How to Create a Word Finder Puzzle

Customized word finders make a fun game for kids and adults.

Word finder puzzles, also called word searches, are games appropriate for people of any age. Word finders can also be educational, helping kids learn vocabulary words and correct spelling. Creating a word search can also be a good learning exercise for school-age children to help them memorize terms and practice spelling. Adults can make word finders to customize the game for special events like showers, reunions and holidays.

Things You'll Need

• Grid paper
• Pencil
• Pen or black marker
• Copy machine

Instructions

1. Write a list of words. Depending on who the puzzle is intended for, the list might consist of only about five words for a young child, or as many as you want for a challenging adult puzzle. The words might all be part of a theme, like Christmas terms, cartoon characters or baby shower gifts.

2. Create a square or rectangular grid on a piece of grid paper. A puzzle's grid can be any size, but it should be proportionate to the number of words listed. For example, a simple puzzle with only five words should be smaller than a puzzle with 20 words. The only rules are that the grid must be at least as long or tall as the longest word on the list of terms, and there must be more grid squares than there are total letters in all the words.

3. Write words from the list onto the grid, placing one letter in each grid square using a pencil. Depending on how difficult you want the puzzle to be, you can write words forward, backward, diagonally, up and down. Letters must be consecutive in each word. Words can intersect and share letters, but they should be spread out throughout all sections of the grid.

4. Fill in empty squares with random letters. For a more challenging puzzle, you can almost spell some words on the list in the leftover squares to fool the solver.

5. Write the list of words on the same sheet of paper as the grid, and give the puzzle a title using a pen or black marker. Copy over the letters in the grid with pen or black marker to make them dark.

6. Make copies of the completed puzzle with a copy machine.

References

• Ed Helper: Create a Word Search
• Word-Buff: Word Search Puzzle Guide