Puzzles to Do With Your Grandchildren
Which puzzles work best across the generations, and how a daily puzzle becomes something lovely you share.
Games where the generations meet as equals
The best shared games are the ones where sixty years' head start doesn't decide the winner. Memory match is the classic — children are quick, but grandparents are careful, and careful usually wins. Word searches share out naturally too: young eyes spot letters fast, older heads know that PARSNIP is probably lurking in the vegetable-themed grid.
Same puzzle, different chairs
Because our puzzles are the same for everyone each day, you don't need to be in the same room to share them. You do the Tuesday crossword in Torquay; your granddaughter does the same one in Toronto; then someone telephones. 'Did you get 4 Across?' is a conversation starter that never runs dry — and a far better reason to ring than 'just checking in'.
Little rituals that stick
- Sunday video call, trivia together — grandchild reads the questions, everyone votes
- A running family score for the daily trivia, kept loosely and disputed loudly
- Post a printed word search in a birthday card; request it back completed
- Let the youngest work the screen while the eldest dictates answers — both feel indispensable, because both are