We're going on a word search – make a quick game

What you need 

• Post-it notes or smallish pieces of paper 
• A pen 
• Two bowls or baskets 

What to do 

• Write words or letters on half the post it notes. For the first few times you play, you can write the same word (or letter) on every note.  
• Draw pictures on the other half. They can be as simple (or as artistic) as you like!  
• Stick the post-it notes at random around the room (or house) in places your child will be able to find and reach them without help. 
• Show your child the two bowls. Stick a post-it note saying ‘words’ on one, and a post-it note with a picture on it on the other bowl. Place the bowls in the middle of the room. 
• Explain that they need to find all the post-it notes in the room, and each time they find one they need to bring it over and put it in the correct bowl. 
• Encourage them to keep searching until they find all of the notes you hid.  

Good to know 

It’s important to remember that you’re not expecting your child to recognise the words at this stage. The game will help them learn to recognise the difference between letters/words and images on a basic level – they need to build this foundation before they can begin understanding how to decode the marks to read letters and words in the years to come.  

If they enjoy the activity, you can play again and again by getting them to hide the notes for you to find (and then help you decide which bowl each goes in). Extend their learning by helping them to count how many post-its are in each bowl at the end of the search.