For young children. This learning game is directed at children: no advertising is shown on this page, no account is needed and no personal information is collected. We recommend that children play with a parent or guardian nearby.
Kids Crossword review
7.5/10
By the GAME SPACE editorial team · Updated October 3, 2026 · How we rate games
Why these scores
Twenty separately built crosswords with picture clues.
Picture clues help early readers, though typing is easier with a keyboard.
Each crossword is solved once.
Directed at children, with no ads and no data collection.
Our take
A gentle introduction to crosswords that replaces written clues with pictures — a smart choice for early readers. Twenty puzzles give plenty of practice.
What we like
- +Picture clues suit early readers
- +20 puzzles
- +Child-directed page with no ads
What could be better
- −Typing letters is easier with a keyboard than on a phone
What is Kids Crossword?
Twenty picture crosswords for young readers.
Kids Crossword is a set of 20 crossword puzzles for young children. Instead of written clues, each word is shown as a picture — a ball, a balloon, a book and many more — so children can work out the word from the image and fill in the letters.
Each level has its own score and time, and a level-select menu lets children pick a puzzle. It is a gentle, encouraging way to practise reading and spelling.
A first session together
- Pick the first level together.
- Name the first picture out loud.
- Spell the word slowly.
- Use crossing letters as hints.
- Complete the grid.
How the activity works
Each crossword shows a grid and pictures for each word. The child names the picture and spells it into the grid. Crossing words share letters, which helps with harder words.
When the grid is complete, the level is finished and the next one unlocks.
Helping your child learn
Start with easy words
Begin with the pictures the child recognises immediately.
Use crossing letters
Letters from other words help with tricky spellings.
Sound it out
Say each word slowly, one sound at a time.
Controls
- ▸Choose a level from the menu.
- ▸Look at the picture clues.
- ▸Fill in the letters of each word.
Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Starting with hard words.
- ✕Ignoring crossing letters.
- ✕Doing it for the child.
Deep dive
Picture clues
Using pictures instead of written clues makes crosswords accessible to children who are only just learning to read.
Twenty puzzles
With 20 levels, there is plenty of practice.
Who it suits
It suits early readers, ideally with an adult nearby.
Why picture clues work
Traditional crosswords rely on written clues, which makes them hard for children who are just learning to read. Kids Crossword replaces them with pictures — a ball, a balloon, a book and many more — so the child only needs to recognise the object and spell its name. That keeps the focus on the most useful early-literacy skill: turning a familiar word into letters.
How to help without taking over
Sit next to your child and let them lead. Ask them to name the picture first, then say the word slowly, sound by sound, before typing each letter. If they are stuck, point to letters already filled in by crossing words — they are strong hints. Resist the urge to type the answer yourself; finding it together is where the learning happens.
Building a habit
With 20 levels, Kids Crossword gives you plenty of material for a regular routine. One puzzle a day, or a couple a week, is a gentle way to build reading confidence. Celebrate each finished grid, and talk about any new words you came across.
Turning puzzles into conversations
Each picture in Kids Crossword is a chance for a short conversation. Before spelling a word, ask your child what the object is, what colour it is, or where they have seen one. This builds vocabulary and makes the spelling feel meaningful rather than mechanical. After finishing a puzzle, look back over the completed grid and read every word aloud together. Over the 20 levels, you will cover a wide range of everyday words, and your child will become more confident about turning sounds into letters.
Who Kids Crossword suits
Kids Crossword suits early readers working with a parent.
How Kids Crossword compares
Kids Crossword is the word game in the Kids section. Kids Math and Kids Counting focus on numbers, and Kids True Colors on colour words.
Our parent's guide has more ideas for playing together.
Kids Crossword game data
| Genre | Kids |
|---|---|
| Structure | 20 crosswords |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Typical session | 10–20 minutes |
| Controls | Mouse, keyboard or touch |
| Best for | Early readers with a parent |
| Screen | Landscape (800×480 native) |
| Touch screen support | Yes |
| Keyboard support | No |
| Saves scores in your browser | No |
| Image files in the build | 323 |
| Audio files in the build | 5 |
| Price | Free — no download, no account |
Screen, input, save and file data are read directly from the game’s own build files, so they describe the exact version you play here.
Frequently asked questions
- Are there written clues?
- No, the clues are pictures.
- How many puzzles are there?
- Twenty.
- What age is it for?
- Early readers.
- Does it need an account?
- No.
- Does each level save progress?
- Each level keeps its own score and time, and you can choose levels from the menu.
- Are there ads on this page?
- We do not place ad units on our learning games for young children.
- Can older children play alone?
- Confident readers can, but younger children usually get more from it with an adult.
- Is there a timer?
- Each level records the time taken, but there is no pressure — take as long as you need.
The bottom line
Kids Crossword is a gentle, picture-based introduction to crosswords. Name the pictures, sound out the words and use crossing letters.
Keep exploring
- Compare and rank all Kids games
- Read our guide: A Parent's Guide to Browser Games for Young Children
