Homemade Puzzles – 10 Way to Make Your Own
There are so many creative and unique ways to make homemade puzzles. Whether for classroom or school use, there are plenty of supplies you can find that you already have to make puzzles. It can be fun to brainstorm yourself and with the children to come up with ideas to create new ideas.
As a mother of six children and a pediatric Physical Therapist, making homemade puzzles is one of my favorite things to create for the kids to play. When children complete puzzles they are practicing fine motor, visual perceptual, and critical thinking skills.
10 Homemade Puzzles Using Objects from Around the House or Classroom
Here are some simple ways to make all different types of homemade puzzles using objects from around your house or classroom:
Watch a video of a similar puzzle in action.
Vertical Puzzles – Here is a simple way to make vertical puzzles. By hanging up the puzzles on the wall or in an upright position you encourage an increase in upper extremity active range of motion, wrist extension and can sneak in some gross motor skills (ie squatting and reaching up high). Read more here.
Ping-Pong Puzzles – Encourage development of the arches of the hand, web space and in hand manipulation. Practice academic and visual perceptual skills.
Complete the Name Puzzle – Here is a super simple but super effective name recognition activity. You could use the child’s name or any spelling or vocabulary word.
Puzzles on Paper – 2 free worksheets to print and complete.
Twisted Puzzle – using any picture or text that you would like, you can create a twisting puzzle.
Complete the Picture puzzle – print out any picture you like and create a fun visual perceptual puzzle.
Kitchen Puzzle – Here is a quick way to make a homemade puzzle for little ones. This is a great activity because you can vary it so easily based on your child’s ability but tracing a few shapes or more shapes.
Outdoor Complete the Puzzle– Here is a suggested activity for older children that combines physical activity with visual perceptual skills. 
Match the Shape Puzzle – this is a simple fine motor and visual perceptual homemade puzzle toy to create.
No Time to Make Homemade Puzzles?
Like most educators and parents, time is super limited. If you are tired of the same old puzzles, check out some of these creative challenges that are ready to go. No DIY required!
Simple Cut and Glue Sudoku for children includes 40 full-color puzzles to practice fine motor and visual perceptual activities. This digital download encourages children to have fun while they build key developmental skills. The puzzles advance in difficulty from easy (4 by 4 boxes) to hard (6 by 6 boxes). You can print in color or grayscale.
Are you looking for a visual-spatial, visual motor, math, and fine motor challenge? The Tangram Printable Puzzles includes 60 different puzzles to print and solve. Perfect for math, early finishers, fine motor stations, and indoor recess.
