First Maze for Ages 3–4: Wide Paths

Wide paths and a route that begins by going down rather than right make this small maze a gentle surprise for three- and four-year-olds discovering how mazes work.

4 Years

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1 A4 page · for home and classroom use

All printables: Mazes

Maze: small (ages 4-5)

How to use this worksheet

The arrow at the top left shows the way in. Here the only open way is straight down, so the first move is easy.
The route then winds through the lower left part, even visiting the bottom-left corner, before climbing back up.
At the end it drops straight down and runs right along the bottom into the small circle.
Let your child say each direction out loud at every turn: "down", "right", "up".

What this worksheet teaches

Naming directions while moving is the heart of this card. The correct route passes through 25 of the 48 squares and at one point climbs straight up, the opposite of where the exit is. Saying "up", "down", "left" and "right" while the finger moves links the words to the movement, and children need exactly these words for following instructions and, later, for forming letters in the right direction. With only 5 dead ends, a wrong turn is quickly spotted and undone.

Play idea

Walk the route on the floor before drawing: one step for every square, calling out each direction. Then find the same turns on the paper.

Questions and answers

Questions from parents

How is this maze different from other first mazes?

The route starts downward and passes the bottom-left corner before heading to the exit, so it does not simply go from left to right.

My child mixes up left and right. Does that matter?

Not at this age. Say the words yourself and point with your hand; left and right settle later.

Should my child use a pencil or a crayon?

A thick crayon is fine, as the corridors are wide. The aim is to stay between the walls, not to draw a perfect line.