Large Print Christmas Word Search for Seniors

Twelve of the shortest Christmas words, from three letters to five: bell, bow, card, elf, gift, joy, noel, Santa, snow, star, toy and tree. Short, familiar words are easier to read in large type and easier to spot in the grid, which is what makes this puzzle a good fit for seniors, low vision and anyone who prefers big print.

Choose the Large Print design in the download section and the letters print bold, each in its own square, with the word list in large type underneath. The grid is 11 by 11, with a few diagonal words, so it still offers a little challenge.

Christmas Large Print Vocabulary: 12 Words to Find

Words run across, up and down, and diagonally; 6 of the 12 read backwards. The longest word is Santa, with 5 letters.

Bell: A hollow metal instrument that rings when struck. Church bells and sleigh bells are classic sounds of Christmas.
Bow: A decorative knot of ribbon with two loops, tied on top of a present.
Card: A folded card with a message inside. The first commercial Christmas cards were printed in London in 1843.
Elf: One of Santa's small helpers who, in the stories, make the toys at the North Pole.
Gift: Something given to someone without asking for payment, the heart of Christmas morning.
Joy: Great happiness, as in the carol Joy to the World.
Noel: Another word for Christmas, from the French Noël, as in the carol The First Noel.
Santa: Santa Claus, the jolly gift-bringer of Christmas Eve, whose name comes from Sinterklaas, the Dutch Saint Nicholas.
Snow: Frozen water vapor that falls from the clouds as white flakes.
Star: The star on top of the Christmas tree, a reminder of the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi.
Toy: Something for a child to play with.
Tree: The decorated evergreen at the center of Christmas, usually a fir, spruce or pine.

How to Solve the Christmas Large Print Word Search

Five words are diagonal: "bow", "noel" and "toy" slope up to the left, and "elf" and "snow" slope down to the right. "Joy", with the only J, and "Santa" read backwards along a row. "Bell", "card" and "gift" read across, "star" runs down, and "tree" runs from the bottom up.

Christmas Activities for Seniors and Care Homes

In a group, read each word aloud and ask everyone to share a Christmas memory it brings back.
After solving, use the twelve words as prompts to write Christmas cards together.
Pair it with carols: hum a carol for each word found, from "Jingle Bells" to "Silent Night".