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In Recommended Resources: Word Games in the Minority Language, I share a big list of games on the market that can be fun and useful for promoting language development (some available in multiple languages, too).

One of my favorite word games, however, costs nothing at all: you just need a paper and pencil. And the game is so simple and flexible, but also so productive for stretching the target language, that I turn to it regularly with my students and my own kids.

Let’s call it “Hidden Words,” and though I’ll describe the English version of the game, it could likely be played in many other languages in a similar fashion.

Playing “Hidden Words”

For children who are a bit older, and have some literacy, choose a longer word or expression and write it in big block letters at the top of a blank sheet of paper. I often link the game with holidays so let’s use the example of MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Working together with the child to make one list, or playing the game as a “contest” where you and your child are each making a separate list, the simple objective is to make a list of smaller words from the letters found in the “main phrase” MERRY CHRISTMAS. (Yes, the letters can be reused again and again, but you can’t use a letter more times in one word than it appears in the main phrase. For instance, “T” only appears once in “MERRY CHRISTMAS” so you can’t use “T” twice, as in “tasty.”)

Here are some “hidden words” found in MERRY CHRISTMAS…

try, star, year, cherry, sit, mist, smart, rich, stream…

You get the idea. If we stuck with it, we would find dozens of words.

Further suggestions for this game

• “Hidden Words” can be played with a wide range of ages: just adjust the “main phrase” to suit the child’s age and language level. For younger kids, MERRY CHRISTMAS is possible, but CHRISTMAS alone might be more manageable. At the same time, your choice can’t get too short, like BEAR, or few words will be found; ELEPHANT would be more rewarding.
• I tend to limit the list to “ordinary words,” excluding names of people or places.
• Your rule for the minimum length of a word (at least 2 or 3 letters, let’s say) should be established, too.
• If children are given this task as homework (which I do with my own kids), you could set a minimum number of words that they must find (be realistic!), or three levels with designations like “bronze medal,” “silver medal,” and “gold medal.” (My kids want to get the “gold medal” so they try to find more words!)
• If you play the game competitively with the child, set a time limit (from 5 to 10 minutes) and perhaps award him double (or triple) the number of points. These points can be counted per word (1 point for you, 2 points for the child), or the total number of letters used from the full list of words might be counted individually (then your child doubles that number).