Learn Portuguese: Christmas – Picture Crossword for Kids

Pictures become Portuguese words in this puzzle: your child sees the trees, baubles and stockings, finds the right word in Portuguese, and writes it one letter at a time into the boxes. Because every word is joined to another at a crossing, your child watches each individual letter as they write, practising Portuguese spelling in the most natural way. At the same time their Portuguese vocabulary grows, since each drawing brings along a new word. It is a puzzle for easy, unhurried thinking, with no pace to keep and nothing to tally. You can print it for free or open it online to play together. When all the boxes are full, your child has not only solved a grid but picked up a handful of fresh Portuguese words.

As they solve, your child looks closely: what are the trees, baubles and stockings called in Portuguese? Then each letter travels neatly into its box. Because the Portuguese words cross and help one another, the spelling turns exciting and gets practised along the way. Let your child puzzle and explore at their own pace. The loveliest moment is when the last Portuguese word fits the grid exactly. Until then your child may think and try as often as they like — here there is neither a clock nor a single right speed to keep. Portuguese adds little marks to some letters, like the curly a in "ã", which gives the word a soft nasal sound.

Has your child caught the joy of naming and spelling in Portuguese? Then keep going! The crosswords about the instruments and the ones with summer things hold fresh pictures, new Portuguese words, and new crossings to puzzle over. And once your child is really in the swing of it, there is a whole free collection built around the Christmas things — free to print or simply to play online. That way learning Portuguese stays varied and gives a little fresh pleasure each day, all at your child’s own pace. Have fun discovering, writing, and puzzling together!