Kindergarten Word Search

A gentle first word search for early readers. Every word is short and familiar, and words run only left-to-right or top-to-bottom, so it is a good puzzle for kindergarten and for children just learning to read.

How to play Kindergarten Word Search

• Every word in the list is hidden in the letter grid in a straight line.
• Drag across a word with your finger or mouse to select it. The selection snaps to the nearest straight line: across, down or diagonal.
• Prefer tapping? Tap the first letter, then tap the last letter to select everything in between.
• Found words stay highlighted on the grid and are crossed off the list. Find them all to finish the puzzle.
• Easy (10×10) hides words left-to-right and top-to-bottom only. Medium (12×12) adds diagonals. Hard (14×14) uses all eight directions, including backwards. Expert (18×18) and Extreme (22×22) pack in more words on a bigger grid for a real challenge.

Controls

• Drag across letters, or tap the first and last letter of a word.
• Hint flashes the first letter of a word you have not found yet.
• New puzzle builds a fresh grid; your current puzzle is saved automatically.
• Print turns the current grid into a clean printable word search sheet with the word list.

Tips

• Say each word out loud, then find its first letter in the grid.
• Use a finger or a ruler to follow a row; a pencil mark makes it easier to see a word.

Words in this kindergarten word search

Each puzzle picks a random selection from these 40 words: Cat, Dog, Sun, Hat, Run, Red, Big, Mom, Dad, Bed, Cup, Pig, Bug, Hen, Fox, Box, Sit, Hop, Map, Pen, Bus, Car, Tree, Book, Ball, Fish, Frog, Duck, Milk, Home, Play, Blue, Moon, Star, Jump, Love, Look, Come, Like, Rain.

Print this kindergarten word search

Want paper instead? Open the printable kindergarten word search for a one-page sheet with a word list and answer key, or try a bigger grid on hard word search. Browse every topic on word search puzzles.

Word searches by grade level

1st Grade Word Search · 2nd Grade Word Search · 3rd Grade Word Search · 4th Grade Word Search · 5th Grade Word Search · 6th Grade Word Search · 7th Grade Word Search · 8th Grade Word Search

FAQ

What age is this puzzle for?

It is aimed at ages 5 to 7 with a grown-up nearby. For older kids, step the difficulty up or try the 1st grade word search.

Can words overlap?

Yes. Two words can share a letter where they cross, which is a handy clue when you are stuck.

Can I print this word search?

Yes. Press Print (or your browser’s print shortcut) to get a blank, printable copy of the current grid with a word list to tick off. Press New puzzle first for a fresh one.

Is my puzzle saved?

Yes. Your grid, found words and time are saved in this browser, so you can close the page and pick up where you left off.