Family word search

Mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins and the newest baby: this theme collects the words we use for the people closest to us. It includes the words for every generation, such as granddaughter, grandparent and ancestor, and for relatives who join through marriage, remarriage or tradition, like a stepsister, a mother-in-law or a godfather.

Families come in many shapes, and the list tries to reflect that: there are words for twins and triplets, for adoption and guardians, and for the big days that bring everyone together, like a wedding, a birthday or a reunion. English has a single word, cousin, for the children of all your aunts and uncles, whether they are boys or girls.

Teachers often use family words when children draw a family tree. Do the puzzle first, then let each child pick the words that fit their own family. It is also useful for English learners, since words like niece, nephew and in-law are easy to mix up.

Play tip: the GRAND words (GRANDMA, GRANDSON, GRANDCHILD and the rest) and the STEP words share their beginnings, so a G-R-A or an S-T-E in the grid is a good place to start looking.