A maze is a simple idea: find the path from the start to the finish. That simplicity hides a lot of learning. Children have to look ahead, choose a route, notice dead ends and try again, all while guiding a bead or ball with steady hands.
What mazes train
Focus. Following a path from beginning to end asks children to keep their attention on one task.
Hand-eye coordination. Moving a bead along a wire or steering a ball with a magnetic pen trains fine control.
Planning. Older children start tracing the route with their eyes before they move, an early form of strategic thinking.
Patience and persistence. Dead ends are part of the game. Each one teaches that it is fine to go back and try another way.
Choosing a maze
Start with simpler mazes and larger pieces, then move to longer or more detailed routes as your child’s control and patience grow. Our range includes the Maze Puzzle, the Multi-Function Wire Maze, the Fruit Maze and the Magnetic Digital Maze.
Always check the suggested age on the product.
Play ideas
Race against a timer, take turns, or ask your child to explain the route before moving. On paper, draw simple mazes for each other.
See more thinking games in Stem Toys, or choose “Thinking, memory and problem-solving” in the Smart Guide.