Two Small Mazes for Ages 4-5 — Set 401996

At every fork in these two small mazes, the child aged 4 to 5 says out loud which way to go and why, turning quiet guessing into clear thinking.

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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

Explain the rule: when the corridor splits, the crayon stops and the mouth starts.
The child says something like "I go this way because the other one looks closed", and only then continues.
Do the first 8×6 maze together and let the child solve the second one while you just listen.

What this worksheet teaches

Speaking a decision aloud helps young children slow down and notice what they are looking at, a habit that supports planning and self-control. Small grids have just a few junctions, so each spoken choice stays short and manageable. The adult hears how the child is thinking, which makes it easier to praise good reasoning and not only the right answer.

Play idea

Use a toy microphone, or a rolled-up piece of paper, as a "reporter mic". At each junction, the adult interviews the child: "What do you see? Which way now?" Children who are shy about speaking often enjoy it more with a prop.

Questions and answers

Questions from parents

My child just wants to draw; do we have to talk at every junction?

Try it for the first maze; in an 8×6 grid there are only a few forks, so the talking does not slow things down much.

What is the benefit of two mazes on the page?

The first is a guided run, where you model the talking; the second is the child's turn to talk through it alone.

Is this sheet suitable for 4-year-olds?

Yes, it is designed for ages 4 to 5; each maze has one correct path, so every decision is about the walls only.