Grid size against word count
Words need room. Twenty words in a 10x10 grid will not fit; the same twenty in a 15x15 sit comfortably with enough filler between them to be a puzzle rather than a list. As a rough guide, allow a grid side about twice the length of your longest word, and add two rows for every five words beyond ten.
Words that will not fit are reported rather than silently dropped, because a puzzle missing a word from its own list is the complaint every teacher gets.
What makes one harder than another
Direction is the main dial. Horizontal and vertical only is right for early readers. Adding diagonals roughly doubles the search space, and allowing words backwards doubles it again — that combination is genuinely difficult for adults, let alone children.
Overlapping words also raise difficulty, because a letter found belongs to two answers and the obvious path is often wrong.
Frequently asked questions
How big should the grid be?
Roughly twice the length of your longest word, plus two rows per five words above ten. Too tight and words cannot be placed; too loose and it is all filler.
What if a word does not fit?
You are told which one, rather than it being quietly dropped. Enlarge the grid or shorten the list.
How do I make it easier for young children?
Horizontal and vertical only, no backwards words, and a smaller grid. Diagonals and reversals each roughly double the difficulty.
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