Puzzles are a great way to cultivate creativity and problem solving for your growing little ones. After lots of searching, I’ve made a list of the very best puzzles for 3 year olds!
Puzzles for 3 Year Olds
I am a big-time puzzle lover. They are so enjoyable for all ages and there’s such a fun variety of puzzles out there!
They are also so great for your kids’ development! If you have a 3 year old, they are at a great puzzle age. Doing puzzles will help them practice their motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem solving, creativity, and even emotional regulation and pride in their accomplishments!
Isn’t that what every parent wants for their almost pre-schooler?!
Tony first started playing with Puzzles when he was about 18-months-old and he still plays with them! Kids LOVE to be challenged, and he is no exception!
Choosing the right puzzles for 3 year olds
The key to finding the right puzzle for your child is finding something that is just a step or two above their current level! It should push them to learn new skills but if it’s too tricky that they won’t find any success, they may lose interest.
Your little one has grown so much lately that the best 2 year old puzzles might be too easy for them now! ! Just a year ago they may have been focused on puzzles with just a few pieces that had easily grabbable pegs, but now they are capable of so much more!
If you feel like your child is ready, they can ditch the pegs and move onto regular jigsaw style puzzles. You can also start looking for bigger puzzles, closer to 15 or 20 pieces.
If you are still feeling lost about what puzzles are best for this age, don’t worry! I’ve looked at so many options and have come up with this list of the best puzzles for 3 year olds.
The Best Puzzles for 3 Year Olds
Melissa and Doug Jigsaw Puzzles in a Box
Melissa and Doug do it again with the Melissa and Doug Jigsaw Puzzles in a Box! These puzzles are so great.
My main complaint about puzzles, in general, is that the boxes seem to collapse and disintegrate no matter what I do! Please tell me I’m not alone in this struggle. I love that these puzzles come in a sturdy wooden box that can hold everything while still looking great.
This set of puzzles comes with 4 puzzles that are 12 pieces each and come in several different sets of designs for you to choose from.
B. Alpha Chunky 27pc Puzzle
The B. Alpha Chunky 27pc Puzzle is a great option if your little one is still working on their puzzle skills! Yes, it’s 27 pieces but they are big and easy to hold and have pretty clear spots to fit into.
It feels more grown-up without the traditional puzzle-pegs but is still simple and easy to handle.
Plus, it’s shaped like the letters in the alphabet! Puzzles for 3 year olds don’t always have to be educational but at this age, it’s a great chance to start introducing learning skills like letters.
Coogam Wooden Puzzles
If you want a unique puzzle for your 3 year old, you should try the Coogam Wooden Puzzles! Instead of classic jigsaw pieces, it has pegs set on a board and pieces with holes to add on to make different shapes.
This puzzle lets your little one take shapes and turn let into letters and numbers and whatever else that they can dream up! I love the creativity that goes into this puzzle set!
BloomOwl Name Puzzle
A great basic skill that you can teach your young kids is how to spell their names! The BloomOwl Name Puzzle helps them do that with a personalized name puzzle!
This puzzle is so cute! I love the big chunky pieces and bright colors. Of course, this puzzle is pretty simple, but doing it over and over will help your child learn the letters of their name faster and get a head start on this skill.
Plus, your child is going to feel extra special to have a toy that’s made special just for them!
Graceon Wooden Puzzles
The Graceon Wooden Puzzles are the perfect classic big-kid puzzles! Each of these 4 puzzles in this set is 20 pieces with the cutest animal pictures.
The best thing about this puzzle… the pieces are not cardboard! Cardboard puzzles and kids are just not a mix and I hate having to throw away a puzzle with broken pieces.
These strong wood puzzles are sure to last as your child grows!
Trend Enterprises Rhyming Puzzles
Your child’s life is full of learning and the best puzzles for 3 year olds help your child learn new skills! The Trend Enterprises Rhyming Puzzles are such a fun way to learn how to rhyme words.
This set of puzzles has 24 puzzles with only 2 pieces. They are super easy to navigate for little hands, but they each have words on them that will rhyme with another piece!
Rhyming can be a tricky skill to learn and these cute picture puzzles will help your child understand so much easier.
Wooden Tetris Puzzle
A friend of ours had a version of the Wooden Tetris Puzzle and I had to go search for one for my own kids! It’s such a fun idea.
These solid wood puzzle pieces fit together just like a Tetris puzzle. I love that your young child can play with these geometric pieces to fit them together in unique ways and use their creativity.
As your kids get older they can try and solve this puzzle and see how everything can fit together perfectly! It’s a bit of a brainteaser!
Monilon Wooden Blocks Winding Puzzles
These Monilon Wooden Blocks Winding Puzzles are so fun and unique! They may be a bit of a challenge on the first try, so you’ll want to help, but once they get the hang of it they will love it!
The Monilon puzzles are big block pieces that fit together by winding into a cute animal shape! To help you out, each piece is numbered, which is going to help develop counting skills in your little one!
And of course, wood is always the best option for this age group so these wooden block puzzle pieces are perfect!
Banana Panda My Body Suuuper Size Puzzles
Do you have a child that loves to learn? The Banana Panda My Body Suuuper Size Puzzles are so educational and such a treat. They have lots of styles, but this puzzle is about bodies and the different systems in them.
This set comes with 6 different puzzles and each of them is totally unique.
When they say “suuuper size” they really mean it! These puzzles are pretty large and your child will be so excited to put them together.
Skoolzy Counting Toddler Games
Skoolzy Counting Toddler Games aren’t your standard flat puzzle pieces. They’re shaped like little apples and they are all different colors. So cute!
Each apple has a number and a different number of seeds inside of it that are exposed when you split the apple in half! The two halves fit perfectly together.
This puzzle is fun and encourages your growing 3 year old to start working on their counting skills!
So what are your favorite puzzles for 3 year olds? Share in the comments!
Check these other related posts!
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Puzzles for 2-Year-Olds
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10 Preschool Problem Solving Activities
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5 Ways to Give Your Child an Academic Advantage
We hope that you enjoy the best puzzles for 3 year olds! Be sure to share your experience in your stories on Instagram and tag us @confessions_of_parenting! We love seeing what you are up too!
Don’t forget to save this list of the Best Puzzles for 3 Year Olds on Pinterest so you can find it easily when your little one needs some new activities!
