Halloween word searches are a fun and easy screen-free activity for kids of all ages.
There are 3 super fun and free Halloween word search puzzles for kids of all different ages in our Free Printables Library.
We’ve got varying levels of difficulty so you’ll be able to find a great word search to suit your child right now. (You’ll see where you can get yours at the bottom of this article!)
First, let’s quickly cover why word searches are great for kids in the first place.
Why word searches are awesome
Here are some of the top reasons why word search puzzles games are great for kids:
- Extremely EASY to play. No complex rules to understand.
- No preparation is required! Simply print them out and grab a pencil or a highlighter.
- Screen-free fun
- Kids of all ages enjoy word search puzzles (keep reading for some age-appropriate variations!)
- Can help defeat boredom
And equally awesome, word searches can also be educational – without your kids even realizing it!
Here are a few of the ways that your kids can learn with these Halloween word searches:
- Learn and reinforce spelling skills
- Increase their vocabulary
- Strengthen their working memory by looking for multiple objects at once
- Develop visual discrimination, which is essential for learning how to read
- Develop fine motor skills by crossing out or circling found items
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When to use these Halloween word search puzzles
Of course, you can use these Halloween word searches for kids nearly ANY time, but here are some situations where they’ll especially come in handy:
- during dinner prep
- on long car trips
- on a rainy inside day
- during quiet time at home
- while waiting for a sibling at practice or rehearsal
- in a doctor’s or dentist’s office
Related article: Halloween Would You Rather Questions for Kids
Additionally, these free Halloween word search printables are perfect to use with a larger group!
They’d work perfectly for any of these events:
- school or classroom Halloween party
- church harvest festival
- local Halloween carnival
- fun Halloween homeschool activity
- trunk or treat activity
- neighborhood Halloween party
They’d also be perfect inside a cute You’ve Been Booed Basket for a neighbor!
Related article: 5 Amazing You’ve Been Booed Ideas for Your Neighbor
Here’s a closer look at the 3 printable Halloween word search puzzles we’ve got for you here in the Jen Bradley|MOMs Free Printable Library:
Easy Halloween word search
Our easiest free Halloween word search is our adorable Monster Mash word search.
It’s an easy Halloween word search best suited for kids in early elementary school, from kindergarten to second grade, or about ages 5-8.
There are 12 words to find, and the entire puzzle only has 9 rows and 9 columns of letters.
The hidden monster-themed words are only hidden vertically or horizontally – no backward or diagonal words to find.
Additionally, we kept the font large to make it easy to read.
This word search can even be done by kids who aren’t quite reading fluently, especially if they have a little help!
Related article: 2 Awesome + Free Halloween I Spy Printables
Trick or Treat word search – medium difficulty
In our Trick or Treat Halloween word search for kids, there are 16 words to find.
This version features words that go vertically, horizontally, and diagonally, and has a grid that is a bit larger than our easy version.
We recommend this word search for kids ages 9-12, or grades 3-6.
Related article: 99 Hilarious Halloween Riddles for Kids
Spooky Halloween word search
Our most difficult Halloween word search contains 20 hidden Halloween words.
In this 13×13 grid, words can be found vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backward.
This Halloween word search is great for middle and high schoolers and could be a good way to do something festive in class!
Related article: The Ultimate Halloween Bucket List for Kids
How to reuse your free Halloween word search printable pages
These Halloween word searches are completely reusable if you need or want them to be!
Simply slide them into plastic sheet protectors and give your kids a dry-erase marker.
For even more durability, you may consider printing them on white card stock and laminating them!
(I’ve been a homeschool mom for 10 years now, and I swear by this inexpensive laminator! It’s THE best.)
Final thoughts about these Halloween printables for kids
Halloween word search puzzles are just one simple way to make Halloween even more fun for your kids (and give them something educational to do)!
Be sure to join our Free Printable Library here to get your Halloween I Spy Games!
Inside the library, you’ll find over 100 other awesome printables, such as Halloween Scavenger Hunts, Halloween mazes, Halloween word puzzles, and more!
Happy Halloween!
Related articles about Halloween family fun:
16 Awesome Halloween Minute to Win It Games for the Whole Family
99 Halloween Riddles for Kids That’ll Make Them LOL
19 Fun and Easy Pumpkin Carving Alternatives to Try
5 Fun and Free Halloween Scavenger Hunts for Kids
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What do you think about these Halloween word searches? Tell us in the comments below!
