Family time isn’t what it used to be. Half the
household is glued to phones, someone’s scrolling TikTok, someone else is
“doom-working” on their laptop and the rest are trying to convince themselves
that watching TV together still counts as bonding.
So here’s a throwback idea that actually works, word
search puzzles. Yes, those old-school grids of letters you probably
remember from the back of the Sunday paper. They’re making a quiet comeback,
thanks to modern puzzle authors like Chris Alick, whose
themed books (available on Amazon) are proving that low-tech fun might just be
the smartest upgrade your family night needs.
The Case for
Puzzles Over Screens
We live in a world where “togetherness” often means
sitting in the same room staring at different devices. A word search puzzle is
the antidote to that. It’s tactile, social and weirdly competitive once people
get into it.
When everyone’s searching for the same hidden word,
you’re not just playing a game, you’re engaging, laughing and thinking
together. That’s something algorithms can’t replicate (yet).
How to Bring Word
Searches Into Game Night
1. Make It Competitive (In a Good Way)
Set a timer. Hand out identical puzzles. First person to finish gets bragging
rights or the last cookie. You’ll be surprised at how fast quiet concentration
turns into playful trash talk.
2. Match the Puzzles to the Players
Chris Alick’s catalog makes this easy.
- For kids, try simpler large-print or theme-based puzzles
like Animals or Space Adventures.
- For teens, go with pop culture nostalgia, his 1990 or
2000s Word Search Collection are instant hits.
- For adults, dig into the more brainy or historical editions,
like Groovy Days: A 1960s Nostalgia Word Search Collection or More
Groovy Days: A 1970s Nostalgia Word Search Collection
Everyone’s challenged, but no one’s left behind.
That’s how you keep it fun.
3. Create Themed Challenges
Go beyond the grid. Pick a theme, say, “Movies,” “Summer Memories,” or “Holiday
Fun.” Then run a full puzzle night around it. The winner picks next week’s
theme.
If you’re feeling ambitious, make your own puzzles
online based on family jokes or favorite destinations. You’ll turn a word list
into a time capsule.
Why It Works
Word searches hit a rare sweet spot: they’re
calming but competitive, easy to learn but hard to master and they reward
patience in a world that punishes it. You get to focus, disconnect and actually
enjoy being in the moment.
And unlike most games, you don’t need batteries,
software updates or internet access, just a book, a pencil and people you like.
The Bottom Line
The family activity of the future might just be
something from the past.
Word search puzzles are analog entertainment in a digital world and they still
deliver the dopamine rush we all crave.
So the next time your family drifts toward screens,
grab one of Chris Alick’s
word search books on Amazon, pour
some snacks and challenge everyone to a grid-off.
It’s proof that sometimes the best tech-free fun
starts with a pencil, a page and a few well-hidden words.
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