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January 19, 2012 | 22 Comments

Giant Valentine’s Word Search

valentine's day word search

My son loved the 3D Word Search I made him a while back so when I saw that the dollar store had pink and purple foam letters I grabbed a few packs and headed home to make a Valentine’s Day word search for him. The great thing about this activity is that it incorporates different senses. Kids can see and feel the letters that make up the words. I kept the words easy to find by making them all a uniform color for my beginning reader but make it as tricky as you want. Also even if your child isn’t reading you can still make this, just turn it into a letter search.

Giant Valentine’s Day Word Search

  1. Gather your materials. You will need a canvas or other stiff cardboard base, contact paper, foam letter stickers, scissors and a marker. Depending on which contact paper you get you will want to either use a dry erase marker or a regular washable maker if you want to use the word search as a write and wipe surface. I bought a new type of contact paper this week and dry erase is a pain to wipe off it, but washable markers do great with a baby wipe. If you want this to be a one time only activity you can skip the contact paper and just add the letters to some construction paper. 
  2. Cover the canvas with contact paper- this makes the surface wipeable.
  3. Add your words. I tried my best to stay lined up, but I never worry about it being exactly perfect. I took words from classic conversation hearts, but you can do anything, even names of people you love. It is easiest to add one row vertically and one horizontally first then fill the columns in.
  4. Write the words out on some paper.
  5. Add a marker and a kid! Now watch them amaze you with their skills as they complete this Valentine’s Day word search! As my son was doing this, I noticed he touched the letters, squished them, and traced a few with his hand. My cuddly guy seems to have a real need for kinesthetic elements in his lessons.
  6.  I also noticed how he was holding his marker after I took these pictures. He has a natural tendency to twist his wrist like that for cutting, but it’s the first time I have witnessed it for writing. Not sure if it was just because of the raised letters of the Valentine’s Day word search, but I am going to watch him much closer.

    Any tips for correcting this? Experience with this particular tendency? I’m going to have him write on the wall (forces proper grip) but if you have other ideas please share!

 

 

Filed Under: 5 minute sparklers, Age Preschool, Age: Kindergarten, Letters & Numbers, Reading, Valentine's Day, Word Search | 22 Comments

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22 Comments

  1. Annie Moffatt says

    January 19, 2012 at 1:33 am

    This is so cute! I LOVE all of your ideas!!

    to Annie Moffatt" aria-label='reply to this comment to Annie Moffatt'>reply to this comment
  2. Elissa says

    January 19, 2012 at 5:16 am

    This is such a great idea! Ony oldest just started doing word searches in some activity books she got for Christmas so she will love this!

    to Elissa" aria-label='reply to this comment to Elissa'>reply to this comment
  3. Carol says

    January 19, 2012 at 5:55 am

    I learned this trick from the OTs I work with: Hand the child the markers/pencil with the pointy end pointing toward him. This way he will will grab it by “pinching” the end with his thumb and forefinger. Then just flip it back in his hand and he’ll have a mature pen grasp. The OTs call this the “pinch and flip”.

    to Carol" aria-label='reply to this comment to Carol'>reply to this comment
    • admin says

      January 19, 2012 at 8:48 am

      I am going to do this ! Great suggestion.

      to admin" aria-label='reply to this comment to admin'>reply to this comment
  4. Wendi says

    January 19, 2012 at 6:15 am

    I love this.

    to Wendi" aria-label='reply to this comment to Wendi'>reply to this comment
  5. abigail says

    January 19, 2012 at 11:21 am

    i have also seen OT’s who give a kid a stubby pencil or broken crayon which forces them to hold it more correctly. i haven’t seen the pinch and flip before, i love that idea. good luck!

    to abigail" aria-label='reply to this comment to abigail'>reply to this comment
  6. Terri says

    January 19, 2012 at 11:23 am

    This is such a fun idea!! Thanks for sharing!

    to Terri" aria-label='reply to this comment to Terri'>reply to this comment
  7. Kim says

    January 19, 2012 at 11:25 am

    Great idea! I love that the letters are raised too. Since you’re sharing OT ideas, OTs would also love for you to have your child trace the raised letters with his/her finger!

    to Kim" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kim'>reply to this comment
  8. Drama Queens Mum says

    January 19, 2012 at 11:46 am

    Cute idea.

    to Drama Queens Mum" aria-label='reply to this comment to Drama Queens Mum'>reply to this comment
  9. Tara says

    January 19, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    I just wanted to let you now that I have given you the Versatile Blogger Award.

    http://www.twomischievousmonkeys.com/2012/01/versatile-blogger-award-i-was-very.html

    to Tara" aria-label='reply to this comment to Tara'>reply to this comment
  10. Joyce @Dinosaurs And Octopuses says

    January 19, 2012 at 10:46 pm

    I love this idea and plan on doing something similar with my little boy. He really likes to touch and feel everything and I need to remember this more when I’m planning activities for him. Also, I wanted to say that my son was holding his hand like that as well. It took some time and he still has a tendency to start off that way, but now I can just ask him to hold it correctly and he switches it himself. For the longest time I had to help him position it properly. I found writing on his easel and lots of reminders to be helpful. He also wants to use scissors differently. Any tips for that?

    to Joyce @Dinosaurs And Octopuses" aria-label='reply to this comment to Joyce @Dinosaurs And Octopuses'>reply to this comment
    • admin says

      January 19, 2012 at 11:06 pm

      Today I told my son that if he holds the scissors correctly that it will build his muscles properly (true) and he will be stronger than me soon ( true too). That was all it took and he cut away with the right position. For my son nagging is futile and will be met with a stone wall refusal , which I relate to because he gets that from me. If you tell him a story, explain WHY then there is hope.

      to admin" aria-label='reply to this comment to admin'>reply to this comment
  11. Megan Sheakoski says

    January 20, 2012 at 8:08 pm

    Love, love, love this and will be trying it soon! And as for working on grip window markers are always fun. 🙂

    to Megan Sheakoski" aria-label='reply to this comment to Megan Sheakoski'>reply to this comment
  12. NerdyLutheranChick says

    January 22, 2012 at 5:03 pm

    A friend of mine is a Special Education teacher and she suggests the
    Adaptive tripod or D’Nealian grasp: The pencil is held between the index and third fingers with the tips of the thumb and index finger on the pencil. The pencil rests against the side of the third finger near its end.

    to NerdyLutheranChick" aria-label='reply to this comment to NerdyLutheranChick'>reply to this comment
  13. Catherine says

    January 28, 2012 at 6:58 pm

    pinch, rest, tuck method….. pinch the marker with their first two fingers, rest it on their third and tuck(nake the knuckles bend)
    Love this idea btw. Going to try one for my daughters. Thanks!

    to Catherine" aria-label='reply to this comment to Catherine'>reply to this comment
    • admin says

      January 28, 2012 at 7:04 pm

      Another great tip- thanks. I like to have as many strategies as I can!

      to admin" aria-label='reply to this comment to admin'>reply to this comment
  14. stephanie a. says

    February 7, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    We did this, thanks for the inspiration! I blogged about it and linked back with your button : )

    to stephanie a." aria-label='reply to this comment to stephanie a.'>reply to this comment
  15. Jennifer says

    January 5, 2013 at 10:42 pm

    such a cute idea. My son is in a Spanish Immerson school, so I think I will do his in Spanish

    to Jennifer" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jennifer'>reply to this comment
  16. Houda says

    May 18, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    My son had problems with the pencil grip as well; his OT suggested using rock crayons instead of regular crayons. They are fantastic, they forced him to correct his grip since they have these small indentations for his little fingers. I hope it helps….

    to Houda" aria-label='reply to this comment to Houda'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      May 19, 2013 at 7:37 pm

      Great tip!

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment

Trackbacks

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    January 28, 2012 at 12:53 am

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    to Valentine's Day Crafts For Kids | No Time For Flash Cards" aria-label='reply to this comment to Valentine's Day Crafts For Kids | No Time For Flash Cards'>reply to this comment
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