Celebrate National Puzzle Day 2026!
It seems like there’s a national day for almost everything, but trust us, National Puzzle Day is one you’ll definitely want to get involved with. Each year on January 29th, puzzle lovers get their time to shine and celebrate all things puzzling. From crosswords and jigsaws to codebreaking, treasure hunts, and Sudoku, there are so many ways to enjoy this wonderfully brain-boosting day.
What Is National Puzzle Day?
National Puzzle Day was first introduced in 2002 by puzzle creator Jodi Jill, who wanted to share her passion for puzzles and highlight their positive impact on mental development. Puzzles are valuable learning tools for children of all ages, and they can be especially powerful in the classroom. Children learn and grow through puzzle-solving, often without realising just how many skills they’re building along the way!
Benefits of Puzzles for Children
Teachers, parents, and professionals have long used puzzles to support children's development. Through engaging, hands-on problem solving, puzzles promote physical, emotional, and cognitive growth that extends beyond the classroom.
How puzzles help:
- Concentration
Young children can have short attention spans, but puzzles provide a motivating task with a clear goal. Over time, this helps strengthen their ability to focus for longer periods. - Problem-Solving Skills
Every puzzle is a problem waiting to be solved. Through trial and error, children learn to test ideas, adapt strategies, and discover what works. - Language and Memory
Completing puzzles often involves discussion, asking for help, explaining ideas, or sharing excitement once it’s solved. These interactions strengthen language, communication, and recall. - Patience and Perseverance
Puzzles teach an important life lesson: not everything comes together on the first try. Children learn the value of effort, resilience, and taking their time. - Social Skills
Puzzles can be completed alone or collaboratively. Group puzzles encourage teamwork, communication, turn-taking, and conflict resolution. Even disagreements become learning moments.
How We Use Puzzles at The PE Hub
National Puzzle Day has continued to grow in popularity, and The PE Hub is excited to take part again in 2026. Puzzles have always played a key role in our learning programmes, especially within Outdoor and Adventurous Activities. Our OAA lesson plans feature puzzles and team-based challenges that support problem-solving, communication, and confidence-building in a fun, active way.
We encourage you to enjoy the day. Keep it light, inclusive, and engaging for everyone. And if you’re unsure where to start, we’ve created something to help you celebrate with ease.
Our printable puzzle pack is full of classroom-friendly activities that support teamwork, problem-solving, and active learning.
Click here to download our free puzzle book
As always, the PE Hub team is here to support you. If you'd like ideas on incorporating puzzles into your classroom, on National Puzzle Day and throughout the school year, just let us know. We’re happy to help you make learning active, meaningful, and fun.