Which Level Up! puzzle is right for your child?

How the series works

Every Level Up! box contains several puzzles of increasing difficulty, each in its own bag. Early levels hold more, simpler puzzles. Later levels hold fewer, larger ones. Pieces are thick and sturdy, and the boxes have handles and level numbers on the side, so they stack neatly on a shelf and are easy to carry.

The idea is simple. A child finishes the easiest puzzle in the box, then the next one, and by the end is ready for the next level. Parents who reviewed the series for Mother&Baby liked the strong pieces, the separate bags and the clear age banding.

Level by level

Ages are taken from the boxes in the current range. Themes vary by box, from dinosaurs and rescue teams to fairy tales and space.

Why progressive puzzles work

A puzzle that is too easy is boring, and one that is too hard is abandoned. Progressive puzzles keep a child in the zone between the two. Each step asks for slightly more, so children practise the same skills again and again without noticing:

• Shape recognition: spotting which edge fits which gap.
• Concentration: staying with one task until it is finished.
• Goal setting: "I will finish this one, then the next."
• Patience: trying a piece three ways before it fits.

These are the same skills children use later for reading, maths and following instructions in class, which is why teachers and parents value puzzles so highly in the early years.

Level Up! versus a standard jigsaw

A standard 24-piece jigsaw is one challenge. A Level Up! box is a small course: several puzzles that start easier and finish harder, so the child succeeds early and is stretched by the end. The illustrations also change as children grow, from single animals and vehicles at the early levels to busy scenes, stories and a world map at the top.

How to choose a starting level

• Start one level below the age on the box if your child is new to puzzles. An easy win builds confidence.
• Watch the first puzzle. If it is finished in a couple of minutes without help, skip ahead. If your child gets frustrated, go back a level.
• Let interest lead. A dinosaur fan will persevere with a harder dinosaur puzzle longer than with an easier puzzle they do not care about.

Getting more out of each box

• Talk about the picture before you start: what is happening, who is in it, what colours you can see.
• Sort edge pieces first once children reach Level 4 or 5. It is their first lesson in strategy.
• Time a favourite puzzle once a week. Beating their own time is a big motivator.
• Keep finished levels. Younger siblings will grow into them.

Travel and storage

Because every puzzle in the box has its own bag, Level Up! works well for travel. Take one bag in the car or on a flight instead of the whole box. At home, the handled boxes stack on a shelf with the level showing, so children can choose for themselves and put things back.

Gifting by level

If you are buying for someone else's child and are not sure of their puzzle experience, choose the level that matches the lower end of their age. For a three-year-old, Level 2 or 3 is a safe choice. For a five-year-old, Level 5. It is far better to give a puzzle they can finish than one that sits unopened.

For retailers

Level Up! is a natural range builder because each level leads to the next purchase. Stocking several consecutive levels, rather than one or two, lets parents come back for the next step. Ask us about the full Level Up! range for your store.