Puzzle Genius

We are excited beyond words to announce the launch of Puzzle Weekly – our brand new weekly puzzle publication. It’s been a labor of love, hours of brainstorming, and countless moments of exhilaration as we have put together this new weekly logic puzzle collection.

Why Puzzle Weekly? 

Puzzle Weekly magazine cover

We’ve been publishing free daily puzzles right here on our website for years. They’ve been popular. So popular in fact, that we wanted to do more. One puzzle a day, no matter how carefully curated, just felt a little, well, little

Our first thought was simply to put more puzzles onto the website each day. However, we realised this was an excellent opportunity to do something different. Something better. Thus Puzzle Weekly was born: 28 brand new puzzles delivered in a beautifully crafted digital magazine direct to your inbox every week.

What Can You Expect? 

  1. A Weekly Challenge: Every issue promises 28 carefully crafted puzzles, ensuring you have a fresh challenge for each day.
  2. For Our Young Puzzlers: We haven't forgotten our junior solvers. A special puzzle each day is dedicated to them. Plus we’re including a unique colouring page each week, too.
  3. Discover Lesser-Known Gems: While Sudoku might be a familiar face, get ready to meet and conquer lesser-known stars like Hashiwokakero, Number Cross, and Shirokuru.
  4. Go Digital or Traditional: While Puzzle Weekly is a digital publication optimised for devices like iPads, Kindles, and reMarkable tablets, we also appreciate the charm of the good old pen (or pencil) and paper. That’s why we’re including a special print-friendly section that ensures the best of both worlds.

The Best Part? 

This brainy buffet comes to you completely free! It's our way of celebrating the pure joy of puzzles and sharing that with a community that appreciates a good brain-tease as much as we do.

How To Get Puzzle Weekly

It’s super easy to get your free copy in your inbox every week. Click here and you can subscribe for free at SubStack – all we need is the email address you want your copy delivered to. Don’t worry, we won’t spam you, and you can unsubscribe any time. 

Get Your Free Puzzle Weekly Subscription Here

Puzzle Weekly has been designed to look great on a wide variety of devices. As well as the printable section, the magazine includes all the puzzles in large format ready to be completed directly on your device.

The instructions on this page will help you load the magazine onto a variety of popular devices.

Jump to:

iPad

The easiest way to get the magazine on your iPad is simply to open it from within your email. From whatever email app you are using (the built-in one, or any third party app like Gmail), tap on the Puzzle Weekly PDF attachment. The magazine will open right up for you.

We highly recommend saving the attachment to the Books app before starting to fill out the puzzles. This way everything you do will be saved in the file.

To save the attachment, with the magazine open, tap the share icon - it looks like this: ios share icon

If you can’t see the share icon, you might need to tap the screen to show the controls in your app.

From the pop-up menu, tap the Books app icon. If you can’t see it in the list, scroll horizontally to the end of the list, click the “…More” icon, and then select Books from the list.

If you are using a more recent version of iPadOS, you may see a “Open in Books” option right at the top of the screen, which you can use instead.

When reading the magazine in the Books app, you can tap the pen icon at the top of the screen to start solving the puzzles on your iPad.

As an alternative to the Books app, you may prefer to save the magazine to the built-in Notes app. The steps are the same, just choose Notes from the list of icons.

Further help for the iPad can be found here.

Kindle Scribe

There are a couple of ways to get your copy of Puzzle Weekly onto your Kindle Scribe, depending on whether you are using a computer or a phone.

From a Computer, Using the Send to Kindle Tool:

  • Go to Amazon's Send to Kindle page. Note that link is for Amazon.com - if your Kindle account is in another country, you’ll need to use the Send to Kindle page for that country’s store. The page is always at /sendtokindle - for example, in the uk you can navigate to amazon.co.uk/sendtokindle
  • Sign in to your Amazon account if you’re not already logged in.
  • Drag and drop the Puzzle Weekly PDF file onto the page. Make sure the ‘add to your library’ option is selected (it is on by default) then click the ‘Send’ button.
  • The magazine will automatically appear in the library tab of your Kindle Scribe. It may take a few minutes between the file uploading then downloading again to your device.

From a Phone or Tablet, Using The Mobile App:

  • Ensure you have the Kindle app installed on your smartphone or tablet.
  • Sign in to your Amazon account within the app.
  • Open the Puzzle Weekly PDF file attachment from within your mail app, then use the sharing option to “Send to” the Kindle app. It will be uploaded to your Kindle library in the cloud.
  • The magazine will automatically appear in the library tab of your Kindle Scribe.

Further help for Kindle Scribe can be found here.

Kobo Elipsa

There are a couple of ways of sending the magazine to your Kobo Elipsa.

From a computer, via a USB cable:

  1. Connect Your Kobo Elipsa to Your Computer:
  • Turn on your Kobo Elipsa eReader.
  • Connect it to your computer using a USB-C cable.
  • On your eReader, tap "Connect" when you see the "Computer Detected" popup window.
  1. Transfer the PDF:
  • On your computer, navigate to the folder named 'KOBOeReader'.
  • Drag and drop the Puzzle Weekly PDF file into this folder.
  1. Eject and Disconnect:
  • Safely eject the 'KOBOeReader' drive from your computer.
  • Unplug the USB-C cable from your eReader. You should see an "Importing Content" message on your eReader.
  1. Access the magazine:
  • Go to the home screen of your Kobo Elipsa.
  • Tap "My Books" at the bottom of the screen.
  • Tap on Puzzle Weekly magazine to start reading.

From a phone, tablet, or computer via Google Drive or Dropbox:

  1. Upload Puzzle Weekly to Google Drive or Dropbox:
  • On your computer or mobile device, open Google Drive or Dropbox.
    • Upload the Puzzle Weekly PDF.
  1. Access Google Drive or Dropbox on Kobo Elipsa:
  • On your Kobo Elipsa, open the web browser.
  1. Download the magazine:
  • Locate the PDF file you uploaded earlier.
  • Tap on the file and select the option to download. The magazine will be saved to your Kobo Elipsa's storage.
  1. Access the magazine on Kobo Elipsa:
  • Return to the home screen of your Kobo Elipsa.
  • Tap "My Books" at the bottom of the screen.
  • You should see the magazine you downloaded. Tap on it to start reading.

Further help for Kobo Elipsa can be found here.

reMarkable

To get your copy of Puzzle Weekly onto your reMarkable tablet, you can use the reMarkable app, or Google Drive or Dropbox.

From a phone, tablet, or computer via the web:

  1. Connect to the reMarkable website:
  • Go to the website my.remarkable.com
  • Follow the instructions to upload the Puzzle Weekly PDF file.
  1. Access the magazine on your reMarkable tablet.
  • On your reMarkable tablet, navigate to the "My Files" section.
  • You should see the PDF you transferred. Tap on it to open.

From a phone, tablet, or computer using the reMarkable App:

  1. Install the reMarkable App:
  • Download and install the reMarkable app on your computer or mobile device. This app acts as a bridge between your device and the reMarkable tablet.
  1. Connect Your reMarkable:
  • Ensure your reMarkable tablet is connected to Wi-Fi.
  • Open the reMarkable app on your computer or mobile device and sign in with your reMarkable account.
  1. Transfer the magazine:
  • Drag and drop the Puzzle Weekly PDF file into the reMarkable app window.
  • The file will automatically sync to your reMarkable tablet if it's connected to Wi-Fi.
  1. Access the magazine on reMarkable:
  • On your reMarkable tablet, navigate to the "My Files" section.
  • You should see the PDF you transferred. Tap on it to open.

Further help for reMarkable can be found here.

Puzzle Weekly is a multi-format magazine, incorporating a section that is specifically designed to be printed. This section fits the all the week’s puzzles (including kids puzzles) into just 7 pages optimised to minimise ink-use.

Every issue includes the page range to print in a call-out box on the Tips & Tutorials page.

The instructions on this page will guide you through how to print just the printable pages from whatever computer or device you are using.

Jump to:

Windows

When you open Puzzle Weekly it will most likely open in the default PDF reader for Windows called Microsoft Edge. We’ve also included instructions for printing from the popular Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Using Microsoft Edge:

  • Access the Print Menu:
    • With the Puzzle Weekly PDF open, click on the three horizontal dots (ellipsis) located in the top-right corner of the window.
    • From the drop-down menu, select 'Print' or just press Ctrl + P on your keyboard.
  • Specify Page Range:
    • In the print preview pane that appears, you'll see an option labeled 'Pages'. By default, it will be set to 'All'.
    • Click on the drop-down menu next to 'Pages' and select 'Custom'.
    • Enter the desired page range in the field provided. For example, to print pages 32 to 38, you'd enter 32-38.
  • Print:
    • Once you've specified your desired page range, click on the 'Print' button.

Using Adobe Acrobat Reader:

  • Access the Print Menu:
    • With the Puzzle Weekly PDF open, click on the 'File' option in the upper-left corner of the screen.
    • From the drop-down menu, select 'Print' or press Ctrl + P on your keyboard.
  • Specify Page Range:
    • In the print dialog box, you'll see an option labeled 'Pages'.
    • Select the 'Pages' radio button and then enter the desired page range in the field provided. For example, to print pages 32 to 38, you'd enter 32-38.
  • Print:
    • Confirm the printer, settings, and other preferences.
    • Click on the 'Print' button.

Tips:

  • You can preview your page range before printing to ensure you're printing the right section.
  • Make sure you have the correct printer selected, especially if you’re in an environment or workplace with multiple printers connected or virtual printers installed.
  • To save paper, consider printing double-sided if your printer supports these options.

macOS (Apple Mac)

Most of the time Puzzle Weekly will open in the default application called Preview. Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is also available for macOS, so we’ve included instructions here for both.

Using Preview:

  • Access the Print Menu:
    • With the Puzzle Weekly PDF is open in Preview, go to the top-left corner of the screen and click on 'File'.
    • From the drop-down menu, select 'Print' or simply press Command (⌘) + P on your keyboard.
  • Specify Page Range:
    • In the print dialog box, look for the section labeled 'Pages'. By default, it might be set to 'All'.
    • Select the 'From' option, and then input your desired starting and ending page numbers in the fields provided. For example, to print pages 32 to 38, you'd enter 32 in the first field and 38 in the second.
  • Print:
    • After specifying your page range and confirming other print settings, click the 'Print' button.

Using Adobe Acrobat Reader:

  • Access the Print Menu:
    • With the Puzzle Weekly PDF is open in Acrobat Reader, click on the 'File' option in the upper-left corner of the screen.
    • From the drop-down menu, select 'Print' or simply press Command (⌘) + P on your keyboard.
  • Specify Page Range:
    • In the print dialog box, you'll see an option labeled 'Pages to Print'.
    • Select the 'Pages' radio button and then enter the desired page range in the field provided. For example, to print pages 32 to 38, you'd enter 32-38.
  • Print:
    • Confirm the printer, settings, and other preferences.
    • Click on the 'Print' button.

Tips:

  • You can preview your page range before printing to ensure you're printing the right section.
  • Make sure you have the correct printer selected, especially if you’re in an environment or workplace with multiple printers connected or virtual printers installed.
  • To save paper, consider printing double-sided if your printer supports these options.

Android (Mobile Phones)

Printing from a PDF on Android requires using a capable PDF viewer app. For these instructions we’ll use Adobe Acrobat Reader for Android, as it's one of the most widely-used PDF readers available. The steps might vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the app you're using.

Using Adobe Acrobat Reader for Android:

  • Install Adobe Acrobat Reader:
    • If you haven't already, download and install "Adobe Acrobat Reader" from the Google Play Store.
  • Open the Puzzle Weekly PDF File:
    • Launch the Adobe Acrobat Reader app.
    • Navigate to the location of your PDF file within the app and tap on it to open.
  • Access the Print Menu:
    • Once the PDF is open, tap on the three vertical dots (often referred to as the "overflow menu") in the upper-right corner of the screen.
    • From the drop-down menu, select 'Print'.
  • Specify Page Range:
    • Once you're in the print preview screen, you'll see an option for selecting pages (usually represented as 'All pages' by default or a similar phrase).
    • Tap on it and you'll be given an option to specify a range. Enter the desired page numbers. For example, to print pages 32 to 38, you'd enter 32-38.
  • Print:
    • Confirm your printer. This step might vary based on your setup. If you have a wireless printer set up, ensure it's selected. You might also see options for saving as a PDF or printing via cloud services.
    • After confirming your print settings, tap on the 'Print' button.

Tips:

  • Before starting, make sure your Android device is connected to the same network as your wireless printer, if you're using one.
  • Some apps may not offer the ability to select a specific page range. In such cases, consider switching to a different PDF reader app that has this functionality.
  • Keep in mind that not all printers might be compatible with direct printing from Android devices. Ensure your printer supports mobile printing.
  • To save paper, consider printing double-sided if your printer supports these options.

iOS / iPadOS (iPhone and iPad)

Using the built-in PDF viewer or Books app:

  • Open the PDF File:
    • Tap the file Puzzle Weekly file attachment in your email and it will open in the built-in viewer.
  • Access the Print Menu:
    • Tap the screen to reveal the app's interface. Then, tap the share icon (a box with an arrow pointing upward) usually located at the top-right.
    • From the share sheet, select 'Print' or the printer icon.
  • Specify Page Range:
    • You'll see an option labeled 'Range'. Tap on it.
    • Tap the option labeled “Pages x-xx”
    • Choose the range of pages you wish to print. For example, to print pages 32 to 38, you'd select 32 on the first number picker and 38 on the second.
    • Tap the ‘< Options’ label to return to the print dialog.
  • Print:
    • Confirm your printer and the number of copies.
    • Tap 'Print' in the upper-right corner.

Tips:

  • Before starting, ensure your iOS device and your printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you're using an AirPrint-enabled printer, it should appear automatically in the printer selection.
  • Keep in mind that not all printers might be compatible with AirPrint printing from iOS / iPadOS. Ensure your printer supports AirPrint.
  • To save paper, consider printing double-sided if your printer supports these options.

Number Cross uses a grid of numbers that at first glance might look a bit like a completed Sudoku puzzle. But contrary to Sudoku, Number Cross is a mathematical puzzle.

The goal is to cross out numbers inside the grid so that the remaining numbers in each row and column add up to the numbers outside it. Here's a a small example Number Cross puzzle:

An example of a Number Cross puzzle.

Here’s what that puzzle looks like once it’s been solved:

The solution to the example Number Cross puzzle.

Tips for Solving Number Cross

Start with unique numbers. If a row or column total can only be made by a unique combination of numbers present in the grid, start there.

Look for the smallest and largest totals. Small totals mean more potential numbers that can be immediately crossed out. For example, if the total for a row is ‘2’, then anything larger than ‘2’ can be crossed out in that row. Similarly, very large totals usually require keeping the larger numbers in the grid, thus narrowing down your choices.

Track remaining options. In harder puzzles, for rows or columns where you're unsure of which numbers to cross out, it can help to make a list of possible combinations that add up to the required total. As other parts of the grid get filled in, some of these options will become invalid, leaving you with the answer.

As with all logic puzzles, practicing improves performance. The more puzzles you do, the better you well become at spotting common patterns and at recognising possible combinations.

Where to Play

Want to try your hand at Number Cross? We sometimes include them in our free Puzzle Weekly magazine – you should totally sign up for that if you haven’t already, as it puts 28 brand new puzzles in your inbox every week.

You can also find four levels of Number Cross in our Jumbo Adult Puzzle Book – which happens to include more than 500 puzzles of 20 different varieties.

Shirokuro is played on a square grid that contains black and white circles. Here’s what a small Shirokuro puzzle looks like:

An example of a Shirokuro puzzle

The goal of Shirokuro is to connect all the black and white circles into pairs by drawing a line between them either horizontally or vertically, according to some rules:

  • Each circle must be connected to one other circle of the opposite colour.
  • Circles must be connected by horizontal or vertical lines, but never diagonal ones.
  • Connecting lines must not cross over each other or pass through other circles.

This is what the example puzzle looks like once it’s been solved:

The solution to the example Shirokuro puzzle.

Tips for Solving Shirokuro

Start with the corners. If a circle is near the corner, or even an edge, it may have limited directions it can connect in.

Limit options. If connecting a circle in one particular direction would make it impossible to connect another circle, then reconsider that choice.

Work incrementally. Don't try to map out long connections immediately. Work step by step, ensuring that each connection you make doesn't block future connections.

Avoid loops and crossings. Lines cannot cross over each other. If you see a setup that's leading to this scenario, you'll need to adjust.

As always, the more Shirokuro puzzles you solve, the better you'll get at spotting patterns and strategies.

Where to Play

Want to try out some Shirokuro? We have options. We sometimes include them in our free Puzzle Weekly magazine – you should totally sign up for that if you haven’t already, as it puts 28 brand new puzzles in your inbox every week.

You can also find four levels of Shirokuro puzzles in our Jumbo Adult Puzzle Book – which happens to include more than 500 puzzles of 20 different varieties.

Calcudoku is a mathematical and logic puzzle similar to Sudoku. It’s played on various grid sizes, usually from 4x4 to 9x9, though it can go even larger.

The size of the grid dictates the numbers you’ll use to fill out the puzzle. For instance, in a 4x4 Calcudoku, you'll use the numbers 1 to 4, and in a 6x6, you'll use the numbers 1 to 6.

Here’s an example of a small Calcudoku puzzle:

An example calcudoku puzzle grid.

The objective of Calcudoku is to fill the grid with numbers so that:

  • Each row and each column contains only unique numbers, without repetition (the same as Sudoku). For example, in a 4x4 Calcudoku, each row and each column should contain the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 with no repetitions.
  • Each outlined block must satisfy the mathematical operation given by its clue. For example, if a block of two cells has the clue ‘3+’, then the numbers in those cells must add up to 3. If a block of three cells has the clue ‘6x’, the numbers in those cells, when multiplied together, should give a product of 6.

Here’s what the earlier example puzzle looks like when completed:

The solution to the example Calcudoku puzzle.

Because Calcudoku shares similar rules to Sudoku, we highly recommend becoming familiar with solving Sudoku before moving on to this puzzle. As you begin to solve cells in a Calcudoku grid, you can use many regular Sudoku techniques to help you solve the rest of the puzzle. Indeed, in anything beyond the most basic puzzles, you’ll need to use Sudoku techniques. You can find our complete three-part Sudoku tutorial here.

Further Rules of Calcudoku

The Calcudoku grid is divided into several outlined blocks, and each block contains a mathematical clue in the top-left corner. This clue might be a number on it’s own (ie the contents of the cell) or it could be a number followed by an operation sign (e.g., ‘12x’ or ‘3-’), in which case the calculation must be performed on the numbers that are entered in the block.

The puzzles we publish use a variety of mathematical operators. Our kids puzzles usually only include additions, but as the difficulty level increases, so do the possible operators. 

  • Addition (+): The numbers in the cells of the block must sum up to the given number.
  • Subtraction (-): For blocks with only two cells, one number subtracted from the other must equal the given number. Note that order matters, so if the clue is ‘3-’, and you have a 5 and a 2, then 5 - 2 = 3 is correct, but 2 - 5 is not.
  • Multiplication (x): The numbers in the cells of the block must multiply to give the given number.
  • Division (÷): Like subtraction, this usually appears in blocks with two cells. One number divided by the other should equal the given number. Again, order matters.

A well-designed Calcudoku puzzle (such as those we publish) has only one unique solution, and it can be reached through logical deduction. There is never any need to guess.

Tips for Solving Calcudoku

Start with the obvious. If you see a block in a 5x5 puzzle with the clue ‘5x’ and it contains only two cells, then those cells must be filled with 5 and 1 (in some order), because that's the only way two distinct numbers between 1 to 5 can multiply to give 5.

Use a process of elimination. If you've determined certain numbers for some cells, use that information to deduce the numbers for neighbouring cells, especially within the same row or column.

Consider block position. For instance, in a 6x6 Calcudoku, a block with the clue ‘1-’ must contain a 2 and a 1 (because 2 - 1 = 1). If that block spans two rows or columns, and one of them already has a 2, then the 2 in the block must go in the other row or column.

Use Sudoku strategies. Because the two puzzles share common rules, you can use all valid Sudoku strategies to help solve Calcudoku. The more cells you fill in, the more these strategies will be helpful.

Practice. As with all logic puzzles, the more you practice, the more patterns and strategies you'll recognise, making it easier to solve more challenging puzzles.

Where to Play

Want to try out some Calcudoku? We have you covered. We sometimes include them in our free Puzzle Weekly magazine – you should totally sign up for that if you haven’t already, as it puts 28 brand new puzzles in your inbox every week.

You can also find four levels of Calcudoku puzzles in our Jumbo Adult Puzzle Book – which happens to include more than 500 puzzles of 20 different varieties.

Hashiwokakero, often abbreviated to Hashi, and also sometimes called Bridges, is a logic puzzle originating from Japan.

The puzzle is played on a square grid. The size of the grid determines the level of difficulty. Here is an example of a small Hashi grid:

An example of a hashiwokakero puzzle

As you can see, the puzzle comprises a number of circles with numbers inside. These are called islands. The objective is to connect all the islands by drawing a series of bridges between them. Here’s what that puzzle looks like once it’s been solved:

The solution for the example hashiwokakero puzzle.

Small Hashiwokakero puzzles like this are easy to solve. But as the grids get bigger, the puzzles can get a lot tougher!

Rules of Hashiwokakero

  • The number inside an island indicates the maximum number of bridges that can connect to that island.
  • Bridges can only be drawn horizontally or vertically, never diagonally.
  • Two islands can be connected by one or two bridges. There can never be more than two bridges between any two islands.
  • Bridges cannot cross over other bridges or islands.
  • Bridges must run in a straight, uninterrupted line between the islands, with no turns.
  • At the end of the puzzle, all islands must be interconnected, meaning you can travel from any island to any other island via the bridges, without having to jump across any gaps. In other words, no island or group of island can be left separate.

Tips for Solving Hashiwokakero

To solve a Hashiwokakero puzzle, you'll use a combination of logic and the numerical clues given. It's about gradually deducing where bridges can and cannot be, based on the constraints provided by the puzzle.

As with many logic puzzles, practice helps you recognise patterns and strategies more quickly.

Here are some tips to help you get going.

Start with islands with only one possible connection. Look for islands that have only one way to satisfy their number requirement. For example, if there's an island with a '1' and only one neighbouring island, you know where that bridge must go. Islands in the corners of the puzzle can often provide a good starting place as they are restricted to bridges in only two possible directions.

Consider islands with maximum bridges. If an island has a '4' and it's on an edge, then you know two bridges must go out from both available sides. If an island has an '8', it means it's surrounded on all four sides by two bridges each.

Avoid over-connecting. Keep track of the number of bridges each island has. If an island needs only one more bridge, you can't connect it to an island in a direction that would necessitate two bridges.

Use other islands to deduce bridge locations. Sometimes, the positioning of other islands can prevent possible bridge connections. If two islands could be connected by two bridges but there's another island in the way, you know they can only be connected by one bridge.

Ensure island interconnectivity. Avoid creating isolated clusters of islands. Every island must be connected in a network. If you see a potential cluster forming, think about how it will connect to the other islands.

Make safe assumptions and test them out. In more complex Hashi puzzles, you might reach a point where it's not immediately clear what the next step is. In these cases, it can be helpful to make an assumption and see how it affects the rest of the grid. If you reach a contradiction or an impossible situation, you'll know your assumption was wrong. If you try this, ensure you remember your steps so you can backtrack easily.

Use a process of elimination. If you're unsure about where bridges should go, consider where they can't go. Often, by eliminating impossible bridge placements, the correct placements become clear.

Continuously check for completion. As you're drawing bridges, keep checking islands to make sure their bridge requirements are being met. If you've met the bridge requirement for an island, move on to focus on the others.

Review your solution. Once you believe you've solved the puzzle, take a moment to review it. Make sure all the islands meet their number requirement. Check there are no bridges crossing each other. Verify all the islands are interconnected and there are no orphans.

Like all logic puzzles, the more you practice Hashiwokakero, the better you'll become at solving them. Over time, you'll develop an intuition for bridge placements and will recognise patterns more quickly.

Remember that patience is key. Some puzzles can be tricky, and it might take time before you see the solution. But with each puzzle you solve, the process becomes a bit more intuitive.

Where To Play

Want to try your hand at Hashi? We have options! We sometimes include them in our free Puzzle Weekly magazine – you should totally sign up for that if you haven’t already, as it puts 28 brand new puzzles in your inbox every week.

You can also find four levels of Hashi puzzles in our Jumbo Adult Puzzle Book – which happens to include more than 500 puzzles of 20 different varieties.

From lush green hedgerow labyrinths to intricate, multi-levelled maze books, the enthralling challenge of finding one's way from start to finish has captivated minds for centuries. Mazes, in all their twists and turns, serve as both a playful pastime and a reflection of life's journey. Just as we navigate the winding paths of personal and professional challenges, children manoeuvring through mazes confront dead ends, reroute their strategies, and ultimately find their way out.

This seemingly innocuous activity does more than just entertain; it introduces young minds to the invaluable skill of perseverance, essential for facing the broader challenges of life.

In a world increasingly filled with instant gratifications from the likes of TikTok and YouTube, teaching kids the virtue of persistence through mazes can be a useful parenting tool.

A Linchpin of Success

Perseverance is the linchpin of success and personal growth in our ever-evolving world. In life, we are constantly met with unforeseen obstacles, from minor hiccups in plans like a cancelled school lesson or a missed bus, to significant life-altering challenges like loss of a job, illness, or even the death of a loved one. It's not the absence of these obstacles, but the will to persist through them, that often defines our accomplishments and character.

For children, the development of perseverance is even more crucial. As they stand at the threshold of understanding the world, they face a myriad of tasks and challenges, be it learning a new skill, facing academic challenges, or navigating social relationships.

By cultivating perseverance early on, we can equip them not only to overcome these challenges, but to view them as opportunities for growth.

As they mature, this resilience, born from perseverance, becomes the bedrock of their adaptability, self-confidence, and an unwavering belief in their capabilities.

A Metaphor for Life

Navigating through a maze serves as a fitting metaphor for the complexities and challenges we encounter in life. Just as we meticulously chart our course in a maze, often anticipating a clear path ahead, so life presents us with unforeseen turns and unexpected dead ends. These moments, though initially disheartening, challenge our resilience and compel us to reevaluate, adapt, and forge onward.

Similarly, in life, when confronted with obstacles, we are prompted to reassess our strategies, cultivate patience, and maintain our determination to reach our goals. The beauty of both life and mazes lies not in an unobstructed path but in the invaluable lessons and growth derived from navigating their intricate passages.

Perseverance is not merely the act of pushing forward, but it's the resilience we display when faced with setbacks. And setbacks, in their many forms, are an inevitable part of any journey, whether we're pursuing a personal goal, a professional milestone, or navigating the complexities of life.

These moments of delay, deviation, or difficulty often serve as pivotal points, prompting introspection, recalibration, and renewed determination. While it's natural to feel disheartened when confronted with a setback, true perseverance shines when we view these challenges not as definitive endings but as opportunities to learn, adapt, and grow stronger.

Embracing this perspective turns setbacks from formidable obstacles into invaluable stepping stones, leading us closer to our aspirations with each hurdle we overcome.

The Psychological Benefits of Perseverance

The concept of a growth mindset, introduced by psychologist Carol Dweck, revolves around the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. It's a perspective that values learning over talent.

When children tackle challenges, such as solving mazes, they aren't just navigating pathways, they're constantly engaging with trial and error, learning from mistakes, and celebrating small victories.

Every twist, turn, and dead end in a maze becomes a microcosm of real-world challenges, teaching kids that failure isn't a reflection of any inability but rather a temporary hurdle. By repeatedly confronting and overcoming these challenges, children can internalise the idea that with effort and resilience, they can improve and succeed.

Mazes then, can be practical training grounds where the foundational tenets of a growth mindset are instilled and nurtured in young minds. This has far reaching benefits, not least when it comes to nurturing self-esteem.

Self-Esteem

Perseverance and self-esteem are intricately woven together in the tapestry of a child's emotional and cognitive development. At its core, perseverance is the sustained effort against obstacles, and every time a child successfully navigates these challenges, a powerful message is learned: "I can do it."

This simple affirmation, when repeated and reinforced, bolsters a child's self-esteem. Every hurdle overcome not only builds their problem-solving toolkit but also amplifies their belief in their own capabilities. This self-assurance doesn't just relate to the task at hand, but permeates all aspects of their life, shaping their overall confidence.

For children, the journey of persevering, whether in mastering a new skill or navigating interpersonal relationships, becomes a consistent source of evidence that they are capable, worthy, and competent, fortifying their self-worth at each triumphant step.

Every Maze a Lesson

Mazes, with their intricate pathways and deceptive turns, are more than just puzzles; they're lessons in patience and strategy. At first glance, a maze might appear as a tangled web of choices, tempting a hasty dash towards the finish. However, as the impatient soon discover, impulsiveness often leads to dead ends. What mazes truly demand is a patient, deliberate approach.

With practice, children quickly learn that to successfully navigate a maze, they must observe, plan, and proceed with caution. It's not just about moving forward, but about choosing the right direction. Sometimes that means backtracking. Often it requires taking a pause to reassess the path ahead. This methodical progression can teach kids the value of patience and the importance of a well-thought-out approach – lessons that are invaluable in a fast-moving world that often champions speed over careful consideration.

The Rush of Success

There's a unique, exhilarating rush that washes over someone when they finally escape a complex maze. For children, this sense of achievement is magnified tenfold. After manoeuvring through a series of twists, turns, and cul-de-sacs, reaching the end of a maze feels like conquering a miniature mountain. And it's more than just a momentary thrill – it's a potent blend of relief, pride, and newfound confidence.

This triumph can reaffirm a kid’s ability to tackle and overcome challenges, providing a tangible testament to their capabilities.

More to the point, the journey through the maze, peppered with missteps and recalibrations, makes the eventual success even sweeter.

For a child, the elation of solving a challenging maze serves as a poignant reminder that perseverance, strategy, and grit often lead to the most rewarding victories.

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail

At first glance, a complex maze can appear daunting, much like a sizeable task we might find in a school or work project. It's a sprawling network of paths, choices, and potential pitfalls. However, one of the subtle yet profound lessons mazes impart to kids is the art of decomposition — breaking down the behemoth into bite-sized challenges, or “eating the elephant one spoonful at a time”.

Instead of viewing the maze as one giant, unsolvable puzzle, children learn to tackle one section at a time. They assess and make decisions based on immediate turns and junctions. This strategy of parsing larger tasks into smaller, actionable steps, makes the maze-solving project less intimidating and more achievable.

As kids traverse the maze, they intuitively develop a sequential approach: first, identify the closest obstacle, then strategise, and move forward. This methodical progression not only makes the maze more navigable but also instills a vital skill in young minds. By learning to decompose larger challenges, whether they be mazes, school projects, or personal goals, children are better equipped to manage and ultimately conquer them with confidence and efficiency.

A Gift for Life

In the grand tapestry of life, teaching children the art of perseverance stands out as one of the most enduring gifts we can bestow upon them. It's a lesson that, once learned, echoes through countless challenges, victories, and moments of personal growth.

While there are plenty of ways to instil this virtue, the simplicity and intrigue of mazes offer a tangible, engaging, and above all fun means to do so.

Through each twist and turn, mazes subtly reinforce the power of perseverance, preparing our young ones for the broader, more intricate mazes of life, armed with resilience, focus, and an indomitable spirit.

As children trace their fingers or gaze through the winding paths of a maze, they're not just seeking an exit; they're internalising the essence of persistence, learning to navigate setbacks, breaking down seemingly impossible tasks into manageable chunks, and celebrating the joy of accomplishment.

Recommended Books

For younger kids, or those starting out with mazes, we highly recommend Amelia Baker’s The Amazing Book of Mazes For Kids. It contains no fewer than eight different kinds of maze, and is filled with fun characters and illustrations.

For older kids, and adults, our own Mazes for Smart People contains a hundred gigantic mazes, over five levels of difficulty.

Finally, for tips and tricks on solving mazes, be sure to check out our guide here.

Mazes For Smart People book cover

What’s your favourite kind of puzzle? Are you a sudoku aficionado? Perhaps it’s mazes that float your boat? Or maybe a bit of word search gets you going? Can’t decide? Then have we got the book for you!

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One of the things Puzzle Genius is known for is the generous size of our puzzle books. Even our popular Pocket range pushes the boundaries of the page to bring you the biggest grids possible in the compact space. Our Jumbo range of books are Jumbo in every sense – big puzzles and lots of them.

But sometimes you need to go even bigger. Which is why we are excited to announce our new Large Print puzzle book range.

Our Biggest Puzzles Ever

We’re kicking off with two extremely popular puzzles: Large Print Sudoku and Word Search Book Covers

Both books are 8”x10” format, and they both push the size of the puzzles to new limits. They are ideal for anyone who needs bigger text – whether that be due to less than perfect vision, tired eyes, or quite simply a preference for easier-to-read letters and numbers.

Puzzle Genius Quality

Just because we made the puzzles bigger, doesn’t mean we cut any corners. You’ll find both books have bee meticulously crafted to our usual high standards, beginning with the puzzles themselves.

Large Print Sudoku Puzzles offers no fewer than 180 brand new grids, over three levels of difficulty (60 each of Easy, Medium, and Hard). Plus we’ve put a couple of bonus puzzles at the end, to extend your enjoyment and mix things up a little. Of course, full solutions are included for every puzzle.

Large Print Sudoku Interior

Word Search for Adults: Large Print is filled with 125 classic word search puzzles, comprising a total of 3000 words to find! Each puzzle is themed, by topic or letter groupings, offering a wide variety of challenges. And because we love word puzzles as much as you do, we’ve added some bonus Word Finder puzzles at the end of the book. Naturally, you’ll find a complete set of solutions in the back, too.

Large Print Word Search Interior

Out Now

Both books are available now:

Puzzle Genius is an imprint of Shelfless.
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