Buying guide

Calm Puzzle Ladder Step 2: First Steps

Step 2 is where many children start doing a puzzle on their own. The mazes are still small and the word searches have only four words, but the child can now see a whole page through from start to finish.

By the Buy Activity Books team · Updated October 27, 2026 · 3 min read

The short answer

Step 2 suits a child who can trace a small maze and match short words. Mazes grow from 3 by 3 to 6 by 6, and 6 by 6 word searches hide four words that run across or down. Every page has the same layout and an I finished! box, so independent work feels safe.

Key takeaways

The step where independent puzzling often begins.
Words run across or down, never diagonal or backwards.
Mazes grow slowly from 3 by 3 to 6 by 6.
Agree the number of puzzles before starting.

Our pack for easy puzzles for autistic kids

20 small puzzlesEarly puzzlers, any age

Calm Puzzles Step 2: First Steps

Twenty very simple, very predictable puzzles. Tiny mazes from 3 by 3 with extra-wide paths, and 6 by 6 word searches with four words that only run across or down. Every page has the same layout, a page count and an I finished! box.

10 tiny mazes (3 by 3 to 6 by 6) and 10 four-word word searches
Same layout on every page, no pictures or clutter
Words run across or down only, never diagonal or backwards
Puzzle 3 of 20 on every page, and an I finished! tick box

See inside →

At a glance

	Step 2: First Steps
Best for	Ladder step 2
Puzzles	20
Grid	Mazes 3 to 6, 6 by 6 word search
Difficulty	Across and down only
Pages (A4)	27
Answer key	Yes
Paper sizes	A4 and US Letter
Price	$4.99

Signs Step 2 is the right start

Small mazes go well with a little help, or Step 1 now feels easy.
The child recognises letters and can match a short word.
A page with one clear task is manageable.
You would like the child to try some puzzles alone.

What is inside

Ten mazes from 3 by 3 to 6 by 6 and ten word searches on a 6 by 6 grid. Each word search has four short words, such as APPLE, PEAR, PLUM and LIME, that run across or down only. Mazes and word searches alternate through the pack.

Building independence

Do the first page together, as in Step 1.
On the next page, start together and let the child finish.
Then let the child do a page alone while you stay nearby.
Check together with the answer key, as part of the routine.
Keep sessions short and predictable: the same number of puzzles each time.

Searching across and down

Show the child two ways to look: along each row from left to right, then down each column from top to bottom. With only two directions and four words, the search is manageable and always ends.

Moving on to Step 3

When Step 2 pages are finished calmly and without help, Step 3 adds bigger mazes, word searches with diagonal words and the first small number puzzles.

How we make every puzzle

Every puzzle in our packs is generated and then checked by computer before it is allowed into a pack. Anything that fails a check is thrown away and replaced.

One route per maze
Every maze is a perfect maze, so there is exactly one way through.
One solution per sudoku
Each sudoku is solved by computer and kept only if it has one answer.
Every word once
Each word-search word is checked to appear exactly once in its grid.
Answers included
Every pack ends with a full answer key, in A4 and US Letter.

Questions about easy puzzles for autistic kids

How is Step 2 different from Step 1?+

Mazes are a little bigger, word searches have four words instead of three, and words run down as well as across.

Can older children use Step 2?+

Yes. The pages have no childish pictures, so they suit any age.

How fast do I get it?+

Straight away. The download page opens as soon as payment goes through, and a link is emailed to you as well, so there is no shipping and no wait.

Are the answers included?+

Yes. Every pack ends with a full answer key, so a parent, teacher or the solver can check the work.