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The rule is easy to say: every row, every column and every box must have 1, 2, 3 and 4 in it, once each. A puzzle takes a minute or two, and there is no game over. Wrong numbers turn red so they are easy to fix.
How to explain it to a child
- Show one row. Point along the top row and say "this row needs a 1, a 2, a 3 and a 4". Let them find which one is missing.
- Then a column. Do the same going down. Children often find columns harder at first, so take it slowly.
- Then a box. Show the thick lines and explain that each box of four squares also needs 1 to 4.
- Find the easy square. Look for a row, column or box with three numbers already. The last number is the only one that fits.
Tapping a square shades its row, column and box, which helps young players see what to look at.
Tips for parents and teachers
- Start on Easy, where more than half of the grid is filled in.
- Ask "how do you know?" after each number. Saying the reason out loud is where the learning happens.
- Avoid guessing. Every puzzle here has one answer, so there is always a square where only one number fits.
- When Hard feels easy, move on to Mini Sudoku 6 by 6.
The three levels
| Easy | 9 of the 16 squares filled in. |
|---|---|
| Medium | 7 squares filled in. |
| Hard | Only 5 squares filled in. A real puzzle, even for grown ups. |
Questions parents ask
What age is 4x4 Sudoku for?
Many children can play it from about five or six, as soon as they know the numbers 1 to 4. Older children and adults use it to learn how Sudoku works before moving to a bigger grid.
What happens if my child makes a mistake?
A wrong number turns red so it is easy to spot and fix, but there is no limit on mistakes and the game never ends early. Erase or Undo takes it back.
What comes after 4x4 Sudoku?
Mini Sudoku, which uses a 6 by 6 grid and the numbers 1 to 6. After that, classic 9 by 9 Sudoku on Easy.
Is Sudoku good for children?
It is a calm way to practise careful thinking: looking for patterns, ruling things out and checking work. It uses numbers as symbols, so it does not need any sums.
More Sudoku games
Classic Sudoku
The everyday game, from Easy to Extreme.
Daily Sudoku
Four puzzles a day, the same for everyone.
Killer Sudoku
Few or no numbers to start. Cages tell you their totals.
Jigsaw Sudoku
The boxes are wiggly pieces instead of squares.
Sudoku X
Both long diagonals need 1 to 9 as well.
Mini Sudoku
A quick game with the numbers 1 to 6.
Sudoku 16 × 16
The numbers 1 to 16 on a 256 square grid.
Christmas Sudoku
Classic Sudoku dressed for the holidays, to play or print.
All games and tools
Every game on the site, the difficulty pages, printable puzzles and the solver.