Birthday Word Search Activity for Kids

Make a birthday word search: a fun way to celebrate!

PSA: Kids don’t need fancy and over the top birthdays to celebrate. They want the same as adults do on their special day: to feel loved, appreciated, honored, and care for. My son’s 7th birthday was simple as can be – but one stand out moment was his birthday word search.

Giant word searches have become a go-to activity for my son and me (we even did a Halloween-themed one here). It didn’t surprise me when he asked on his last day as a six-year-old if I could make him a birthday-themed word search for the next day. Game on.

RELATED: Looking for more activities to do with big kids? Check out my list of activities for ages 5-7 years old.

I promise: giant word searches are easy to make!

This isn’t an overly complicated activity so have no fear.

But I should warn you that it isn’t my normal “throw it together on a whim last minute” type activity that can be set up. There’s about 10 minutes worth of prep to making the birthday word search happen, but trust me…it was well worth it.

RELATED: Need ideas to keep 8-12 year olds entertained? I’ve got a great FREE PRINTABLE here!

Here’s how to make a birthday word search

Materials:

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• Kraft paper (or flat card board box OR paper grocery bags)
• Painter’s tape (wall safe)
• Large black marker

I promise this really is doable and fun.

STEP ONE: Make yourself a guide on a piece of notebook paper first. Loosely draw out how this should look, where the words should go, and which words you are using.

STEP TWO: On the large paper, first draw the top row of letters.

STEP THREE: Draw the two side rows of letters. This sets the basic grid for your word search.

STEP FOUR: Slowly start adding your words and “other” letters to make the word search.

STEP FIVE: Make an answer key. Don’t be like me and forget to add two of the words to the answer key… whoops!

RELATED: Looking for some cheap party ideas? Check out this at-home party break down.

Feel free to use my words – and then add your own:

Here are my words:

Birthday, Party, Friend, Present, Cake, Hat, Gift, Cards, Fun, Candle, Songs, Parade, Bake, Games, Happy.

I also had his age, favorite toy, name, and birth month hidden too.

It was so much fun and took him almost 20 minutes to complete.

I love this giant word search for so many reasons…

It’s such a simple and easy way to celebrate and honor the birthday kid without going over the top.

Without spending extra money or hours of prep, I was able to make a very fitting and fun tribute to my son – something different and special on the morning he turned 7. It was perfection.

Remember kids don’t need over the top…

They just want to feel loved, honored, and a little special on their big day and that doesn’t need to mean we HAVE to blow a mortgage amount of money on their party. We can do a lot with a little.

This birthday word search was the perfect example. It wasn’t wild and crazy but it sure was important to him and made him feel like the important person he is in my life. I can’t wait to make it again when he’s 8…