math problem solving games for kindergarten

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On-demand videos for kindergarten skills to help students who may not know how to go about the questions. If a student needs a reminder course and their teacher is not available, there are video tutorials ready to Let our amazing team of math teachers go over lessons that pertain to the math skill the student is working on. 

• Students learn how to use the scratchpad to better figure out the problem.
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Making 10 and problem solving games.

This set of making 10  and  problem solving online activities focuses on the following foundational skills:

• Missing Addends
• Solving for 10
• Numbers to 100 on a Hundreds Chart
• Using Data in Categories
• Number Patterns

This set focuses on solving problems in multiple ways or getting more than one answer or solution.

Games linked from this page practice Common Core Standards: K.MD.3,   K.OA.3 ,  K.OA.4 ,  K.CC.5 ,  K.CC.6

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Kindergarten Games, Videos and Worksheets

50 Math Problems for Kindergarteners

Practice your math skills with these 50 math problems for kindergarteners , covering counting, addition, subtraction, place value, measurement, and geometry! Answers included.

Author Michelle Griczika

Published November 6, 2023

Published Nov 6, 2023

Key takeaways

• In kindergarten, mastering counting and understanding the basics of addition and subtraction set the foundation for future mathematical concepts.
• Utilizing visual aids, like ten frames and shape recognition, can significantly aid in understanding numbers and geometric shapes.
• Consider using our math app to supplement your child’s kindergarten math skills.

Table of contents

• Key Takeaways
• Addition and Subtraction
• Place Value
• Measurement

Get ready to take on 50 kindergarten math problems ! These exercises are designed to help young learners develop essential math skills while exploring counting, basic addition and subtraction, shape recognition, place value, and measurement in a fun and interactive way. 

We’ve put together 50 engaging math problems for kindergarten to prepare your young learner! These exercises cover five essential skills that every kindergartner needs to master before stepping into first grade. They include:

• Counting : a foundational skill introduced in kindergarten.
• Addition and Subtraction : which start to build numerical skills in kindergarten.
• Place Value: designed to set a strong foundation for the basis of our number system.
• Basic Measurements : introduced to help kindergarten students understand size and comparisons.
• Shape Recognition : a key area designed to help kindergarteners identify basic shapes.

From geometry problems to counting practice, we have a mixture of kindergarten math word problems for your child to practice at home. Once you are done, check your work with our answer sheet.

 Let’s dive in!

Section 1: Counting

Counting helps us understand numbers and how many things we have, like siblings or how many steps we take.

Section 2: Addition & Subtraction

Adding numbers helps us combine different amounts to find the sum, giving us the result of putting them together. Subtraction allows us to see the difference between two numbers by subtracting one value from another, helping us understand the remaining amount.

Section 3: Place Value

Ten frames show us the value of each digit in a number, helping us understand how they add up to make a bigger number.

1. Look at the ten frames. What number do you see?

2. Look at the ten frames. What number do you see?

3. Look at the ten frames. What number do you see?

4. Look at the ten frames. What number do you see?

5. Look at the ten frames. What number do you see?

6. Look at the ten frames. What number do you see?

7. Look at the ten frames. What number do you see?

8. Look at the ten frames. What number do you see?

9. Look at the ten frames. What number do you see?

10. Look at the ten frames. What number do you see?

Section 4: Measurement

When we measure things, we use the words’ bigger’ and ‘smaller’ to compare them and see which is larger or smaller in size, amount, or value.

1. Which polar bear is bigger?

2. Which snake is bigger?

3. Which Cat is bigger?

4. Which octopus is bigger?

5. Which penguin is bigger?

6. Which frog is smaller?

7. Which turtle is smaller?

8. Which Eagle is smaller?

9. Which Parrot is smaller?

10. Which leopard is smaller?

Section 5: Geometry

We can identify and name different shapes by looking at their features, such as the number of sides and how they are arranged.

1. Name the shape.

2. Name the shape.

3. Name the shape.

4. Name the shape.

5. Name the shape.

6. Name the shape.

7. Name the shape.

8. Name the shape.

9. Name the shape.

10. Name the shape.

Lesson credits

Michelle Griczika

Michelle Griczika is a seasoned educator and experienced freelance writer. Her years teaching first and fifth grades coupled with her double certification in elementary and early childhood education lend depth to her understanding of diverse learning stages. Michelle enjoys running in her free time and undertaking home projects.

Parents, sign up for a DoodleMath subscription and see your child become a math wizard!

Place Value Answer Sheet

Measurement Answer Sheet

Geometry answer sheet.

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Kindergarten Lessons

Involve me and I learn...

KINDERGARTEN MATH PROBLEM SOLVING

Organize your routines to promote plenty of kindergarten math problem solving.

It’ll help children make sense of math concepts as they solve problems using real life objects and everyday situations that they can relate to.

When children learn to recognize a problem, try a few problem solving strategies, suggest a variety of solutions to solve the problem, and finally, test their ideas. They will gain confidence and have a chance to use skills that they have learned previously.

Keep Math Problem Solving Activities Simple

• Jars from pasta sauce and other products work well also.
• Ask parents to save clean jar lids that are large enough to hold 3 one-inch blocks. Check there are no sharp edges.
• Cups are too deep for the following activities as the children cannot easily see how many counters they have put into each cup.

Literature based problem solving games…

Game – Birthday party across the river

Set up the problem by reading a book such as Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present.

After reading it, talk about:

• What was the little girl’s problem?
• What did she do to solve it?
• How did Mr. Rabbit help?
• How did they solve the problem?

Boats and River Game

• Boats – One jar lid per child (such as the ones that pasta sauce comes in) that hold 3 one-inch Unifix™ cubes. The lids represent the boats.
• Presents – Ten one-inch Unifix™ cubes for each student. These represent the presents. Vary the number of blocks, depending on the children’s abilities.
• 1/2 sheet of blue construction paper cut lengthwise – this is the river
• Recording sheet and pencils
• Introduce the problem – Tell your students that you are pretending that all ten of Mr. Rabbit’s  presents (cubes) have to get across the river for a birthday party. The presents will have to go in the boats (jar lids) but can not be stacked on top of each other or they will fall in the water. Only 3 presents can fit into a boat but all the presents have to get to the party.
• How many trips across the river does your boat need to take?
• Each child loads their boat with 3 cubes and take them across the river then unloads their boat
• Children record each trip with a tally line.
• Vary the number of blocks with each game

Sharing type problem solving …

• Counters, blocks or crackers
• Small paper plates – 4 per child
• Lids and blocks as above

Focus on different ways of solving the problems. Vary the games and materials each time:

• Game #1 – Say to the children – “You have 4 plates, one for each friend, and 12 crackers. How can you make sure that all your friends get the same number of crackers?”
• Game #2 – Each child gets 4 lids and 12 blocks. “How you can put the blocks into the lids so all the lids have the same number of blocks?”
• Game #3 – Each child gets 2 plates. Goldfish type crackers are in bowls near the children. “How can we figure out how many crackers we will need if each plate has 10 crackers?”

Seating & PE equipment type kindergarten problem solving …

One group of children watches while the other group acts out the problem.

Prompt with suggestions as necessary. E.G. How could we figure that out? All the children can contribute ideas to solve these types of problems.

#1 – Four children can sit around each table. We have 12 children. How can we figure out how many tables we need so everybody can sit down?

#2 – We have 6 balls and 12 children. How can we share the balls so all the children get to play with the same number of balls?

#3 – This group has 4 children. If each child jumps 3 times, how can we keep track of how many jumps will they jump all together?

Tip – Save these types of problems for after the children have had plenty of activity and are ready to sit and rest for a while.

Spatial type problem solving

• Pattern blocks

Ask questions such as the ones below.

1. How many ways can you make a bird (or flower or star…) using only 5 pattern blocks? Children spend 5 minutes making birds. Have them count the number of pattern blocks in each bird as they sometimes get carried away and end up making a bird with many more blocks!

2. Show me how you can make 3 different stars can with your pattern blocks?

Recording problem solving activities

Prompt students to record the results of most activities, even if they are only able to make a simple picture.

Many opportunities for math problem solving will arise in a regular preschool or kindergarten day.

• Keep problem solving simple and age appropriate
• Focus on problems that have open-ended results
• If children get frustrated, give them the option of leaving the problem and coming back to it later

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Word Problems Activities for Kindergarten

Strengthen your child's word problems skills with interactive educational resources for word problems for Kindergarten graders online. These learning resources include fun games and worksheets with eye-catching visuals and characters. Get started to help your Kindergarten grader master this concept by engaging their critical thinking.

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Addition and Subtraction Word Problems

Represent 'Add To' Scenarios Game

Learn to solve math problems through our 'Represent 'Add To' Scenarios' game.

Solve 'Add To' Scenarios Game

Add more arrows to your child’s math quiver by solving 'Add To' scenarios.

Find the Sum Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Combine math learning with adventure by solving to find the sum using 'Part-Part-Whole' model.

Write Equations Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Learn number sense at the speed of lightning by writing equations using 'Part-Part-Whole' model.

All Word Problems Resources

Adding One by Making a Model Game

Treat yourself to an immersive learning experience with our 'Adding One by Making a Model' game.

Adding Within 5 by Making a Model Game

Add more arrows to your child’s math quiver by adding within 5 by making a model.

Represent Word Problems as Math Expressions Worksheet

Dive into this worksheet by practicing to represent word problems as math expressions.

Identify Math Expression for Word Problems Worksheet

Learners must identify math expressions for word problems to enhance their math skills.

Model and Add (Within 10) Game

Unearth the wisdom of mathematics by learning how to model and add (within 10).

Word Problems: Subtracting One Game

Sharpen your math skills with the 'Word Problems: Subtracting One' game.

Story Problems on Addition and Subtraction Worksheet

Solve story problems on addition and subtraction to strengthen your math skills.

Make a Story Worksheet

Combine math learning with adventure by practicing to make a story.

Word Problems: Subtracting Within 10 Game

Enjoy the marvel of math-multiverse by practicing to solve word problems on subtracting within 10.

Create Your Own Word Problems Worksheet

Put your skills to the test by practicing to create your own word problems.

Choose the Correct Operation— Add or Subtract Worksheet

Make math practice a joyride by choosing the correct operation— Add or Subtract.

Represent 'Put Together' Scenarios Game

Have your own math-themed party by learning how to represent 'Put Together' scenarios.

Select the Correct Model Worksheet

Pack your math practice time with fun by selecting the correct model.

Represent the Scenarios Using Equations Worksheet

This downloadable worksheet is designed to represent the given scenarios using equations.

Solve 'Put Together' Scenarios Game

Shine bright in the math world by learning how to solve 'Put Together' scenarios.

Represent 'Take Apart' Scenarios Game

Kids must represent 'Take Apart' scenarios to practice subtraction.

Complete the Word Problem Model Worksheet

Boost your ability to complete the word problem model by printing this playful worksheet.

Complete the Model to Write Equations Worksheet

Be on your way to become a mathematician by practicing to complete the model to write equations.

Solve 'Take Apart' Scenarios Game

Take the pressure off by simplifying subtraction by solving 'Take Apart' scenarios.

Complete the Model Using Clues Worksheet

Assess your math skills by completing the model using clues in this worksheet.

Write the Equation using Clues Worksheet

Be on your way to become a mathematician by practicing to write the equation using clues.

Use Clues to Complete the Model Worksheet

Help your child revise subtraction by solving to use clues to complete the model.

Solve Word Problems on Comparison Worksheet

Put your skills to the test by practicing to solve word problems on comparison.

Complete the Bar Model Worksheet

Dive into this fun-filled printable worksheet by practicing to complete the bar model.

Complete Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Learners must complete 'Part-Part-Whole' models to enhance their math skills.

Select the Correct Equation Worksheet

Dive into this fun-filled printable worksheet by selecting the correct equation.

Solve Word Problems Using Bar Models Worksheet

Dive into this fun-filled printable worksheet by practicing to solve word problems using bar models.

Use Bar Models to Compare and Solve Worksheet

This downloadable worksheet is designed to help you use bar models to compare and solve.

Add or Subtract within 5: Summer Word Problems Worksheet

Summer-themed worksheet for students to practice adding or subtracting within 5 through word problems.

Add or Subtract within 10: Summer Word Problems Worksheet

Summer-themed worksheet challenging students to solve addition or subtraction problems within 10.

Add or Subtract within 5: Halloween Word Problems Worksheet

Spooky-themed worksheet to practice adding and subtracting within 5 using Halloween word problems.

Add or Subtract within 10: Halloween Word Problems Worksheet

Engage in this Halloween-themed worksheet, solving fun addition and subtraction problems within 10.

Add or Subtract within 5: Christmas Word Problems Worksheet

Fun, festive worksheet for students to practice addition and subtraction within 5, Christmas style!

Add or Subtract within 10: Christmas Word Problems Worksheet

Engage in festive math fun with this worksheet, solving addition and subtraction problems within 10, Christmas theme!

Add or Subtract within 5: Shopping Word Problems Worksheet

This worksheet features shopping-themed word problems, requiring addition or subtraction within 5.

Add or Subtract within 10: Shopping Word Problems Worksheet

Exciting worksheet tasking students to solve shopping-themed addition and subtraction problems within 10.

Add or Subtract within 5: Travel Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging travel-themed worksheet focused on solving addition and subtraction problems within 5.

Add or Subtract within 10: Travel Word Problems Worksheet

This worksheet combines travel-themed word problems with addition and subtraction exercises for numbers within 10.

Add or Subtract within 5: Sports Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging sports-themed worksheet focusing on solving addition and subtraction problems within 5.

Add or Subtract within 10: Sports Word Problems Worksheet

Engage in this sports-themed worksheet, mastering addition and subtraction within 10 through word problems!

Add or Subtract within 5: Cooking Word Problems Worksheet

Engage in this fun cooking-themed worksheet, solving addition or subtraction problems within 5!

Add or Subtract within 10: Cooking Word Problems Worksheet

A fun, cooking-themed worksheet where students solve addition and subtraction problems within 10.

Add or Subtract within 5: Winter Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging winter-themed worksheet for students to practice addition and subtraction within 5.

Add or Subtract within 10: Winter Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging winter-themed worksheet helping students to master addition and subtraction within 10.

Add or Subtract within 5: Easter Word Problems Worksheet

Easter-themed worksheet for students to solve addition and subtraction problems within 5.

Add or Subtract within 10: Easter Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging Easter-themed worksheet to solve addition and subtraction problems within 10.

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21 Best Kindergarten Math Games

Created: July 11, 2022

Last updated: January 7, 2024

Since kids’ brains are constantly expanding to include every possible concept, it might be challenging to teach them mathematics. Due to their developing brains, children are naturally curious about and captivated by various objects, which may lead to distractions.

Educators and developers developed kindergarten maths games to help youngsters learn the subject without being distracted.

Benefits of Using Kindergarten Math Games

This article reviews the best math games for kindergarten, but first, let us check the benefits of using such math activities .

Games Grab Children’s Attention

Math games for kindergarten often employ visually appealing, fun, and interactive materials to capture a child’s attention and prevent it from straying. Kids may pick up any math idea linked to the game while they play. Learning the concept will become second nature the more they play.

Math Games Encourage Conversation Related To Math

Kids get fresh ideas for math-related conversations when they play math games kindergarten. In the classroom, you could hear students discussing new maths games they’ve been playing at home. Encouraging discussions about maths and discussing it will inspire other students to try the game while teaching social skills to improve grades and lives.

Math Games Uncover Areas Where Kids Need Help

Watching your children play maths games allows you to gauge their ability to solve complex mathematical issues. Children’s struggles with math issues may be identified and addressed via careful observation of their development and techniques. You can tell a child needs assistance with a maths subject if they get stuck on one level for an extended period.

Math Games Encourage Collaborative Learning

Since certain games only support two or three players, students must work together to get through them. In kindergarten, encouraging children to play engaging maths activities teaches them to seek assistance from their classmates when they are confused.

One of the best ways to ensure your children solve maths problems is to have them work on them in groups. They may learn to work together collaboratively using these free math activities for kindergarten.

Brighterly is a platform for learning math online that puts your child’s learning first via games and a one-on-one tutor-to-student technique. You may change your tutor or postpone your courses if you need to. So, to start helping your kid become more successful in kindergarten math skills , have them enroll today.

21 Kindergarten Math Games

There is a wide variety of entertaining maths games available for kindergarteners, so picking one out for your child might be a challenge. We have selected 21 of the best games for kindergarteners based on our knowledge of their typical learning abilities.

Number Recognition Games For Kindergarteners By SplashLearn

This kindergarten math game is centered on addition and is a great way to get kids interested in learning while having fun. Kindergarteners may build a solid foundation in numbers and basic mathematics by playing activities that include addition.

Depending on the requirements and abilities of the kids, these math games might be as easy as counting games or as challenging as extra tasks. Whether played alone or with others, kindergarten math games may establish the groundwork for a lifetime of success in mathematics.

Check out Splashlearn Number Recognition Games for Kindergarteners

Putting Puzzles Together To Gain Number Sense

Regarding math worksheets for kindergarteners, this game is among the best math printables for kindergarten . Each puzzle represents a numerical value in a phrase, tally, or picture. Your youngster will enjoy the fun math games for kindergarten, matching the pieces representing numbers if they like visual problem-solving.

Stack Up Cups

The stack-up cups game will surely be a hit with the class’s little ones. Assign each group of children a set of cups with a number ranging from one to fifty or one hundred. The kid’s assignment is to assign each cup a number and stack them up. Every time a group’s stack goes down, they must start again until someone wins.

Skip Count Money Game

With the skip count money game, students may learn about skip counting and money. Assign numbers ranging from 10 to 100 or 5 to 50 to ten toys. Add a penny or dollar symbol to the numbers to make it seem like you’re selling them to the youngsters. They can call out each price from 10, 20, 30…, etc.

Check out the Money Worksheets for Kindergarten!

Rubber Ducks And Dice

To introduce students to addition, set up the rubber duck number games for kindergarten. The youngsters need to roll a die to move the duck to the tenth spot on the board.

If a child rolls a die and gets a number greater than 10, they must roll again, as spillovers are not allowed.

Counting Cards And Dice

This game involves the kindergarteners rolling a die and flipping a card. After that, players must add the numbers on the dice and the cards to reach the total.

If their addition is correct, they get to keep the card; if not, they must wait one round before returning to flip the deck. The game is won by the youngster who has the most cards.

Skip Count With Sticks

Paint craft sticks in a variety of colors and number them in fives. Each child should choose a stick from the pile to count up to 100. By the end, the pupil gets to keep the stick if they got the count right.

For instance, if the number drawn is 55, they must count from 55 to 100 in fives. The winner is the kid who has accumulated the most sticks at the game’s end.

Comparing Numbers

For this game, toys shaped like gummy bears, a number line, a board with a central line, and dice are all good options for children. After rolling the dice, the children will write down the corresponding numbers on both sides of the paper. Now that they’ve counted the bears on either side, they’ll compare the two numbers to determine which is bigger.

Check out the Comparing Numbers Worksheets!

Ten Snowballs And A Bucket

Gather the students around the buckets and roll snowballs. Kids should be kept safe while instructed to deposit the balls into the designated buckets until the count reaches ten. At the task’s end, collect all the balls from the bucket, sum them, and then put some back. The next step is for them to guess how many balls will go into the bucket to create ten.

Subtraction Bowling

Use common classroom materials like plastic bottles and toilet paper tubes to create bowling bottles. Give the children bowling balls and arrange the plastic bottles in groups of ten. You subtract a number from 10, and they continue bowling whenever they knock a certain number down. In this game, the winner is the one whose bottles run out first.

Drive And Compare Numbers To Music

Choose flat, circular plates and decorate them with dots. Distribute the plates to the children after marking them with various numbers. Put up some tunes and have the kids use their plates as steering wheels as they race around the classroom.

When the song stops, the youngsters sitting closest to each other should look at their plates and declare whether the number is larger or smaller. Keep playing until either you or the kids become exhausted. No one stands to gain or lose from this activity; all that matters is that the pupils are having a blast.

A Weighing Scale

Get some clips, paper cups, and a hanger. Give the kids little balls and attach the cups to the hangers at both ends. Filling up both cups will reveal which is heavier and which is lighter. While possessing the hanger, you have complete control over when the game ends.

Draw A Ribbon

Put ribbons in bags after cutting them into varying lengths. Line up the children and have them choose ribbons from the containers. After that, have the kids compare their ribbons by putting them in pairs.

Learning about measuring is made easy with this game. After one child removes the shorter ribbon from another, the game resumes with the longest ribbon winner. By the end of the game, the youngster whose ribbon is the longest wins.

Shape Scavenger Hunt

One of the most incredible things about maths games is that they show mathematical ideas in real life. Show children the shapes you’ve drawn on paper. Instruct the students to search the room for objects resembling your drawn shapes.

Kids will bring anything resembling the shape, making it a great teaching tool if it doesn’t exist on paper. To keep kids safe, have them stay orderly as they play this game.

Hopscotch, But With Different Shapes

Use side chalk to make a variety of shapes on the ground. Position a youngster before the illustrations and highlight the shapes you’d want them to jump on. Every time you mention a shape, they jump in; if a child does not get it right, they are out of the game. The game’s winner is the child correctly identifying every shape on their first attempt.

Bridge Builder Blocks For Sums

One game that uses blocks to teach addition is Bridge Builder Blocks. Add numbers to each other to create a larger block to build your bridge.

The smaller the numerical value, the smaller the block. You may successfully cross to the opposite side if you trade smaller blocks for bigger ones and build your bridge.

Monster Math

Monster math is one of the most significant ways for kindergarteners to learn basic math principles. Max must defeat villains and save his pal Dextra in this game. But it can’t happen until you answer Max’s maths questions. Max can save Dextra by solving them and climbing over the barriers.

Spooky Spider Printable Math Game

A spider game is one of the best Halloween maths activities for kindergarteners. Each spiderweb in this seasonally themed game requires a certain minimum quantity of spiders. You can see the number written out at the top of every page. The kids’ task is to use their imaginations or play with toy spiders to create the proper quantity of webs.

Playing this game can help your kindergartener with recognizing written numbers. Preschool and kindergarteners may use it to practice counting.

Balloon Splash Game

Twenty water-filled balloons should be numbered. Call out math equations; for example, you can say 1+1 is X. If a child gets the answer correct, they are to find the number-filled balloon and then throw it onto the floor, creating a splash.

Check that every child can take part. You may not have to worry about anything other than getting wet in this game.

The Giant Clock Game

Using chalk, make a big drawing of a clock on the floor. The clock should be large enough for children to stand in it, so you may enlist the aid of pupils in higher grades if you need it.

Make sure to mention specific times when you’ve drawn the clock. If you were to call 3 o’clock, you might have two children, one at 12 and the other at 3, standing in the drawn clock. Keep on until you have taught the kids all the essential time concepts in 24 hours.

Fast flashcards

On the floor, spread out flashcards that contain simple maths tasks. Shout “GO” and set a timer. Your class has to work quickly to find solutions; the winner is the student who gets the most questions right in the allotted time.

Children find maths games to be a captivating and entertaining way to learn. We have supplied a list of twenty-one options if you need help deciding. You may pick and choose from various tangible, digital, and printable activities to use with your kindergarteners while they learn maths. If you want to use any of the mentioned printable kindergarten math games, you may find them on math websites.

Jessica is a a seasoned math tutor with over a decade of experience in the field. With a BSc and Master’s degree in Mathematics, she enjoys nurturing math geniuses, regardless of their age, grade, and skills. Apart from tutoring, Jessica blogs at Brighterly. She also has experience in child psychology, homeschooling and curriculum consultation for schools and EdTech websites.

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Kindergarten addition word problem worksheets.

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The Best Logic Games for Kindergarten

Have you ever used logic games and puzzles in your kindergarten classroom? There are many ways that you can use these activities in your daily routine!  In this post, I’m sharing some of my favorite logic games for kindergarten!  

What Are Logic Games?

Logic games are activities that require students to use critical thinking skills in order to solve a puzzle or problem.  Logic games often include patterns, sequences, or some other connection that students need to identify in order to find the solution. There are printable logic puzzles and games that you can use in the classroom, but I’m partial to hands-on logic board games! 

*Please note the Amazon links included in this post are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase using the links. These commissions help keep the blog up and running.

Benefits of Using Logic Games in Kindergarten

Logic games can be such a helpful learning tool in the kindergarten classroom!  There are many reasons why you should have a few of these trusty games in your teacher toolbox.

First, logic games are one of my favorite low-prep activities for kindergarten! Everything you need is included in the box, including visual directions that even the youngest students can understand.  If you think your students might have trouble navigating the activity for the first time, you can demonstrate it in front of the class first.  It usually takes just a few minutes for students to get the hang of the activity!

Another benefit of logic games is that they are very versatile!  You can add this low-prep learning activity to any part of your daily routine.  You could use a logic game as one of your center rotations. It could also be used as an option for fast finishers!  Logic puzzles could also be used as a soft-start activity option for your classroom's morning routine . There are so many possibilities!

Practice Problem-Solving

In a previous post, I talked about how important it is for kindergarteners to practice problem-solving skills in the classroom .  Logic puzzles are a great way for students to do this!  The answers aren’t readily apparent and students have to rely on their own reasoning skills to come up with a solution.

Build Confidence

As students work hard to solve the problem in a logic game, it gives them the opportunity to persevere!  Working hard on a puzzle takes mental stamina, which needs to be exercised regularly.  As students experience success with logic games, they are able to build their confidence.

What I love about logic puzzles is that some students really excel in this area!  Students don’t have to be strong with words or numbers in order to come up with a solution. It’s always amazing to see students light up with confidence when they are able to solve these logic games!

Three of the Best Logic Games for Kindergarten

One of my favorite brands of logic games for kindergarten is Smart Games.  (I am not an affiliate of their company, just a very happy customer!) What I love about their games is that the format for each game is very similar.  Students always know that they should look for the small booklet that comes with the activity.  The routine is the same, but each game is challenging in a different way.

1. Color Code

The first of my favorite logic board games is Color Code . This activity challenges students’ visual reasoning skills as they try to build a shape shown in the booklet.  Each game piece is a clear square with a colorful shape.  As students create a stack of these clear pieces, they can attempt to match the target shape.

The puzzles progress from “Starter” to “Master,” so this activity will be engaging for all of the students (and even adult visitors) in your classroom.  

Trucky 3 is another fun activity for young students!  This adorable logic game uses small dump trucks with transparent beds.  Each page of the game booklet shows which truck students should use and which pieces they will need to fit inside the bed of the truck. The only rule is that the pieces have to sit flush with the top of the truck bed.  

Students will rearrange the pieces until they are able to find the correct configuration (there is only one solution to each puzzle).  Once students think they have it figured out, they can turn the page to check their work!

One thing I love about this logic game is that students are also using their fine motor skills as they pick up, turn, and place the blocks. Any time students can work on their pincer grasp,  in-hand manipulation, and hand-eye coordination, I’m all for it!

3. Three Little Piggies

Finally, Three Little Piggies is another fun logic game to include in your classroom.  I always liked to have this game available for fast finishers during our fairy tale unit! 

The game comes with three pig playing pieces, a wolf, and then the pigs’ three houses.  Each house is attached to a lawn of a different shape to create a puzzle piece of sorts.  The goal of the puzzle is to get the houses to fit on the game board with the animals.

This game actually has two different versions.  The first version uses only the pigs. Students are trying to place the puzzle pieces so that all of the pigs can play outside of their houses.  In the second version, students are placing the houses on top of the pigs to protect them from the wolf.

Just like the other puzzles, there is only one solution for each challenge in the booklet.  Students can turn the page to check their work or to find the answer if they are stumped.

Kindergarten Logic Games: A Closer Look

If you’d like to take a closer look at these games and hear more about how I used them in my classroom, check out this video!

Save These Logic Game Ideas for Kindergarten

If you are short on time but want to find these games later, just save this post! You can add the pin below to your favorite teaching board on Pinterest.  You’ll be able to quickly find these logic game ideas when you’re looking for a low prep activity to use in your classroom.

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Problem Solving Activities: 7 Strategies

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Problem solving can be a daunting aspect of effective mathematics teaching, but it does not have to be! In this post, I share seven strategic ways to integrate problem solving into your everyday math program.

In the middle of our problem solving lesson, my district math coordinator stopped by for a surprise walkthrough. 

I was so excited!

We were in the middle of what I thought was the most brilliant math lesson– teaching my students how to solve problem solving tasks using specific problem solving strategies. 

It was a proud moment for me!

Each week, I presented a new problem solving strategy and the students completed problems that emphasized the strategy. 

Genius right? 

After observing my class, my district coordinator pulled me aside to chat. I was excited to talk to her about my brilliant plan, but she told me I should provide the tasks and let my students come up with ways to solve the problems. Then, as students shared their work, I could revoice the student’s strategies and give them an official name. 

What a crushing blow! Just when I thought I did something special, I find out I did it all wrong. 

I took some time to consider her advice. Once I acknowledged she was right, I was able to make BIG changes to the way I taught problem solving in the classroom. 

When I Finally Saw the Light

To give my students an opportunity to engage in more authentic problem solving which would lead them to use a larger variety of problem solving strategies, I decided to vary the activities and the way I approached problem solving with my students. 

Problem Solving Activities

Here are seven ways to strategically reinforce problem solving skills in your classroom. 

Seasonal Problem Solving

Many teachers use word problems as problem solving tasks. Instead, try engaging your students with non-routine tasks that look like word problems but require more than the use of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to complete. Seasonal problem solving tasks and daily challenges are a perfect way to celebrate the season and have a little fun too!

Cooperative Problem Solving Tasks

Go cooperative! If you’ve got a few extra minutes, have students work on problem solving tasks in small groups. After working through the task, students create a poster to help explain their solution process and then post their poster around the classroom. Students then complete a gallery walk of the posters in the classroom and provide feedback via sticky notes or during a math talk session.

Notice and Wonder

Before beginning a problem solving task, such as a seasonal problem solving task, conduct a Notice and Wonder session. To do this, ask students what they notice about the problem. Then, ask them what they wonder about the problem. This will give students an opportunity to highlight the unique characteristics and conditions of the problem as they try to make sense of it. 

Want a better experience? Remove the stimulus, or question, and allow students to wonder about the problem. Try it! You’ll gain some great insight into how your students think about a problem.

Math Starters

Start your math block with a math starter, critical thinking activities designed to get your students thinking about math and provide opportunities to “sneak” in grade-level content and skills in a fun and engaging way. These tasks are quick, designed to take no more than five minutes, and provide a great way to turn-on your students’ brains. Read more about math starters here ! 

Create your own puzzle box! The puzzle box is a set of puzzles and math challenges I use as fast finisher tasks for my students when they finish an assignment or need an extra challenge. The box can be a file box, file crate, or even a wall chart. It includes a variety of activities so all students can find a challenge that suits their interests and ability level.

Calculators

Use calculators! For some reason, this tool is not one many students get to use frequently; however, it’s important students have a chance to practice using it in the classroom. After all, almost everyone has access to a calculator on their cell phones. There are also some standardized tests that allow students to use them, so it’s important for us to practice using calculators in the classroom. Plus, calculators can be fun learning tools all by themselves!

Three-Act Math Tasks

Use a three-act math task to engage students with a content-focused, real-world problem! These math tasks were created with math modeling in mind– students are presented with a scenario and then given clues and hints to help them solve the problem. There are several sites where you can find these awesome math tasks, including Dan Meyer’s Three-Act Math Tasks and Graham Fletcher’s 3-Acts Lessons . 

Getting the Most from Each of the Problem Solving Activities

When students participate in problem solving activities, it is important to ask guiding, not leading, questions. This provides students with the support necessary to move forward in their thinking and it provides teachers with a more in-depth understanding of student thinking. Selecting an initial question and then analyzing a student’s response tells teachers where to go next. 

Ready to jump in? Grab a free set of problem solving challenges like the ones pictured using the form below. 

Which of the problem solving activities will you try first? Respond in the comments below.

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This is a very cool site. I hope it takes off and is well received by teachers. I work in mathematical problem solving and help prepare pre-service teachers in mathematics.

Thank you, Scott! Best wishes to you and your pre-service teachers this year!

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10 Simple Activities to Teach Your Preschooler Problem Solving

By: Author Tanja McIlroy

Posted on Last updated: 7 April 2024

Categories Activities for Preschoolers & Kindergarteners

During the first years of a child’s life, an important set of cognitive skills known as problem-solving abilities are developed. These skills are used throughout childhood and into adulthood.

Find out what problem solving is, why it’s important and how you can develop these skills with 10 problem-solving games and activities.

What is Problem Solving in Early Childhood?

So, what exactly is problem solving? Quite simply, it refers to the process of finding a solution to a problem .

A person uses their own knowledge and experience, as well as the information at hand to try and reach a solution. Problem solving is therefore about the thought processes involved in finding a solution.

This could be as complex as an adult working out how to get out of a financial crisis or as simple as a child working out how two blocks fit together.

Problem Solving Skills for Kids

Problem-solving skills refer to the specific thinking skills a person uses when faced with a challenge. Some problems require the use of many skills, while others are simple and may only require one or two skills.

These are some examples of problem-solving skills for preschoolers , as listed by kent.ac.uk .

• Lateral thinking
• Analytical thinking
• Decision-making skills
• Logical reasoning
• Persistence
• Communication skills
• Negotiation skills

The Importance of Developing Problem-Solving Skills in Early Childhood

Problem solving is a skill that would be difficult to suddenly develop as an adult. While you can still improve a skill at any age, the majority of learning occurs during the early years.

Preschool is the best time for a child to learn to problem solve in a fun way. The benefits of learning early will last a lifetime and the beauty of learning anything at a young age is that it is effortless .

It is like learning to play an instrument or picking up a new language – it’s just much easier and more natural at an early age.

Of all the many things preschoolers need to learn , what makes problem solving so important?

There aren’t many situations in life, at work or at school that don’t require some level of problem resolution.

Child’s play itself is filled with opportunity upon opportunity to solve all kinds of tricky situations and come up with solutions to challenges.

Problem Solving in Preschool

During the foundational years, children are constantly solving problems as they play .

Here are just a few examples of problem solving in early childhood :

• Resolving a fight over the same toy
• Reaching a ball that’s stuck in the tree
• Forming a circle while holding hands
• Making a bridge to connect two block towers
• Tying or untying a shoe
• Making up rules for a new game
• Trying to get the consistency of a mud cake right so it stops falling over

The more creative play opportunities and challenges children are given, the more they get to exercise their problem-solving muscles.

During free play , there are non-stop experiences for this, and parents and teachers can also encourage specific problem-solving skills through guided activities .

Problem Solving for Older Children

During the grades, children experience problems in many forms, some of which may be related to their academic, social and emotional well-being at school. Problems may come in the form of dealing with life issues, such as:

• Problems with friendships
• Struggling to understand something during a lesson
• Learning to balance the demands of sport and homework
• Finding the best way to study for a test
• Asking a teacher for help when needed

Problems will also form a large part of academic life as teachers will be actively developing this skill through various activities, for example:

• Solving a riddle or understanding a work of literature
• Working on projects with a friend
• Finding solutions during science experiments
• Solving mathematical problems
• Solving hypothetical problems during lessons
• Answering questions and completing exam papers

Children who have had practice during preschool will be a lot more capable when facing these challenges.

Solving Problems in Mathematics

Mathematics needs to be mentioned separately as although it is part of schooling, it is such a huge part and it depends heavily on a child’s ability to solve problems.

The entire subject of mathematics is based on solving problems. Whether you are adding 2 and 3, working out how many eggs will fit into each basket, or solving an algebraic expression, there is a problem in every question.

Mathematics is just a series of problems that need to be solved.

What we refer to as problem solving in Maths is usually answering word problems .

The reason many children find these so difficult to answer is that the question is presented as a problem through a story, rather than just numbers with symbols telling you what operation to use (addition, division, etc.)

This means a child is forced to think carefully, understand the problem and determine the best way to solve it.

These problems can involve various units (e.g. mass, capacity or currency) as well as fractions, decimals, equations and angles, to name a few. Problems tend to become more and more complex over the years.

My experience in the classroom has shown that many, many children struggle with solving word problems, from the early grades right into the senior years.

They struggle to analyze the question, understand it, determine what information they’ve been given, and what exactly they are required to solve.

The good news is that exposing a child to regular problem-solving activities and games in preschool can greatly help him to solve word problems later on in school.

If you need one good reason to do these kinds of activities, let it be for a smoother experience in mathematics – a subject so many children unnecessarily fear.

Problem Solving in the Workplace

Adults in the workplace seldom thrive without problem-solving skills. They are required to regularly solve problems .

As adults, employees are expected to independently deal with the frequent challenges, setbacks and problems that are a big part of every working environment.

Those who can face and solve their own problems will go further and cope better than those who seek constant help from others or cannot show initiative.

Some  career websites even refer to problem solving as a universal job skill. They also mention that many employees are not good at it. 

Again, although it may seem far removed, learning this skill at a young age will help a child cope right into adulthood and in the working world.

How to Teach Children Problem-Solving Skills

If early childhood is the best time to grow these skills in your young children, then how does one go about teaching them to toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners?

Problem solving can be taught in such a way that you expose your child to various opportunities where they will be faced with challenges.

You would not necessarily sit your 3-year-old down and tell or “teach” him all about fixing problems. Instead, you want to create opportunities for your child to grow this skill .

Using the brain to think and find solutions is a bit like working a muscle over time. Eventually, your muscle gets stronger and can handle more “ weight. ” Your child will learn to problem solve in two ways:

• Incidentally – through free play
• Through guided opportunities provided by a parent or teacher

If you make a point of encouraging thinking through games and activities, your child will develop stronger skills than if you let it all happen incidentally.

Problem-Solving Strategies and Steps

If we take a look at the steps involved in solving a problem, we can see that there are many layers involved and different types of skills. Here are the problem-solving steps according to the University of Ken. 

Step 1: Identify the problem

Step 2: Define the problem

Step 3: Examine the options

Step 4: Act on a plan

Step 5: Look at the consequences

Therefore, activities at a preschool level need not present complicated high-level problems.

• A simple activity such as identifying differences in a picture can work on the first skill needed – identifying a problem.
• Playing with construction toys can develop a child’s ability to try various solutions and examine the options when faced with a problem such as trying to find the best way to build something.
• Playing Tic-Tac-Toe would make a child predict the consequences of placing their mark in a particular square.

The most basic of activities can work on all these skills and make children competent solution finders.

How to Teach Problem Solving with Questions

The language you use around your child and your questioning technique will also greatly affect their understanding of a problem or challenge as merely something waiting for a solution to be found .

While your child is playing or when she comes to you with a problem, ask open-ended questions that will guide her in finding a potential answer independently. Use the steps listed above to formulate your questions.

Here are some examples of questions:

• What do you think made the tower of blocks fall down?
• If we build it again, how can we change the structure so that it won’t fall down next time?
• Is there a better way we can do it? If you think of a different way, we can both try it and see which works better.
• Did that work? The tower fell again so let’s try another solution.

Resist the temptation to fix every one of your child’s problems, including conflict with friends or siblings. These are important opportunities for children to learn how to resolve things by negotiating, thinking and reasoning.

With time, your child will get used to seeing a problem, understanding it, weighing up the options, taking action and evaluating the consequences.

Problems will be seen as challenges to be faced logically and not “problems.”

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10 Problem-Solving Activities for Preschoolers

Here are 10 simple, easy games and problem solving activities for kids at home or at school. Many of them are the kinds of activities children should have daily exposure to.

Puzzles are one of the best thinking activities out there. Each puzzle is basically one big set of muddled-up things to be sorted out and put back together again. Find out why puzzles are important for development .

Children should have regular exposure to puzzles. They are great for developing thinking skills.

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2. Memory games

Memory games will develop your child’s memory and attention to detail.

Get your own memory game cards by downloading the FREE set of printables at the end of the post.

Use pairs of matching pictures and turn them all face down, shuffled, on a table. Take turns choosing any two cards and turning them face up on the table. If you turn over a matching pair you keep the cards and if the pair doesn’t match, turn the cards back over until it is your turn to try again.

Encourage your child to concentrate and pay attention to where the pictures are and try to find a matching pair on each turn. 

3. Building with Construction Toys

Construction toys such as engineering blocks, a proper set of wooden blocks or Legos (shown below) should be a daily staple in your home.

Everything your child builds is a challenge because it requires thinking about what to build and how to put the pieces together to get a design that works and is functional.

Leave your child to construct freely and occasionally set a challenge and ask him to build a specific structure, with conditions. For example:

• Make two towers with a bridge joining them together
• Build a creature that stands on its own and has 3 arms.

Then watch your child wracking his brain until he finds a way to make his structure work.

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4.  Activity Books

These activity books are really fun and develop a child’s ability to identify problems and search for information.

• Pomaska, Anna (Author)
• English (Publication Language)

• Handford, Martin (Author)

• Books, Webber (Author)

5. Following Patterns

This simple activity can be played with a set of coloured blocks, shapes or counters.

Simply make a pattern with the blocks and ask your child to continue it. Vary the pattern by changing the colours, shapes or sizes.

This activity will train your child to analyse the given information, make sense of it, recognise the pattern and re-create it.

6. Story Time Questions

Get into the habit of asking questions during your daily story time that develop higher-order thinking skills . Instead of just reading and your child passively listening, ask questions throughout, concentrating on solving problems.

Here are some examples:

• Why do you think the bear did that?
• Do you think his friend will be happy? Why?
• What would you do if you were the monkey?
• How do you think Peter can make things better with his friend?
• If the crocodile had decided not to eat the rabbit, how could the story have ended?

7. Board Games

Board games are an excellent way to develop problem-solving skills.

Start off with simple games like Ludo and Snakes and Ladders to teach the skill of following rules and moving in a logical sequence.

• Double-Header: Enjoy two classic games in Ludo and Snakes and Ladders on this double-faced game board
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Card games like Go Fish are also great for teaching young children to think ahead and solve problems.

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8.  Tic-Tac-Toe

This is a perfect game to teach decision-making skills , thinking before acting and weighing up the possible consequences.

Use a Tic Tac Toe Board or d raw a simple table like the one above on paper or a chalkboard.

• Wooden tic-tac-toe game board with eye-catching red, orange, blue, and green color pattern
• Includes white-framed wooden board with indented squares for mess-free play, 10 colored x and O game tiles,...

Take turns to add a nought or a cross to the table and see who can make a row of three first.

Your child will probably catch on in no time and start thinking carefully before placing their symbol. This game can also be played with coloured counters or different objects.

9. Classifying and Grouping Activities

This activity can be done with a tin of buttons or beads or even by unpacking the dishwasher. The idea is to teach the skill of classifying and categorizing information by learning with physical objects. Here are some other ideas for categorizing:

• Separate the washing – mom’s clothes, dad’s clothes, etc; or socks, tops, shorts, etc.
• Empty out the cutlery drawer for cleaning, mix all the utensils up and then sort into knives, tablespoons, teaspoons, etc.
• Classify and sort out the toys in your child’s bedroom together – all books, construction toys, soft toys, etc.
• Play category games .

Here are more button activities for kids .

10. Building a Maze

This activity is lots of fun and suitable for any age. It is also going to be way more fun than doing a maze in an activity book, especially for younger children.

Draw a big maze on the paving with sidewalk chalk . Make passages, including one or two that end in a dead-end. Teach your child to find her way out .

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As your child gets better at figuring out a route and finding the way out, make the maze more complex and add more dead-end passages.

Are you a preschool teacher or working in Early Childhood Education? Would you like to receive regular emails with useful tips and play-based activity ideas to try with your children? Sign up for the newsletter!

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Friday 3rd of June 2022

hi maam , This Is Uma from India,Can i get this in pdf format or a book. Thank You

Tanja Mcilroy

Monday 6th of June 2022

Hi Uma, thanks for your message. These articles are not available in PDF, but you are welcome to copy and paste them from the website, as long as you add the reference: https://empoweredparents.co/problem-solving-activities-preschoolers/ Thanks for reading!

Wednesday 20th of May 2020

Very very useful content. Good work. Thank you.

Friday 22nd of May 2020

Thanks Ann.

Tuesday 19th of May 2020

Would like to download the free activity pack please.

Hi Kelly, Please download the activity pack on this page: www.empoweredparents.co

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5 kindergarten problem solving activities your kid will love.

Want to Improve Your Child's Problem Solving Skills?

Enroll your child for the Atlas Mission – the ultimate learning companion for kids.

Ohhh, problem solving skills. It’s one of those, you know, really, super, important things that all kids are supposed to be learning, or else, they are doomed for life.

I mean, at thirty-one years old I still haven’t figured out how to keep things from spilling everywhere or how to make sure evil Legos aren’t out and about just waiting to deal those excruciating blows to my feet.

I know you’ve been there – i.e. stepped on a car and almost broke your back – and thought about throwing all the darned things in the trash.

But before you do that, here are 5 kindergarten problem solving activities for kids that will make you feel a little better about keeping them around… at least for a little bit longer.

1. Free Building Play

So after I resist the urge to whip into a crazy, toy-trashing whirlwind come across toys the kids have left out, I put them in a building box.

If you don’t have something similar, you can just let your little darling gather up any and all safe objects around the house he would like to use to build something with.

It can be anything. We have had conglomerations of Legos, boxes, wheels/fixtures from random, old pieces of furniture, PVC piping, etc. The point here is to foster open-mindedness… to see random objects in new ways.

Don’t be afraid to frame the problem for him to stretch those skills – “Oh, you built a house?  Wow!  What if more people needed to fit in it?” Or, just thinking out loud here, “What if Mommy needs a spa room?”

Pro Tip: Help Your Child Become Better at Problem Solving

Enroll your child for the Atlas Mission and let your child play with this award-winning educational program. Your child will become better at problem solving without even realizing it!

2. Rolling Dice

One of my other favorite things to step on in dark hallways.

Kids love to roll dice. I would just feel like a jerk if I didn’t say there are a ton of games kids make up and play with dice that are great for problem solving and general math skills, so let them play freely with them.

Here is one of the best ones I’ve found specifically for problem solving skills.

First, write down a few categories of things – colors, animals, places, people, etc. – on some index cards, or if you are always missing cool school supplies like index cards, card-sized pieces of paper will do just fine. Put them in stack face-down between you and your kid.

Now, for the fun part! Tell your kid to draw a card and roll the die – probably just one die for this game… really… you don’t want any nervous breakdowns here.

He has to think of that number of things that fit into the category he drew. So if he drew the card “Animals” and rolled a three, he might say, “hippo, dog, and rooster.”

This encourages a different kind of open-mindedness that is solution-oriented, rather than going in all directions.

3. Build a Racetrack

Yep, I know. It’s always right in the middle of the way, right? Well, stuff down that gut reaction to “accidentally” knock it over (totally kidding, I know you would never do that, right? Right? :-)), and let them build it (safely) however they want.

After they are done racing their cars down it for a bit, encourage them to actually talk about what they like and dislike about the track.

And then let them build it again… and again. Wait! Don’t run yet – there’s a good reason, promise!  While building open-mindedness is a vital first step, experimentation is just as important.

This is where they learn to make predictions and test them to make adjustments.

4. Make a Mosaic

If your brain is frazzled just reading about the previous three activities, this one’s for you! If you already have some of those math pattern/shape blocks, this is the easiest (though it might not get the Legos off the floor, sorry!).

Just give your little one a prompt for a picture, and let her go to town creating it with the pattern blocks. Boats, flowers, houses, and monsters are all good prompts for kindergarteners.

If you don’t have pattern blocks or you want a more permanent creation, you can cut shapes out of construction paper. If you can match the typical pattern block color/shape, it will familiarize your kid with them if she hasn’t seen them in school yet.

Then, go on the same way, letting her create to her heart’s content, finishing with glue if she wishes!

This is about helping her understand that not only are there multiple options to consider when solving a problem, but also sometimes there are actually multiple possible solutions.

5. Roleplaying

Don’t neglect the need to practice problem solving skills for social situations. Most of the problems adults deal with are ones that involve some social aspect, after all. So bust out those costumes (or sheets, old curtains, whatever), and do some roleplaying.

If your kid has a bent for imaginative play, you might be able to just follow along with her plot and ask questions at the right moments, but otherwise, you might have to search your inner-child for a problem that your kid would be interested in enough to make the play effective.

“I want to have a tea party for all the little children in the land, but I don’t know how to do it. What do you think we should do first?”

“There’s a dragon in a cave nearby, and everyone is afraid he might hurt them. What do you think we should do first?”

What? My inner-child is pretty typical, don’t judge!

So put your mind (and feet!) at rest – these kindergarten problem solving activities can keep kids thinking for hours over a variety of different problem solving situations.

It’s even more awesome if brothers, sisters, or friends can participate, so you can just keep an ear on things… while eating chocolate away from prying eyes. (Hey! A problem I did solve!)

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About the Author

Danielle Rhymes creates educational content for the Atlas Mission . She is a stay-at-home mom who is passionate about education. When not chasing down or instilling life lessons in little ones, she also enjoys crocheting, chocolate, and Good Housekeeping.

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22 Problem Solving Activities for Preschool

Problem-solving activities can help children build resilience, think critically, and develop confidence in their ability to tackle challenges.

But it can be challenging to find engaging and age-appropriate activities that promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers.

We will share Problem Solving Activities for Preschool at home or in the classroom.

From simple puzzles to complex challenges, these activities will help your child develop problem-solving skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Shape Sorters :

Shape sorters are one of the best problem-solving activities for preschoolers. They are simple yet effective tools that help children develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Shape sorters come in different shapes and sizes, and they are designed to help children sort and match different shapes and colors.

Playing with shape sorters helps children develop their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and cognitive abilities. As they fit the different shapes into the corresponding holes, they learn about shape recognition, spatial awareness, and cause-and-effect relationships.

Related: Free Printable Math Worksheets for Preschoolers

Building Towers with Blocks:

Building towers with blocks is a classic activity that encourages children to problem-solve as they work to create a stable structure. Children must figure out how to balance and stack the blocks to create a tower that won’t topple over. This activity helps children develop their spatial reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills as they adjust their approach to create a more stable structure.

Related: 20 Best Pre-Writing Activities for Preschoolers

Treasure Hunts:

Treasure hunts are an exciting way to encourage children to solve problems and work collaboratively. Parents or caregivers can create a series of clues and riddles that lead children to a hidden “treasure.” Children must use their problem-solving skills to decipher the clues and find the treasure. This activity promotes critical thinking, spatial awareness, and teamwork.

Memory Games:

Memory games are a great way to challenge children’s cognitive abilities and improve their problem-solving skills. These games involve laying out a set of cards face down and having children flip over two cards at a time to try and match pairs. This activity helps children develop their memory, focus, and attention to detail.

Related: 20 Winter Math Activities for Preschoolers

Puzzles are a fantastic way to promote problem-solving skills in young children. These activities require children to use their critical thinking and spatial reasoning skills to fit puzzle pieces together. Puzzles can range in difficulty from simple shapes to more complex scenes, and they can be adjusted to fit the child’s developmental level.

Obstacle Courses:

Obstacle courses are a fun and engaging way to encourage children to solve problems and work on their motor skills. Parents or caregivers can create a series of obstacles that children must navigate to reach a specific goal. This activity promotes critical thinking, spatial awareness, and coordination. Obstacle courses can be adjusted to fit the child’s age and developmental level, making them a versatile and effective tool for promoting problem-solving skills in young children.

Storytelling:

Storytelling is an excellent way to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. By listening to stories, children are exposed to different scenarios and situations that require problem-solving skills. Parents or caregivers can encourage children to think about how the story’s characters solve their problems and ask them to come up with solutions to hypothetical problems.

Cooking is a fun and interactive way to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. Children must follow recipes, measure ingredients, and work collaboratively with others to create a finished dish. This activity helps children develop their critical thinking, math skills, and ability to follow instructions.

Role-playing is an excellent way to encourage problem-solving skills in young children. Children can pretend to be doctors, firefighters, or police officers and work together to solve problems and complete tasks. This activity promotes critical thinking, teamwork, and imagination.

Guessing Games:

Guessing games, such as “I Spy” or “20 Questions,” is an excellent way to encourage problem-solving skills in young children. These games require children to use their critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills to guess the answer correctly. This activity promotes memory, concentration, and attention to detail.

Science Experiments:

Science experiments are an engaging way to encourage problem-solving skills in young children. These activities require children to observe, hypothesize, and test their theories. Parents or caregivers can conduct simple science experiments, such as mixing baking soda and vinegar, to teach children about cause and effect. This activity promotes critical thinking, experimentation, and curiosity.

Sensory Play:

Sensory play is an excellent way to promote problem-solving skills in young children. By playing with different textures and materials, children can explore cause-and-effect relationships and develop their critical thinking skills. Parents or caregivers can set up sensory bins with materials such as rice, sand, or water to encourage children to explore and problem-solve.

Board Games:

Board games are a great way to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. These games require children to use their critical thinking and strategic planning skills to win the game. Games like Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, and Connect Four are excellent choices for young children.

Scavenger Hunts:

Scavenger hunts are a fun and interactive way to encourage problem-solving skills in young children. Parents or caregivers can create a list of items for children to find and encourage them to work collaboratively to solve clues and find the items. This activity promotes critical thinking, teamwork, and spatial awareness.

Creative Building:

Creative building activities, such as using play dough, clay, or craft materials, are an excellent way to promote problem-solving skills in young children. Children can use their imagination and creativity to problem-solve and create their structures and designs. This activity promotes critical thinking, spatial awareness, and creativity.

Sensory Bins:

Sensory bins are a fun and interactive way to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. Parents or caregivers can set up a bin filled with different materials, such as sand, rice, or beans, and hide different objects or toys within them. Children have to use their problem-solving skills to find and identify the objects hidden within the bin. Sensory bins also promote fine motor skills, sensory exploration, and creativity.

Art Projects:

Art projects are a great way to promote problem-solving skills in young children. By encouraging children to create their art projects, parents or caregivers can help them develop their problem-solving skills by encouraging them to think creatively and find solutions to design challenges. This activity promotes critical thinking, creativity, and fine motor skills.

Cooking and Baking:

Cooking and baking are great activities to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. Children can measure ingredients, follow directions, and problem-solve how to mix ingredients together properly. This activity promotes critical thinking, math skills, and following directions.

Outdoor Exploration:

Outdoor exploration is an excellent way to promote problem-solving skills in young children. Parents or caregivers can take children on nature walks or hikes and encourage them to explore and problem-solve by finding different types of plants, animals, and natural landmarks. This activity promotes critical thinking, creativity, and nature appreciation.

Science Kits:

Science kits are a fun and interactive way to promote problem-solving skills in preschoolers. There are many science kits available that are age-appropriate and designed specifically for preschoolers. These kits provide children with hands-on opportunities to experiment and explore scientific concepts, which promotes curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Some science kits may include materials for making slime, growing crystals, or exploring the properties of magnets.

Dramatic Play:

Dramatic play activities provide opportunities for preschoolers to use their imaginations and problem-solving skills.

Related: Examples of Dramatic Play for Preschoolers

Parents or caregivers can set up a pretend play area with costumes, props, and toys that encourage children to use their problem-solving skills to navigate different scenarios and situations.

For example, children can play doctor and use problem-solving skills to diagnose and treat a patient, or they can play chef and use problem-solving skills to plan and prepare a meal. Dramatic play promotes creativity, social-emotional development, and problem-solving skills.

Recommended:

• 25 Pattern Block Activities for Preschool
• 25 Excellent Outdoor Games for 4 – 5 Year Olds
• 23 Matching Activities for Preschoolers

Sohaib Hasan Shah

Sohaib's journey includes 10+ years of teaching and counseling experience at BCSS School in elementary and middle schools, coupled with a BBA (Hons) with a minor in Educational Psychology from Curtin University (Australia) . In his free time, he cherishes quality moments with his family, reveling in the joys and challenges of parenthood. His three daughters have not only enriched his personal life but also deepened his understanding of the importance of effective education and communication, spurring him to make a meaningful impact in the world of education.

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