How to Play Scrabble Junior
Scrabble Junior introduces the tile-and-word idea to young children with a clever two-sided board. One side is a gentle letter-matching game for beginners; the other is a simplified crossword game for kids ready for more.
It lets a child start by simply recognizing letters and grow into building their own words — no spelling skills required to begin.
Last reviewed 2026-07-27
What's in the box
- A double-sided game board (two skill levels)
- Letter tiles
- Scoring chips or coins
- Character mover pawns
Setup
- Choose a side: the beginner letter-matching side or the advanced word-building side.
- Give each player a set of tiles to start.
- Place the scoring chips within reach.
- The youngest player goes first.
How to play — the rules
Level 1 — match the letters
The beginner side has colorful words already printed on the grid. On your turn you play letter tiles that match the next letters of those words, covering them up.
When you place the tile that completes a word, you collect a scoring chip and move your pawn. There’s no spelling and no reading required — just matching letters to the board.
Level 2 — build your own words
The reverse side is a simplified crossword game closer to classic Scrabble. Players build their own words on a blank grid and earn chips based on the words they make.
It bridges the gap to the grown-up game while keeping scoring simple for kids.
A turn, step by step
- On Level 1: play tiles that match the printed words and cover the letters.
- Collect a chip whenever you complete a word and advance your pawn.
- On Level 2: build your own word connecting to the grid and take the chips it earns.
- Play passes to the next child.
How to win
The winner is the player who collects the most scoring chips by the time the words are filled (Level 1) or the tiles run out (Level 2).
Because there’s no math beyond counting chips, even the youngest players can tell who won.
Strategy tips
- Start beginners on Level 1 to build letter recognition, then flip to Level 2 as they learn to spell.
- Read the printed words aloud with young children to reinforce letters and sounds.
- On Level 2, encourage short, simple words rather than long ones — completing words earns the chips.
- Let kids handle the tiles and chips themselves; the tactile play is half the fun.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Scrabble Junior for?
It’s aimed at ages 5 and up. The beginner side needs only letter recognition, so pre-spellers can play, while the advanced side suits older children.
How is Scrabble Junior different from regular Scrabble?
It uses a two-sided board: a letter-matching game with pre-printed words for beginners, and a simplified build-your-own-words crossword for older kids. Scoring is done with chips, not tile values.
Do you need to know how to spell to play?
Not for the beginner side — you just match tiles to the printed words. The advanced side introduces spelling your own words as children are ready.
How do you win Scrabble Junior?
You win by collecting the most scoring chips, earned by completing words on the beginner side or building words on the advanced side.
House-rule ideas
- Play cooperatively on Level 1, filling the board together for the youngest players.
- Mix levels: let a stronger reader use Level 2 rules while others match letters.
- Award a bonus chip for reading a completed word aloud correctly.
Buy Scrabble Junior
Scrabble Junior Board Game
The two-level kids’ Scrabble that grows from letter-matching to word-building.
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