge your child’s mind, here are some of the best educational puzzles for kids.
What skills do puzzles develop?
So why puzzles? Educators frequently recommend puzzles as learning games, since they can help young minds develop all sorts of useful skills.
For toddlers and young children, puzzles can help with motor skills, memory, and problem-solving, as well as shape, letter, and number recognition. Puzzles also foster patience, since it takes time to solve them correctly.
In older kids and teens, puzzles are great too, helping with memory, fine motor skills, and concentration. In a world where kids are constantly interested in screen time, puzzles and games challenge their minds in a new way, helping them develop versatile skills that can benefit them throughout life.
What are the best puzzles for kids to use as stocking stuffers?
With more and more parents choosing educational gifts for their kids, you can find so many amazing puzzles these days! They’re sure to keep kids happy and occupied on Christmas Day, and throughout the holiday season. (Of course, puzzles aren’t enough to get you through the winter break – there are also lots of fun outdoor winter activities that you and your family can enjoy, even when it’s cold out.)
So what puzzles are good for your brain? Here are some of the best for kids, providing them with challenges, education, and fun!
1. Rubik’s cube
You might remember playing with a Rubik’s cube as a kid – that deceptively simple square that requires you to line up all of the colored sides together. The good news is that Rubik’s cubes are still available, and they’re just as fun as they were decades ago.
Once you pick up a Rubik’s cube, it’s hard to put it down! It’s a fun stocking stuffer for both kids and teens.
2. Mini LEGO sets
Many kids (and adults!) just can’t get enough of LEGO sets, which allow children to build their own worlds, all while following instructions and learning construction and logic skills.
You can find plenty of small, stocking-sized LEGO kits, which children can use to build a small model or figurine. They provide plenty of excitement and challenge on Christmas morning, and kids will have so much fun while playing with LEGOs that they might not even realize they’re also educational.
3. CuberSpeed Rainbow Ball
Younger kids will love the thrill of the CuberSpeed Rainbow Ball, a colorful puzzle ball game designed for children 3–8 years. Holding the ball in their hand, players need to scramble the included colored balls around the game and then race to get them back in the matching holes.
Kids can play over and over again, with this neat puzzle testing both their memory and critical thinking skills.
(To keep young brains stimulated over the holidays, consider giving them a fun (but educational) game as a holiday gift too.)
4. PLUS PLUS Open Play Tube
Many parents are loving the PLUS PLUS Open Play Tube – with a thin, tubular design, it’s easy to tuck this one into any stocking or even hang it from the tree.
The Play Tube contains small, colored puzzle pieces, which are combined and connected to create 3D models and creations. It includes 70 pieces and an idea booklet to get them started. The simplicity of the pieces is ideal for fueling creativity and imagination, plus fostering engineering and math skills.
This puzzle toy is designed for kids 5–12, and you can combine multiple Play Tubes to make larger creations.
5. Aqua Smart Egg Labyrinth Puzzle
This small, egg-shaped puzzle is an affordable option to stuff in any stocking or to bring along to a Secret Santa gift exchange. You can find these egg puzzles in a range of colors, all requiring the user to solve a labyrinth puzzle.
The eggs are great for keeping busy hands occupied and introducing the concept of brain teaser games to younger kids.
6. Wooden block puzzles
When selecting puzzles, it’s important to always purchase age-appropriate gifts, especially for younger kids. If a puzzle is too advanced for a young child, they won’t enjoy it and will quickly become frustrated.
That’s why we love wooden block puzzles for toddlers and younger children. You can find plenty of small, colorful wooden puzzles that require kids to match up large puzzle pieces into their correct home.
You can even find companies or local craftspeople that can make personalized puzzles – imagine the joy on your child’s face when they pull a puzzle out of their stocking, only to see it has their own name on it!
7. Kanoodle
If you’re looking for something more challenging for teens or older kids, check out Kanoodle. They offer both ‘Standard’ and ‘Genius’ level puzzles, each in a compact size that makes for a perfect stocking filler.
With Kanoodle, players have to configure spherical puzzle pieces to fill the entire puzzle board, like a kind of real-life Tetris. Each game is portable, with an included carrying case, and the fun will last for hours – each Kanoodle contains over 100 games. It’s designed for kids at least 7–8 and upwards.
Make this Christmas something special with the fun addition of a stocking-filler puzzle. Any of the above are sure to be winners, and it’ll feel great to give little gifts that will help your children learn and grow.
Featured image by Chris Benson on Unsplash