Free puzzle games, stories, crafts, and printable activities for kids ages 4–12.

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This week, we’re throwing a Puzzle Party in honor of National Puzzle Day on January 29. Because at Highlights, we are all about puzzles! The puzzles in our books and magazines are meant to be fun, but did you know there are tons of learning benefits to puzzling? Here are just a few: Our Hidden Pictures puzzles help kids develop attention to detail while they look for small objects in big—often busy—scenes. They also help kids build confidence, especially when kids spot an object an adult is struggling to find! Math puzzles “gameify” the skills kids are learning in school. Puzzles that first ask kids to answer math problems, then solve a funny riddle, for example, make the task seem less intimidating. And word puzzles like unscrambles, word finds, and crosswords help kids with spelling and vocabulary. Happy puzzling!

1. Puzzle Party

Watch our video for ways puzzling benefits kids.

2. Solve a Puzzle

This family is on the way to go camping—but they’re missing a very important family member, Rhonda Rabbit. Can you figure out where she is hiding? After you find Rhonda, see if you can find the other objects hidden in the scene.

3. Read a Story

Nina and Teddy run a detective agency in their neighborhood. When their friend’s stuffed dinosaur goes missing, they’re on the case! Can they solve the puzzle of the missing dinosaur? Read the story to find out!

4. Unscramble Sudoku

Try your hand at this sudoku puzzle that uses letters instead of numbers. Then solve the riddle!

5. Play on the Go

These puzzles are stored in a tin, perfect to bring along in the car or to appointments. Pull the puzzles out for some easy entertainment.

6. Do Something for Others

After drawing a picture or writing a nice message, your child can cut it up into puzzle pieces for you to solve! We’d love to see the puzzles they create. Share them with us at HighlightsKids.com.

7. Write, Draw, or Talk About It

Do you think we can solve your brain teaser? Send it to us at HighlightsKids.com to find out!

8. Order the Scenes

Hammy has had a busy day. Encourage your child to use their observation skills to figure out the order in which Hammy did each activity.

9. Search the Ocean

These cats are having a great time scuba diving in the ocean. While they swim with the fishes, can you find the objects hidden in the scene?

10. Guess the Food

Give your family a puzzling dessert with these sweet foods styled to look savory. Have each family member guess what each food is made of before they take a bite. Who correctly guessed the most ingredients?

11. Slide the Puzzle

Slide the puzzle pieces up, down, left, or right, until the picture is in order. For an added challenge, see who can solve the puzzle the fastest!

12. Find the Hidden Objects

These lemurs have a big job painting this house. Help them out by finding the 8 objects that are hiding in the scene.

13. Fill in the Blanks

Help the bird get its worm by filling in the blanks in this word puzzle.

14. Check the Scene

These friends are enjoying nice weather by playing a game of soccer at the park. While they shoot for the goal, look for the 12 hidden objects.

Got a child who loves puzzles?

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