Appropriate grades or age groups:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School

Estimated time to complete project or implement technique:
15-30 minutes.

Materials needed (if applicable):
paperback puzzle/activity word books

Project instructions or description of technique:
One great and easy way to strengthen kids' reading and language skills is through puzzle and activity word books. Most kids will find either the crossword puzzle or the word search to be fun and there are many other word games they'll enjoy as well.

1. Go to your local bookstore and purchase a few paperback activity word books. There are many to choose from. Base your choices on your child? skills and interests and find game books that look like fun!

2. For your younger child, spend time doing the exercises in the activity book together.

3. Find books that are age-appropriate and at your child? reading level.

4. Once your child is older, there are many different word books you can purchase.

5. Choose workbooks that your child is interested in. Does he or she like crossword puzzles, mazes or scrambled word books?

6. Workbooks provide a really great, virtually "painless" way to increase your child's vocabulary skills and hook them on learning!