DiY games are a simple but fun handmade gift idea, whether you’re planning for Christmas or a birthday. Download these printable tangrams and the challenge cards for a fun kids activity to enjoy year-round.
This post is part of a Christmas in July blog series. Every Wednesday I’m sharing a printable game that makes a fantastic DiY gift.
Tangrams are a simple 7-piece puzzle that can be put together in a square or an infinite number of combinations to make other shapes. They make a good activity for kids who need to be busy or just enjoy a good brain challenge. There are plenty of difficult puzzles for older kids to make with these, but even preschoolers will enjoy the simplest ones.
My son has a set of metal tangrams. {These here, although I believe they were a gift.} I’ve also seen them made from plastic or wood.
Because they are such a fun gift idea, I thought I would make a printable paper set and a few challenge cards.
Printable tangrams
To download the printable, click HERE.
This printable is three 8.5″x11″ pages. The first page is the tangrams. I fit four sets on a single page. Although the original game uses just one set, you can combine sets and get creative with even more options.
The next two pages are challenge cards. Each page has four pictures that can be made with a single set of tangrams. They’re simple enough for young kids to be able to do them, but my 9-year-old also had fun with them.
Tangrams gift idea
I recommend printing these on cardstock. You could also print them on heavier cover stock paper, but I haven’t tried it.
Cut out each of the four squares and then the smaller shapes for the tangrams. Cut the challenge cards into four along the dotted lines. If you’re giving them to a young child, it might be worthwhile to laminate every piece to make them more durable.
Don’t miss my “sequel” printable activity: printable tangrams mandala puzzle pages. They coordinate with these tangrams too!
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this is pretty cool! I love the different images and the fact all you need is paper and you have quiet time fun 🙂
Tangrams are so much fun! Great gift idea!
A super gift idea. Sometimes the fun this are also very simple.
Thanks, Mary! Sometimes I think kids spend so much time with electronics that everything else becomes a novelty.
We plan to print them out, and then laminate.
And use them in the STEM classes at the pre-school.
That sounds great! I hope the kids enjoy the tangrams.
thank you for the tangrams – we used to do them in homeschool with my son – now I can use these with his son – thank you!
You’re welcome! I’ve heard a lot of homeschoolers are using them.
Thank you so much! I made tangrams for my students and will include your challenge cards. I love these things. So glad others find them gift-worthy.
These are great! I printed the various shape challenge card combinations in B&W to make it an extra level of challenge and in color for the kids to check their accuracy. SO great! Thank you for this.
That’s a great idea! I think I’m going to reprint mine in black and white to up the challenge for my kids now that they’ve done them in color so often.
Thanks for the free printable, I do OT with the elderly & this will be perfect for them.
That’s wonderful!