23 puzzles that will boost kids’ brains at every stage

With easy-to-grab knobs and just three pieces, this makes the perfect first puzzle for babies and toddlers. Underneath each piece there’s picture to match, helping little ones develop their visual perception as well as their hand-eye coordination.

Challenge their problem-solving skills with these two-piece animal puzzles! The oversize pieces are great for small hands and made from thick cardboard which stands up to rough play. (Though not so much to chomping on.)

With a variety of ways to play, this chunky wooden puzzle from Crocodile Creek will stay in rotation for awhile! On one side, they can match the pieces to their correct space while the other features a scene for imaginative play. The sturdy pieces can also be used for stacking and counting.

Each of these six dinosaur puzzles are made up of two oversize pieces making them easy for little hands to manipulate.

This classic puzzle is a staple in Montessori classrooms. With just three simple pieces in each of the primary colors, it’s a great tool for early learning.

In addition to practicing their matching skills, little ones can delight in learning animal sounds as they lift and replace each piece.

First they sort, then they solve! This toddler-friendly four puzzle set is made from sturdy wooden pieces that are color-coded on the back for easy sorting. When they’re done, just toss it back in the convenient slide-top box for next time.

Made from colorful, thick and sturdy pieces, this is a great puzzle for toddlers who have graduated from the simple wooden puzzles of babyhood. Name the familiar woodland creatures as it comes together and work on vocabulary as well as patience, problem-solving and hand-eye coordination.

Perfectly sized for tray tables, the 36-piece Puzzle to Go puzzles from Mudpuppy are great for keeping preschoolers entertained while traveling or dining out. The canvas bag makes perfect storage!

The pride on their face when they complete this epic 10 foot long puzzle is worth the price of admission. Not only does it call upon their matching skills but practicing the alphabet and letter recognition is built right into solving it.

The glossy 20-piece puzzles from eeboo are always a preschool favorite. Of course the colorful imagery is a great hook, but they’re also just the right amount of challenge for most three and four year olds to solve solo. And at just a bit larger than a piece of paper, they’re ideal for neat and tidy tabletop play.

Inspire a love of museums and culture with Crocodile Creek’s The Day at the Museum observation puzzle. Full of rich and engaging detail, this one transports little ones to a bustling art museum that’s packed with recognizable masterpieces from some of history’s greatest artists. It’s easy enough for kids age four and up and provides a fun opportunity to learn more about the great works depicted once it’s complete!

Even the antsiest, puzzle-averse kiddos will delight in putting this sprawling t-rex together! Made from 51 thick and sturdy pieces, including several that are dino-shaped themselves, the oversize design is great for little ones who struggle with small pieces. And when they’re done? Well, they’ve got quite the impressive beast to show for it.

It’s so important for our kids to see themselves reflected in the books they read and the toys they play with. But as a mom of two multiracial kids, I know that’s not always easy to find. Enter Upbounders. Founded by a mom who wanted to have more toy options for her son that reflected his and his friends’ experiences, their puzzles do an incredible job of showcasing diversity. A personal fave is the 48-piece Portrait of a Modern Family which shows that a family can consist of a wide variety of backgrounds and skin tones. Just like ours!

There’s so much learning packed into this fun two-sided puzzle! Your budding geographer will quickly catch on to the location and shape of each of the United States with the added bonus of learning capital cities, state nicknames and surrounding countries and bodies of water. If they get discouraged, remind them these lessons could make them a trivia night dynamo. (Or, you know, pass that 4th-grade geography test with flying colors.)

This may look like an ordinary puzzle, but putting it together is only half the fun! Once your kiddo has the ocean scene assembled, it’s time to put their observational skills to the test. 40 creatures are hiding within, waiting for their keen eye to point them out.

If they’re ready to move on to a bigger challenge but need a little extra nudge, scratch-and-sniff pieces are hard to resist. With 71 pieces, it will require a little extra concentration, but the blue raspberry, grape and cherry scents will keep them coming back even if they need a few breaks before they master it.

Sometimes it’s best to appeal to their interests (obsessions?) if they turn their nose up at puzzles. Best-selling Ravensburger puzzles not only come in a wide variety of recognizable scenes like Disney Princesses , Toy Story and Moana, but they’re also designed so that every individual piece has a completely unique shape, making them less frustrating for little learners.

A 100-piece puzzle can be challenging, but the promise of a blacklight seek and find at the end really boosts morale. Within the museum they’ll find 40 glow-in-the-dark images that can be illuminated with the included reveal light!

I’ve done more puzzles this past year than I’ve done in my entire lifetime prior. And while my guilty pleasure has been pairing them with a glass of wine and a murder podcast, that practice isn’t exactly zen. As an alternative, the 300-piece Calm puzzles are the perfect way to mindfully zone out and wind down. The puzzle includes a 30-day subscription to the Calm app which provides a peaceful backdrop and the gorgeous images themselves come together in just a couple of hours.

Sure, there’s nothing stopping you from letting the kids get in on the action here, it’s also fine to reserve it for yourself. Ahhhh.

Everything about Jiggy Puzzles is just *chef’s kiss*. From their gorgeous artwork created by women artists all over the world to their stunning packaging and quality materials, it’s nearly impossible to pick just one. (So don’t. Pick like two. Or ten.)

For a dash of psychedelic nostalgia, I’m completely obsessed with the wacky puzzles from Le Puzz. Their jam-packed images are incredibly fun to get lost in and even though they’re 1000 pieces, each one is a unique shape which makes it more fun, less daunting.

Even if you’re puzzle obsessed, I guarantee you don’t have a puzzle like this one. The 1000 piece Magic Puzzles are packed with dozens of find and seek scenes and when you think you’re done, think again! Inside a second envelope is a smaller puzzle that makes for a twist ending. (Just be sure to leave plenty of table space to unfold the magic.) There are several titles to choose from, but The Mystic Maze is still my personal favorite. The scene is fun and whimsical and it’s just challenging enough.

From their kitschy imagery to their quality presentation, Piecework Puzzles are another personal favorite. The matte pieces make them doable in any light and each one has its own Spotify playlist to accompany your puzzle session. (And TBH, they’re so good I’ve even tapped them for dinner party music!)