Doing puzzles is good for children. But buying puzzles new can get quite expensive. Read on for low-cost ways to find puzzles for your toddlers or older children.
1. Retailers and subscription services
Different types of puzzles for toddlers are available to buy at retailers such as Walmart and Target, on Amazon, on Etsy, and in toy shops, to name just a few. However, many are quite expensive, especially when you add them up. Puzzles are also included in toy subscriptions such as Lovevery, but those are also not cheap.
Sometimes, retailers offer sales where you can get puzzles at a substantial discount.
2. Include a puzzle or two on your gift wishlist
For puzzles that can be used in different ways, especially an alphabet puzzle, putting a sturdy wooden version on the gift wish list early (so sales can be taken advantage of) is a good option.
3. Buy puzzles used
Thrift stores might have some puzzles for a much cheaper price than buying them new. Used puzzles can also be found online, e.g. on Facebook Marketplace.
A disadvantage of this and similar options is that you have usually no information about the materials and colors used unless the company is labeled on the puzzle or listing.
4. Get puzzles for free from groups
If you’re on Facebook, there are usually one or more groups for people to gift items they don’t need or want anymore, and for people to ask for items they’re looking for. Some are general groups (such as buy nothing), and others are focused specifically on kids‘ items.
If you’re Jewish, you can check whether your area has a Gemach that includes kids‘ items.
5. Get puzzles from the library
Your library might not only have books but also puzzles and other toys. I just recently learned that about the Lancaster County public library system, for instance.
6. Swap puzzles with friends
If you have a friend who has a child a little bit older or in the same age range, see whether they’re open to letting you borrow one of their puzzles – and reciprocate when you can.
7. Make different types of puzzles yourself
- ‘Fitting a piece through a hole’ puzzles: Puzzles such as a ball drop box or a coin drop box can easily be made at home using cardboard boxes. For instance, Sara from ‘Inspiration to Play’ has a step-by-step description of how to make a coin drop box.7 You can also use an old box and cut in a hole that fits some of your toddler’s wooden blocks.
- ‘Fitting a piece in a hole on a board’ puzzles and ‘Pieces completing a form on a board’ puzzles: Simple versions can be done using cardboard. You can find how-to-descriptions for instance by MissDeli8 or OuttoBebyk9.
- ‘Fitting pieces on one or more spikes’ puzzles: You can use a cut-up cardboard roll from paper towels, the cardboard pieces inside of packing tape or even rattle rings and a paper towel holder.
- Jigsaw puzzles: Tracey Le Roux says that cardboard puzzles are easy to DIY, for instance using pictures from magazines5.
- 3D puzzles: Hard to DIY without a wood shop.
- Picture completion cube puzzles: Craft stores, Amazon, and retailers like Target sell DIY wooden cubes that can be used to make cube picture puzzles. Turn the cubes one way up, and paint the picture with non-toxic paint. Let it dry before turning all cubes to a blank side and repeating the process. For how to do the cardboard strip puzzle, see MissDeli8.
8. Find places where your child can play with different types of puzzles
A library event such as baby/ toddler storytime might have open-ended playtime afterward which includes toys such as a shape sorter. Play areas set up for toddlers or older children in other facilities also might feature toys like puzzles.
References:
5 Le Roux, T. (2023). Teach Your Toddler To Do Puzzles. https://www.ot-mom-learning-activities.com/teach-your-toddler-to-do-puzzles.html (last checked Sep 4, 2023)
7 Sara (n.d.) Cardboard Coin Drop Activity for Toddlers. https://inspirationtoplay.com/cardboard-coin-drop-activity-for-toddlers/ (last checked Sep 4, 2023)
8 MissDeli (2021). DIY Cardboard Puzzle for toddlers. https://hive.blog/hive-199420/@missdeli/diy-cardboard-puzzle-for-toddlers (last checked Sep 4, 2023)
9 OuttoBebyk (n.d.) Easy DIY Cardboard Puzzle for Toddlers https://outtobebyk.com/diy-cardboard-puzzle-for-toddlers/ (last checked Sep 4, 2023)