My nine-year-old is a big fan of word puzzles and word searches. Recently, I had the idea of combining the two to create a fun holiday word challenge that would really get her thinking. Instead of the more traditional word search format that provides a list of words to find, this version requires your sleuth to first solve a series of clues. The answers form the list of words to find. Plus, there's a bonus challenge of finding five additional festive words that aren't listed.
To get started, print a copy of the word search, and start by encouraging your child to use the clues provided on the left-hand side to form the word list. All relate to December's three big holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
If your child finds the clues too tricky, you could offer a hint by writing the first letter of a word in the answer space to get him started. Spelling will be important, so a dictionary or dictionary app might be helpful.
May this dual-activity printable provide your child with a fun, learning challenge over the holiday season!