The Best Screen-Free Activities for Kids: Jigsaws

When you’re looking for calm, hands-on, genuinely screen-free fun, a jigsaw puzzle is a winner. Puzzles help kids build focus, problem-solving and fine-motor skills, and that fist-pump moment when the last piece clicks into place never gets old. Below you’ll find smart ways to choose puzzles by age and interest, along with Usborne picks that pair a sturdy jigsaw with an engaging book, so the learning continues long after the puzzle is complete.

Why jigsaws work so well at home

Jigsaws slow the pace in the nicest way. Kids learn to notice details, plan their next move and keep going when it’s tricky. They also make lovely together-time: one person hunts edge pieces while another sorts by color, and you can suggest strategies such as rotating a piece. Because Usborne sets include a themed book, kids naturally extend their knowledge through reading about volcanoes after puzzling Planet Earth, or naming planets they’ve just pieced together.

Choose by age and stage (made easy)

Toddlers and preschoolers (around ages 2-4): keep it simple and confidence-boosting. Usborne First Jigsaws and Book: Bugs includes eight two-piece puzzles and a friendly first facts book which is great for fast learning.

Early elementary (about ages 5-7): step up challenge with real-world themes that spark curiosity. Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Sharks is packed with toothy favorites to spot, while Usborne Book and Jigsaw: The Solar System turns space facts into a 300-piece adventure. If your child loves maps and nature, Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Planet Earth invites big conversations about deserts, forests and oceans.

Upper elementary (around ages 7-10): go deeper on detail and discovery. Budding chemists will relish Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Periodic Table, matching symbols and elements, and dinosaur fans can time-travel with Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Dinosaur Timeline. Fantasy-minded puzzlers? Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Unicorns brings high-appeal sparkle while still strengthening spatial reasoning.

Little habits that make puzzle time meaningful

• Sort first. Try a quick habit: edges in one pile, then sort by color or pattern. It builds planning skills without feeling “schooly.”
  
  

• Talk strategies. Ask open questions: “What could we try next?” “Where else might that shape fit?”
  
  

• Connect to the book. After finishing Planet Earth, choose a habitat in the book and ask your child to find it again on the completed puzzle.
  
  

• Try small challenges. If Sharks feels easy now, aim for Periodic Table or Dinosaur Timeline next.
  
  

• Create a calm routine. A cozy corner and soft music make puzzles a brilliant after-school wind-down.
  
  

Usborne jigsaws we love (by theme)

Amazing creatures:

Usborne First Jigsaws and Book: Bugs (ages 2+) lets tiny hands practice their matching and vocabulary skills. For big-kid ocean thrills, Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Sharks (ages 5+) blends fascinating facts with a satisfying 300-piece challenge.

Our amazing world:

Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Planet Earth (ages 6+) zooms from mountains to rainforests; Usborne Book and Jigsaw: The Solar System (ages 5+) makes space exploration feel hands-on right at the kitchen table.

STEM showstoppers:

Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Periodic Table (ages 7+) turns elements into a visual feast, while Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Dinosaur Timeline (ages 5+) helps kids place favorite dinos in deep time.

A sprinkle of magic:

Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Unicorns (ages 5+) brings pure delight; ideal for rainy afternoons and playdates.

Ready to make puzzle time your family’s favorite screen-free habit? Pick a theme your child already loves, spread out the pieces, and enjoy where the conversation (and the jigsaw) takes you.