Word Search for Kids
- 1st–5th grade
- Ages 6–11
- Free, no sign-up
Pick a theme, from animals to outer space, and find every hidden word in the grid. Easy puzzles hide words across and down; medium adds diagonals; hard puzzles hide words backwards too. A new puzzle is made every time you play.
About the game
| Themes | 30, with 12 words each |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Easy 8x8, medium 10x10, hard 12x12 |
| Controls | Drag across a word, or tap its first and last letter |
| Sign-up | None. Stars are saved on your device |
How to play
- Pick a size and a theme. Easy is great for 1st and 2nd grade.
- Look for the first letter. Then follow the word across, down or diagonally.
- Circle the word. Drag from the first letter to the last, or tap both ends.
- Find them all. Each found word is read aloud. Fast finishes without hints earn three stars.
For parents: what Word Search for Kids practices
Word search builds spelling awareness: kids scan for letter patterns and hold a word's spelling in mind while they look. Themed lists also grow vocabulary. It pairs with:
Common Core: L.1.2d, L.2.2d (spell common words), L.1.5a and L.K.5a (sort words into categories).
Getting the most out of it
- Find the word's least common letter first, like the z in zebra.
- Say the word, then spell it out loud while you hunt.
- Try a hard puzzle together: backwards words are a great challenge.
Games are best as a reward or a warm-up, not the main lesson. Ten minutes of play after a short lesson works better than an hour of play on its own.
More games
Word Ladder ClimbChange one letter at a time to climb from word to word.1st–3rd grade
Word GuessHangman for kids, with balloons instead.1st–5th grade
Missing VowelsFill in the missing vowels in each word.1st–3rd grade
Last reviewed: November 11, 2026
Questions parents ask
Is every puzzle the same?
No. The game picks words from the theme and hides them in new places every time.
What are the themes?
Animals, farm, ocean, bugs, birds, pets, fruit, vegetables, food, breakfast, colors, shapes, numbers, body, clothes, school, home, toys, sports, weather, seasons, space, transportation, community helpers, feelings, the beach, music, gardens, camping and holidays.
Is this game free?
Yes. Every game on English1to5 is free, with no ads, no sign-up and no in-game purchases.
Does the game collect any information about my child?
No. There are no accounts. Progress and scores are saved only in your browser on your own device. See our privacy policy.