5 Problem-solving activities kids can do at home
We love encouraging creative problem-solving in our kids. Here are some play-based activities kids can do at home to build problem-solving skills.
As parents, we all want our kids to grow into confident thinkers. Kids who can try, fail, rethink, and try again.
The tricky part?
Our kids don’t actually face many real “problems” day to day. Most things are solved for them before they ever have to think them through.
That’s why play matters so much.
Play gives kids low-stakes challenges where they can experiment, make mistakes, and figure things out on their own. And when it’s done right, it builds problem-solving skills without feeling like “learning.”
Below are some of our favorite play-based activities that encourage creative thinking at home, including a few easy swaps that make them even more powerful (and less work for parents).
1. Treasure Hunts (The Classic for a Reason)
There’s a reason treasure hunts never get old.
Following clues, solving riddles, and racing to the next location naturally pulls kids into thinking mode. They’re reading carefully, making connections, and figuring out what to do next—all while having a blast.
A good treasure hunt might include:
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Simple riddles or rhyming clues
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Picture clues for younger kids
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Logic puzzles or codes for older kids
This love of treasure hunts is exactly what inspired Blimey Box in the first place. If you want to create a treasure hunt for your kids, we have some tips for you here.
If you want done-for-you treasure hunts, we have multiple themes and printable games available for kids ages 6-10.
Additionally, that’s why our Adventure Escape Game Kit and Smart Puzzle Game Kit are designed to feel like a full treasure hunt experience—just with everything already done for you. You set it up once, and your kids do the thinking.
For busy parents, that’s the sweet spot.
👉Shop our done-for-you printable Treasure Hunts
2. Escape Games (Big Thinking, No Screens)
Escape games are one of our favorite ways to encourage deep problem-solving because kids have to:
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Work through puzzles in a specific order
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Decode clues and hidden messages
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Stay focused until the final solution
At home, escape games can look different depending on how much time you have.
On weekends or for special occasions, a full escape game is an amazing collaborative activity for siblings or friends. That’s where the Adventure Escape Game Kit shines, with immersive storylines and multi-step puzzles that feel like a real escape room.
On busy mornings or quiet afternoons, shorter games work best. That’s why we also love mini escape-style puzzles, where kids solve just a few challenges to unlock a prize.
Our Smart Puzzle Game Kit was created for exactly that purpose. Kids work through bite-sized puzzles that build confidence and problem-solving skills—without parents needing to invent anything or explain complicated rules.
Try a Free Escape Game First
Not sure if escape-style learning is right for your child?
Start with our free 20-Minute Escape Game. It’s a fast, fun way to see how your child responds to puzzle-based challenges—no commitment required.
👉 Grab the free 20-Minute Escape Game here
3. Blocks (With a Problem-Solving Twist)
Blocks are a staple in most homes, but here’s an easy way to turn them into a real thinking challenge.
Try this:
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Build two structures several feet apart
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You build one, your child builds the other
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Test which structure holds up better (a gentle nudge, a rolling ball, or a toy launcher)
Kids quickly start noticing what works and what doesn’t. They adjust their designs, reinforce weak spots, and rethink their approach.
That process—observe, test, adjust—is the heart of problem-solving.
It’s the same thinking kids use when working through puzzles in an escape game, just in a more physical form.
4. Fort Building (Let Them Struggle a Little)
Fort building is fantastic for creative problem-solving—but only if kids are actually doing the building.
It’s tempting to jump in and “help,” but the learning happens when:
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The fort collapses
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The blanket won’t stay up
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The design doesn’t work the first time
Give them materials (pillows, blankets, chairs), then step back.
When kids have to redesign and try again, they’re practicing resilience and critical thinking. These are the same skills they use when a puzzle doesn’t work on the first try.
That productive struggle is a good thing.
5. LEGO Builds Without Instructions
LEGO sets are fun, but following step-by-step instructions doesn’t leave much room for creative thinking.
To really encourage problem-solving, try challenges like:
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Build your name using LEGO bricks
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Create a habitat for an animal
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Design a vehicle that can “escape” a maze
Open-ended challenges force kids to plan, experiment, and adapt.
This kind of thinking mirrors what happens in escape games, where there’s no single obvious path and kids have to test ideas until something clicks.
Why Puzzle-Based Play Works So Well
The reason puzzle games are so effective is simple:
They give kids a reason to think.
When kids are motivated by a story, a goal, or a “locked” prize, they stay engaged longer and push through challenges instead of giving up.
That’s exactly what we build into every Blimey Box Escape Game Kit. Whether your child is 5 or 13, the goal is the same:
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Encourage independent thinking
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Build confidence through problem-solving
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Make learning feel like an adventure
And for parents?
It means less prep, less screen time, and more meaningful play.
That’s a win all around.
Are your kids ready for a learning adventure? Check out our Treasure Hunt Games:
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