Puzzle Advent Calendar: A daily challenge for the Christmas countdown

A puzzle a day, or one picture in stages?

The first choice is the format. Separate daily puzzles offer a fresh start behind each door. A calendar with portions of one large jigsaw builds toward a single finished picture, while a mystery calendar can carry clues forward from one day to the next.

For someone who likes fitting pieces, look for a jigsaw rather than assuming every puzzle calendar contains one. A keen word or logic solver may prefer written challenges. Those are different evenings, even when the boxes promise the same countdown.

Make room for the unfinished puzzle

A large jigsaw divided into daily bags still needs room for its whole finished picture. Read the dimensions, not just the total piece count. A surface that can remain undisturbed is helpful; otherwise, putting everything away each night can become the main challenge.

Mini jigsaws can be easier to complete in one sitting, but their piece size and image detail still matter. For a household that prefers something competitive and reusable, a strategy board game offers a different kind of shared evening.

Keep the challenge enjoyable

• Look for a stated difficulty, sample puzzle or realistic daily solving time.

• Find out whether each day stands alone or depends on earlier clues.

• Confirm that hints and solutions are included, and can be kept separate from the day's puzzle.

For shared solving, choose a format everyone can see and contribute to. A tiny printed clue or a handful of miniature pieces may be awkward around a crowded table; a larger image or a challenge read aloud can work better.

Save the surprise for December

This is a gift to hand over before its first day, rather than leave wrapped until Christmas morning. Count the days covered, and avoid photographs or contents lists that reveal a mystery's answers.

Our Christmas gift guide has choices for the day itself. If they would rather construct miniature models than solve puzzles, a building-block advent calendar follows the same countdown with a different activity.