22 Interesting & Easy Crossword Puzzles For Kids Of All Ages

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It’s the weekend and kids need to be kept busy and engaged. While you may want your little champion to pick up the reading habit or work on their vocabulary, poring over books is probably not what they want to do.

So, introduce them to books that challenge and improve their vocabulary. A rather brilliant way of inculcating the reading habit in your kid is to have them solve crossword puzzles. They not only serve as a fun pastime but also aid in learning and cognitive development.

MomJunction has compiled 20 crossword puzzles for kids to play and get glued to. Each crossword puzzle has a grid with several boxes, and each box contains a clue to a word that needs to be filled in.

1. Transport

Transport crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

In this crossword, your child will learn the names of different vehicles that are in use on air, land, and water.

You can also discuss with your child the purpose of each vehicle. For example, a ship is used to transport goods and people from one shore to another, balloons are meant for recreational tours up in the air, while more difficult ones like an excavator are a giant machine for digging and moving soil.

Such crosswords inevitably improve children’s spelling skills.

2. Pets

Pets crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

The picture crossword is associated with pets, their accessories and things related to them. This crossword puzzle requires your kid to look at the images, identify the names and then find them in the puzzle.

It will help your child enhance their association with a picture and its corresponding name and spelling. You can also discuss the role of a leash, pet carrier or tepee.

3. Fruits

Fruits crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

This crossword can teach your child the names of various fruits. Hold a discussion about their colors, tastes, nutritional value, and which season’s fruit it is. For example, mangoes are ripe and are available during summers, while bananas grow all around the year; coconut can be eaten as a fruit, and coconut water is also good for health.

4. Pirates

Pirates crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

A rough sea, heavy winds, storms, and adventure. Who doesn’t love pirate stories? Here’s a new crossword for your kid. Chances are they will readily be able to name the objects relating to their favorite stories. You can also pick out words and ask your kid to make his/her own pirate story.

Free Worksheets and Printables for Kids

5. Planets

Planets crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

The Solar system is fascinating. Introduce the stars and the planets with fun crosswords. You can discuss where each planet is positioned in relation to the Earth, why there is no life on other planets and what makes Earth habitable.

6. Hospital

Hospital crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

This crossword is aimed at teaching children vocabulary related to hospitals. Your kid will get to classify different professions, standard terms and things associated with it. Discuss the role of doctors, nurses, medicines, etc., and their importance in everybody’s life.

7. Pizza

Pizza crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

One of the most popular foods for kids is undoubtedly pizza. This crossword will teach them specificities of pizza such as the ingredients used, utensils required and everything else one sees in their favorite pizza joint.

You can discuss how and with what is pizza. See if your kid can recognize the ingredients such as tomatoes, bell pepper, pepperoni, etc.

8. Tableware

Tableware crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

Tableware is universally present in all homes. Kids can relate to these everyday items, remember and now spell them.

You can ask your child which item is used for what. For example, a whisk is used to beat eggs, a teapot is for storing prepared tea, and a cloche for keeping food warm.

9. Music

Music crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

Music is entertainment. Whether your child already plays one or wants to learn, here’s a good music crossword for them to solve. You can discuss the various musical instruments given in the picture and what type of music they play. For example, a guitar and violin produce soft music while xylophones and drums make heavier sounds. You may also play music and have your little one guess which instrument is being played. This is an excellent way of introducing kids to instruments.

protip_icon Did you know?
Crossword puzzles can make your outings, picnics, and tea parties more engaging. Moreover, they keep the children busy and occupied for a long time.

10. Underwater animals

Underwater animals crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

This crossword aims to teach your children names of various underwater flora and fauna. You can share stories of seahorses, corals, and turtles. Introduce new concepts like seascape and the difference in life forms that are there on land and in water.

11. Birds

Birds crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

Birds capture children’s imagination. From stories to drawings, birds are there everywhere. But how many species of birds does your little one know? This crossword will teach your kid names of various land and water birds.

12. Halloween

Halloween crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

Halloween gets the kids excited about activities like trick-or-treat, costume parties, carving pumpkins, playing tricks, apple bobbing and so much more. Help your child remember the names of their favorite characters and their spellings by solving this crossword.

protip_icon Did you know?
A University of Michigan study revealed that solving puzzles for at least 25 minutes a day can raise IQ by 4 points (1).

13. Beach

Beach crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

Hitting the beach on Sundays, playing frisbee in the sand or running by the beach is a delight for every child. Now is the opportunity to introduce them to words associated with a beach such as crabs, shells, sand and palm trees.

You may also give some words to your child and ask him or her to make a painting of the beach with these objects or life forms.

14. Colors

Colors crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

Your children must be using crayons, watercolors, and pencils. But do they know the spellings of each color, or can they identify the color?

Through this puzzle, your child will be able to see and recognize the colors and then name them. The pencils in the image represent one color each and are numbered accordingly.

15. Shapes

Shapes crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

Shapes give objects their appearance, and all objects we see have a specific form. Discuss with your kids what these shapes signify. For example, coins are circles; an arrow is used to mark directions, a heart to express love, etc. You can also introduce concepts like the number of sides and their names. For example, five conjoined lines make a pentagon while four sides make a square/ rectangle.

16. The post

The-post crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

Post crosswords will teach your child vocabulary related to the post. He or she will get introduced to terms like stamps, envelope, letters, parcels et al. You may discuss what each of them is.

This puzzle can be an excellent way of introducing your child to letter writing. Let them know how a letter is sent from one person to another through the post office.

17. Vegetables

Vegetables crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

This crossword puzzle aims to educate your children about different vegetables, their names and how they look. Talk to your kid about the importance of veggies and how they are cooked to make delicious and healthy meals. See if your child can identify the names of the veggies they see every day at home.

18. Christmas

Christmas crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

Christmas brings joy and presents. With this crossword, teach your child the spellings and vocabulary of everything related to Christmas. Have your child take a look at the pictures and name them.

protip_icon Point to consider
Playing crosswords with friends and family improves children’s social skills. It will help them build good connections and enhance their quality of life.

19. Character crossword

Character crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

This is colorfully sketched for kids. Your child has to identify the names of the objects that are marked by numbers. He or she has to know the names and spellings of the objects and write them down as per the number sequence in the puzzle to finish the crossword.

20. Months

Months crossword puzzles for kidsPrint Icon

This puzzle teaches your child the 12 months of the year. You can explain the names of the months, the number of days they have and the sequence of the months. This puzzle will also enable your children to remember the spellings confidently with fun practice.

21. Animals crossword puzzle

Dive into the wild world of animal crossword puzzles, where the fun never stops. Imagine helping your child solve clues and discovering adorable and super cool animals along the way. These puzzles are like a colorful jungle gym for your children’s brains – they make learning new words and getting to know animals a blast.

22. Football crossword

Let your kids get ready for fun with football crossword puzzles. Tell them to solve clues about their favorite sport, learn football terms, and discover team names. To make it even more interesting, ask them to challenge their buddies to a crossword match or help them create their football-themed clues.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the benefits of solving crossword puzzles for children?

Potential benefits of crossword puzzles for children include enhanced vocabulary, cognitive and problem-solving skills, memory, and teamwork abilities.

2. What are some ways to introduce crossword puzzles to young children?

Start with simple puzzles using age-appropriate themes. Encourage teamwork, turn it into a game, provide clues, and use online resources for free puzzles.

3. Can crossword puzzles be an educational tool for teaching specific subjects?

Yes. Crossword puzzles can be used to help reinforce vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension skills in a fun and engaging way. It can also help teach terms and definitions of various subjects and topics.

4. How can parents or teachers help children who struggle with solving crossword puzzles?

Start with simpler puzzles and focus on building the child’s vocabulary through reading and word games such as Scrabble. Work together to solve puzzles and provide positive feedback to encourage them to keep trying and celebrate their successes.

Crossword puzzles encourage kids to utilize their reasoning skills to figure out the answers, which helps them develop intelligence. These fun crossword puzzles for kids can serve as interesting brain teasers. They can be used as a leisure activity at home or for recreation in the classroom to keep children engaged and entertained. Not only children but the rest of the family may also participate together in fun and try their hand at solving crossword puzzles while interacting with one another. So, for your next weekend activity, you now know what to keep your child busy with.

Infographic: Exciting Crossword Puzzles For Children

Crossword puzzles can be a great way to keep the children away from the screen. You can even use different themes of crossword puzzles to teach your children about seasons, animals, festivals, and objects through this activity. Check out the infographic below for some cool crossword puzzles you can print and enjoy solving with your children.

amazing crossword puzzles to engage children (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Key Pointers

  • Crossword puzzles are an educational yet fun activity that helps children improve their vocabulary and spelling skills.
  • Crossword puzzles also help improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Introduce crossword puzzles on various topics, such as hospitals, Halloween, the beach, and football.
crossword puzzles for kids_illustration

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. 7 surprising ways puzzles are good for your brain.
    https://www.goodnet.org/articles/7-surprising-ways-puzzles-are-good-for-your-brain
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