In my first blog of Sudoku I shared how we introduced our toddlers to this puzzle game using a 4×4 grid. We started off with pictures thinking it might work easier and be more enticing than numerals or letters. Even symbols, shapes and colours would work for starters. I preferred, at this age, to exclude the colour variation from our Sudoku exercises to keep other Math concepts separate that we practised with coloured blocks. However, later we did add this variation to our sudoku exercises.
We used manipulatives* at first, using cut-outs to place on the grid, which had the factor that the player can see what is next and eliminate the cut-outs as they place them. Now they fill in the missing blocks on print outs (like the alphabet one here), but have to reason for themselves what is missing in the row/column/block set. Earlier it worked well as a fridge magnet game and then later it became part of cut and glue exercises. Another way to play is to print or draw an empty grid and use play pieces, like for a board game. For example you need 4 times 4 different items, 4 jelly tots, 4 smarties, 4 gummies, 4 mallows – 16 items in total for the 4×4 grid; 6 times 6 different items (36 total items) for the 6×6 grid, etc. More possible pieces to use can be Lego blocks, bingo pieces, pebbles, coins, etc. and you can draw a grid in sand. The fridge magnet version can also be transferred to a tin box to be used as a travelling game.
To make your own, a quick and easy way is to laminate an empty grid and use whiteboard markers to create and fill in the grid. This way you save on paper and ink as you can use it over and over again. Use permanent markers to create the puzzle on the laminate grid. Then let the kids use white board makers to fill in the empty blocks. This way, if they make a mistake, they can erase their own marks without erasing the ones the puzzle starts with. ❗ Did you know that the permanent marker can easily be erased by going over the permanent marks with the whiteboard marker and then wiping them both off together? Try it!
Another fun way to play the game, involving more of your entire body, is to use 16 empty cooldrink bottles as the play pieces (you can colour code them) for a 4×4 grid. Mark the grid out on the playground with, for example, string, giving an enlarged perspective of the game. This will make a fun party activity too.
The puzzle content may add a level of visual difficulty (shapes and colours are easier than letters and numbers) depending on your eye muscles. It exercises these during quick searching over the grid. How many blocks can you see in one view? How quickly do you recognise the content of each row, column or block set? Keep this in mind next time you play or create your own Sudoku puzzle. It is such a simple game that gives the mind a quick workout, benefiting mental health for all ages!
You can add difficulty and up the challenge by timing yourself or challenge your kids to do so. Try and beat your time! Variation is good and it teaches kids that the concept of the game stays the same, no matter in what form it is. Both you and your kids can enjoy Sudoku by being creative in the way you choose to play.
Keep it fun, get creative! 😊
❓ *What are manipulatives? objects (such as blocks) that a student is instructed to use in a way that teaches or reinforces a lesson (taken from merriam-webster.com).
Love this practical idea!!