Sudoku for Kids
12 small sudoku grids made for children. The 4×4 puzzles use only the digits 1 to 4; the 6×6 puzzles use 1 to 6. Solve them in the browser with a number pad, or print the PDF with the solution.
Sudoku 4x4 for Kids 1
8 clues · 4×4
Sudoku 4x4 for Kids 2
8 clues · 4×4
Sudoku 4x4 for Kids 3
8 clues · 4×4
Sudoku 4x4 for Kids 4
8 clues · 4×4
Sudoku 4x4 for Kids 5
8 clues · 4×4
Sudoku 4x4 for Kids 6
8 clues · 4×4
Sudoku 6x6 for Kids 1
14 clues · 6×6
Sudoku 6x6 for Kids 2
14 clues · 6×6
Sudoku 6x6 for Kids 3
14 clues · 6×6
Sudoku 6x6 for Kids 4
14 clues · 6×6
Sudoku 6x6 for Kids 5
14 clues · 6×6
Sudoku 6x6 for Kids 6
14 clues · 6×6
How a 4×4 grid works
Four rows, four columns, and four 2×2 boxes. Fill every empty cell with 1, 2, 3 or 4 so that no digit repeats in any row, any column, or any box. That is the whole rule . It is the same rule as a full 9×9 puzzle, just small enough that a child can hold it all in view at once.
Teaching it in two minutes
Point at a row that already has three numbers. Ask which one is missing. That single question is the entire logic of sudoku, and most children get it immediately. Once they can do a row, show them the same trick works on a column, then on a box.
No arithmetic is involved. The digits are only symbols . You could swap them for four colours and nothing about the puzzle would change.
Let them make their own
Once a child can finish a 4×4 reliably, the next thing that holds their attention is setting one. Print a blank sudoku grid at 4×4 or 6×6, have them fill in a complete valid solution in pencil, then rub out a few cells and hand it to someone else to solve. Working out which cells can be safely removed teaches the rule from the other direction, and it usually sticks better than solving does.
Frequently asked questions
What age can start with sudoku?
A 4×4 grid works for most children around five or six. Sudoku for 5 year olds is realistic as soon as they can count to four and hold the idea of "no repeats" in mind, because nothing is added or compared, only matched.
Should we start with 4×4 or 6×6?
Start with 4×4. It uses only the digits 1 to 4 and can be finished in a few minutes, which is usually enough to make the rule click.
Is a 9×9 grid too hard for a child?
Not necessarily, but the jump is large. Once 6×6 feels easy, try a very easy 9×9 where most cells are already filled in.
Do these need any maths?
No adding, no arithmetic at all. The digits are just symbols, you could use colours or shapes instead and the puzzle would work the same way.
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