How to Design Kid-Friendly Picture Math Puzzles with Easy Subtraction Mode

/ Picture Math Tutorials / By

🧩 Overview

Creating math puzzles that are both fun and developmentally appropriate can be tricky — especially when subtraction is involved. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use the new “Adjusted – Kids (Easy Subtraction)” setting in Puzzle Maker Pro’s Picture Math module to generate puzzles that are simpler and better suited for younger learners.

This feature is ideal for early education publishers, homeschoolers, and creators of children’s activity books who want puzzles that boost confidence, not frustration.

📦 Required Modules

  • Puzzle Maker Pro – Picture Math

✅ Preparation

Before you begin:

  • Make sure you’ve installed Puzzle Maker Pro version v2.2025.3.2.2 or higher.
  • Select the Picture Math module from the dropdown.
  • Have your output folder ready.

🛠 Step-by-Step: Using Easy Subtraction for Kid-Level Logic

1. Set Puzzle Type and Symbol Count

  • In the Puzzle Settings tab, choose 2 or 3 symbols for your puzzle type.
  • These work best with the Adjusted – Kids mode.

2. Enable Adjusted – Kids Mode

  • Locate the Puzzle Difficulty section (usually under Puzzle Settings).
  • Click the Adjustment – Kids (Easy Subtraction) option.

🔍 What this does: It ensures the puzzles only generate subtraction logic that’s easy for beginners to reason through — avoiding combinations that require multi-step inference (like A + B = 5 and A – B = 1).

3. Preview the Puzzle

  • Click Next Preview to check the puzzle layout.
  • Review how the equations are shown — look for clear separation between given equations and the final (solution) equation.

4. Adjust Line Spacing (Optional)

  • In the Style tab:
    • Use Line Distance to add breathing room between equations.
    • Use Puzzle/Solution Distance to increase space before the final answer equation.

5. Add Your Own Images (Optional)

  • You’re not locked into A, B, and C symbols.
  • Replace the images with icons that match your book theme (animals, vehicles, cartoon faces, etc.).

6. Generate the Puzzle

  • Click Create (or Create (TS) if using Time Saver).
  • Your puzzle will be saved to your output folder, ready for review or print.

🎉 Outcome

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a fully customized Picture Math puzzle that:

  • Uses developmentally appropriate subtraction logic
  • Looks fun and friendly for younger learners
  • Can be used in KDP books, classroom materials, or printables

📚 Further Reading

Shopping Cart