How to Conquer a 1000-Piece Puzzle

Learn the best strategies to organize, sort, and assemble a 1000-piece puzzle without getting overwhelmed. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Clear your space. Find a large, flat table that won't be needed for dinner or homework for a while. Ask a grown-up to help you set up a puzzle mat or a large piece of cardboard if you need to be able to move your puzzle later.
2. Flip and sort. Spread all the pieces out face-up. Start by finding all the edge pieces—the ones with at least one flat side—and put them in one tray. Then, sort the remaining pieces by color or pattern into your other trays.
3. Build the frame. Connect all the edge pieces to form the rectangular border of your puzzle. This gives you a clear boundary and makes it much easier to see where everything else should go.
4. Work on sections. Pick the easiest, most colorful, or most distinct part of the puzzle to build first. Assemble these small sections on your trays, then slide them into place inside your frame.
5. Connect the gaps. Once you have your sections built, start filling in the gaps. If you get stuck, look at the picture on the box to see what colors or patterns should be in that spot.