Puzzles & Games: Why They're One of the Best Things for Little Minds This Winter

Winter has a way of making you very grateful for a good puzzle.

Not just for the quiet, though that's a bonus, but because puzzles and games are genuinely among the best things for little developing minds. Focus, patience, hand-eye coordination, logical thinking — it all happens, even when it looks like they're just staring at a pile of cardboard pieces on the floor.

Here's what we know after more than two decades of helping families find the right toys: the right puzzle at the right time can be transformative. And the right game? It's learning disguised as a very good afternoon.

Choosing the Right Puzzle — Our Top Tips

Pick a theme they already love

This is the single biggest tip we share in store. When a child is excited about the subject matter — dinosaurs, unicorns, animals, vehicles, the ocean — they'll be far more motivated to sit with a puzzle and see it through. The picture at the end means something to them.

Step up the piece count

Once your child has mastered their current puzzle, gently stretch them with one that has a few more pieces. That small challenge builds real confidence and keeps the engagement alive. A toddler might start with 2-piece puzzles and move to 12, then 24 or 36. The progression matters.

Look for quality construction

Good puzzles have thicker pieces, clean printing, and boxes that actually keep the pieces together. These details matter, especially when a puzzle is going to be done again and again — which, with the right one, it will be.

Our Puzzle Picks

We stock two brands we absolutely trust for this age group: Crocodile Creek and Janod.

Crocodile Creek

Crocodile Creek puzzles are beautifully illustrated, printed with soy-based ink on recycled cardboard, and built to last. They're the kind of puzzles that look good on a shelf and hold up to repeated use.

For children just beginning their puzzle journey, the Crocodile Creek Beginners Puzzle Set — NZ Animals (10 x 2-piece puzzles) is a wonderful starting point. Ten different two-piece puzzles with a NZ animal theme — simple enough to complete without losing concentration, and perfect for building the turning-and-slotting skills that lead to bigger puzzles. There are several other options with the same 10 x 2 piece puzzle concept.

When they're ready to take on more, the Crocodile Creek 36-piece Floor Puzzle — Wild kingdom and the Crocodile Creek 36-piece Floor Puzzle — Vehicles are both excellent. Jumbo-sized pieces, great themes, and sturdy boxes that do their job. A 36-piece floor puzzle at ages 3-4 is a genuinely satisfying challenge.

For something a little different, the Crocodile Creek Tower Puzzle — Jungle (30 pieces) is a vertical format puzzle that stacks colourful jungle animals and comes in a sturdy canister with a rope handle. It's a great option for children who love animals and parents who love things that tidy themselves away.

Janod

Janod is a French toy brand known for beautiful design, wonderful themes, and quality materials. Their puzzles have a slightly different aesthetic — very considered, often with gorgeous illustrated detailed scenes, so lots of conversation starters and opportunities to develop vocab. Browse our full Janod range to see what's currently in store.

Games: Learning in Disguise

If puzzles are about independent focus, games are about connection. And for preschoolers, they're quietly doing a remarkable amount of developmental work.

Taking turns is a big deal at this age — it requires impulse control, patience, and an understanding that the world doesn't revolve around you (something three-year-olds are still very much working out). Games are one of the most natural and enjoyable ways to practise this.

Then there's the maths. Counting spaces, recognising numbers, matching pictures — all of it is early numeracy, happening in the context of fun. Children don't feel like they're learning. They just want to play.

 

Orchard Toys

We love the Orchard Toys range for this age group. Their games are designed specifically for young children — no reading required, familiar subjects, simple rules, and genuinely engaging play.

The Orchard Toys Shopping List Game is a firm favourite. Players collect items from their shopping list by matching pictures — it's a great introduction to memory, matching, and taking turns, wrapped up in a subject every child understands.

We also love the Orchard Toys Lunchbox game for similar reasons — familiar, relatable, and genuinely fun for the whole family to play together.

Find Us In Store or Online

These puzzles and games are available in store in Palmerston North and Napier, and many are available through our online store. If you'd like a recommendation for your child's age or stage, pop in and see us — we're always happy to help you find the right fit.

56 George Street, Palmerston North | 34 Tennyson Street, Napier

Jo and the Junior team