Sibling Fun Fridays
Welcome to our new blog series - Sibling Fun Fridays! These blogs will consist of biweekly activity ideas for siblings to spend some time together without having to prep anything big.
In each blog, we will provide a simple tutorial of the game as well as a Sibling Society gamesheet if necessary. You can download the PDF version to have a physical copy, or access it online.
Sudoku
A brain-teasing number puzzle you can solve solo, race, or team up on
What You Need
- A pencil (Not pen! You’ll want to erase a few guesses!)
- A sudoku puzzle — print one from the resources below, or use a sudoku app
- A sibling, friend, or family member (optional)
How to Play
1. Every sudoku puzzle is a 9×9 grid, split into nine smaller 3×3 boxes. Some squares already have numbers filled in.
2. The goal is to fill each empty square with a number from 1 to 9, but there are three rules: no number can repeat in any row, any column, or any 3×3 box.
3. You can play the game solo, race with a sibling, or team up and tackle the same puzzle together. Sudoku logic touches the whole grid at once, so it’s common for one person to spot the answer in one box while the other spots a different one elsewhere. Two sets of eyes really can solve it faster than one!
4. The puzzle is solved when every square is filled in and every row, column, and box has the numbers 1 through 9 with no repeats.
I Don't Understand the Rules
Sudoku could look like a wall of numbers that doesn’t make any sense when you’re just starting out, but no worries! You can watch a video on how to play sudoku here, or search up: “ Sudoku Puzzles – Basic Introduction” on YouTube.
💡 Sibling Tips
Start with the row, column, or box that already has the most numbers filled in, it’s the easiest to figure out!
Alternatively, you can start with the number with the most occurrences in the puzzle, and eliminate boxes that cannot be that number. Remember, you can never have the same number repeat in the same row, column, or 3×3 box!
Take breaks if you need to, there’s no timer rule that says you have to rush.
Learning Resources
You need to practice a lot to master this game, so here are some free places to learn the strategy and play interactively:
Play Online
- Sudoku.com — huge free puzzle library from easy to evil, with built-in beginner tutorials
Learn the Strategy
- Sudoku.coach — free website that teaches solving techniques step by step, from total beginner to advanced
Why We Love This One
Sudoku is quiet, screen-optional, and endlessly repeatable. The same grid never gets boring because every puzzle is different. It’s a great way to sit side by side with a sibling, focus on something calm together, and celebrate when that last number finally clicks into place!
