Homemade Puzzles

Homemade puzzles are very fun and easy to make.

Find Your Image
First you select your puzzle image which could be found in many places. It can be a something personal like a photo you have taken. If using one, you may want to enlarge it to about 8" x 10". If you are reading this, you probably have a computer and have the ability to do this inexpensively right at home. You can also use clip art graphics and print those, too. Other sources for great puzzle images are magazines, junk mail, even old books. I am not really an advocate of tearing apart books, but you may have one that is seen better days, is falling apart and bound for the landfill. Sometime you can find books like this at a garage sale for next to nothing.

Glue to Backing
The puzzles are best if you glue your images to some type of cardboard backing. This can be a corrugated box, a cereal box (which sometimes already have great images to begin with), or you can purchase foam core board which is very nice.

Cut into Pieces
After the glue is dry, use scissors or a razor blade to cut your puzzle into fun shapes. Keep in mind the age of the child you are making this for; making the size and number of pieces appropriate for their ability. You can get as creative as you want with the shapes. You can cut your shapes to follow the image or cut random pieces.

Bag it Up
If I have created my puzzle from an image I printed out myself, I will usually print an extra on cardstock to keep with the puzzle. Then the little ones can used it as a reference or even put the puzzle together right on top of it. Place everything together in a ziplock.

Puzzles for Learning
Puzzles can be a fun learning tool. Not only do they teach some great motor and thinking skills, but you can make the image something educational, as well. Print out a fun learning sheet from a site like Enchanted Learning, let your child complete and color it, and then use this for your puzzle image. Every time your child works with the puzzle, that information will be reviewed and reinforced.

Have fun with this! This is a fun new activity you can create with your child for minimal cost. And if you lose a piece it is no big deal. That is just an excuse to create a new puzzle!