Note: There are a number of website recommendations in this message, so be sure to read the entire message to find them all.
Recommended Website:
WebSudoku.com
List member Leslie recommended today’s website. She wrote, “It’s the latest craze that’s sweeping the nation! I love Sudoku puzzles and now I have my 5 year old and 8 year old doing them to! I figure it teaches them logic and in a fun way! Hope you enjoy it!”
I hadn’t heard of Sudoku puzzles even though Wikipedia informed me that these puzzles were “first published in a U.S. puzzle magazine in 1979.” I almost wish I had never heard of them because I really enjoy playing them and they distract me from working. :)
Sudoku is a FUN, logic-based, number placement puzzle. It’s not mathematical. It’s applied logic. Players must use the principles of deduction and induction to solve the puzzle which sharpens skills in concentration and reasoning.
The rules of Sudoku are simple. You enter numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces provided in a 9×9 puzzle grid made up of 3×3 subgrids (or regions). There are number “givens” that you use as clues in solving the puzzle. Every row must contain one of each digit from 1-9. So must every column, as must every 3×3 square. Finding the solution is simply a matter of taking your time, and using logic. For tips on how to play the game and solve the puzzles you can go to an online Sudoku tutorial at About.com.
Going back to today’s featured website, you will find a FREE Sudoku puzzle generator. You can play Sudoku online (includes a game timer) or you can print it out to play offline. You can check your solution at the website as well. You’ll find a selection of puzzles graded easy, medium, hard, and evil. I tried the “easy” version and thought it might be difficult or a bit frustrating for kids under 10 (although there are always exceptions).
That sent me on a search to find a website with free Sudoku puzzles for kids. There are many. Here are some that I thought you might enjoy:
Sudoku For Kids
This site offers free Sudoku puzzles for kids from about ages 7 and up, and you can even sign up to receive a free, weekly e-newsletter containing a Sudoku puzzle you can solve with your family.
Free Sudoku Puzzles
This site has free Sudoku puzzles in printable pdf files.
Easy Sudoku Puzzles for Kids
This site offers a number of very easy Sudoku number puzzles for kids.
Printable Sudoku
This site offers 20 free, printable Sudoku puzzles that young children will enjoy.
For the very young (preschool age), there are Sudoku puzzles made with letters, colors and shapes. I didn’t find free puzzles using colors and shapes — but I did find a free Sudoku puzzle generator that allows you to substitute letters for numbers. Note: If this link doesn’t work, please don’t write to me requesting an alternate link. Try this: http://www.dailysudoku.co.uk/cgi-bin/sudoku/archive.pl and then select “easy” from the “Kids” archive of puzzles. A number puzzle will appear, and you can choose to substitute “letters” instead.
Have fun with Sudoku!
