Mini crossword for kids

What makes a mini kinder than a Sunday puzzle

A Sunday crossword is a long sit. A mini is a few words that cross. The Times anniversary note describes the mini as a way in for a wide range of ages. AARP’s mini page says the short solve is why it suits kids and beginners. I am using those as “small grids feel possible,” not as a claim that any mini is written for children. Some clues are adult on purpose.

Crosswords for Kids, a separate site, uses picture clues, between four and fourteen words, and a star rating, and it can be printed. That is a different design from a lettered 5×5. If you want pictures, use their pages. If you want letters, use a date here whose theme is concrete: fruit, animals, rooms. The 7×7 on this site is four rooms of three-letter words, which is closer to a spelling list than to a cryptic.

How to sit with a child

The clock starts when you type, so ignore it or print a puzzle if a clock would distract the child. Ask for the across word before the down word. When two words share a square, say so out loud. That shared square is the whole lesson. Reveal is allowed. The point is the crossing, not a clean time. Do not hand a child the Times mini and expect the subscription screen to be the lesson.

Is there a kids-only puzzle every day?

Not yet. The dated puzzles use ordinary words. The 7×7 is the easiest grid we publish.

What age is a 5×5 for?

I am not printing an age range. A child who can read three-letter words can try the 7×7 rooms. A 5×5 needs slightly longer words.

Can a teacher print one?

Yes. Use the printable page and any date.