Picture Word Search
Kids · 5–8A ten-by-ten grid with four words hidden in it, and a picture of each word printed underneath. The words read across and down only — no diagonals and nothing backwards — which is the difference between a word search a five-year-old finishes and one they abandon. Looking for the first letter rather than the whole word is the trick worth teaching, and it is the one most children work out on the second puzzle. Free printable, A4 and US Letter.
Across and down only
No diagonals, nothing backwards. That one restriction is the difference between a word search a five-year-old finishes and one they abandon halfway, and it costs the puzzle nothing — the searching is identical, only the number of directions to hold in mind drops from eight to two.
Hunt the first letter
The trick most children discover on their second puzzle is to look for one letter rather than the whole word: find every C, then check whether a O follows it. Suggesting it the first time saves a good deal of frustration, and it is a genuine search strategy rather than a trick for this page.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is each word shown as a picture as well as text?
- So a child who cannot yet read the word list can still do the puzzle — they match the printed letters without needing to decode them, which is useful practice in itself.
- What age is this word search for?
- Five to eight. A child needs to recognise letters reliably; reading the words is helpful but not required.