Word game
Junior Crossword
Build crossing words and find a better home for every letter
- Set-up
- About 3 min
- Reading
- Lots
The quick verdict
Full verdict ↓Great for Children who already read English and enjoy making words with an adult
Think twice if Players have very different English reading levels and would find that frustrating
How we rate it
Learning curve. Our estimate: word placement is straightforward, while scoring and deciding which words count may need adult help.
Luck & skill. Our assessment: the letters you draw add chance; vocabulary and placement give you meaningful choices.
Interaction. You share the board and compete for useful spaces. This is an assessment of the described play, not a hands-on test.
Set-up. Allow about three minutes to open the board, arrange the letters and racks, and agree on a dictionary. This is an estimate.
Reading. Forming and checking English words is the core of the game.
Learning curve: 1 = UNO or Connect 4; 3 = Catan; 5 = a heavy strategy game. These describe the experience, not an overall score.
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Is Junior Crossword right for you?
Great if
- Children who already read English and enjoy making words with an adult
- Families who prefer a quiet game with time to think
- Two to four players who enjoy comparing possible words and placements
Skip it if
- Players have very different English reading levels and would find that frustrating
- You want a language-free game or something fast and noisy
- You specifically want Mattel Scrabble or its tournament rules
How Junior Crossword plays
Start with seven letters and look for a word you can form. Keep an agreed English dictionary nearby.
- Time to teach: about 5 minutes (estimate).
- Reading and language: The game uses English letters and words. Reading and spelling matter more than the age printed on the box. An adult can help a younger player look up words; agree on that approach before starting.
A turn, step by step
- 1Find a word
Look through your seven letters and the words already on the board.
- 2Choose a place
Build across or down. Check whether a premium square offers a better score.
- 3Record the score
Keep a running total and follow the leaflet in your box for the complete turn and scoring rules.
The full explanation: how a game of Junior Crossword goes
Build words across or down the board. Your letters become part of a shared crossword, so look at the spaces other players leave.
The coloured premium squares affect scoring. Compare a few possible placements instead of automatically playing your longest word.
Keep a running score. The highest score wins. Use the leaflet in your set for the full scoring, tile exchange and end-of-game rules.
What's in the box
- 1Folding word-game board
Coloured letter and word premium squares - –Letter tiles
English letters with printed point values - 4Tile racks
Shown in the product photo - 1Score sheet
Shown beside the board
Based on the Ratna’s Junior product photos. Exact tile count and spare contents are not confirmed for model 1279.
Where to buy
Paid link · We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
How to make sure you get a genuine copyEditions and the details worth checking.
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Sequence
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Why consider it | This game Build crossing words and find a better home for every letter | A different fit Another racks-and-tiles game, with numbers instead of English words | A different fit A team word game when you want clues and conversation | A different fit A shared-board family game with less reading |
| Players | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–8 | 2–12 |
| Best with | 2–4 | 3-4 | 6-8 | 4-6 in two teams |
| Play time | 30–60 min (est.) | 20–60 min | 15 min | 20–40 min |
| Age | 7+ | 7+ | 14+ | 7+ |
| Rules | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Indian edition | Available | Available | Imported | Available |
| On this page | Explore Rummikub | Explore Codenames | Explore Sequence |
More word games
Different games. A familiar kind of fun.
Scrabble
Build crossword words from letter tiles and chase the bonus squares
Codenames
One-word clues, 25 secret agents, and one assassin to avoid
Taboo
Get your team to guess the word without saying the obvious ones
Rapid Rumble
Roll, flip a category, and shout words before the timer ends.
Boggle
Shake the letter cubes and find words before time runs out
Questions people ask about Junior Crossword
Is Junior Crossword the same product as Scrabble?
No. This is Ratna’s Junior Crossword, made by Prem Ratna Toys. It uses letter tiles and a crossword-style board, but it is not Mattel Scrabble. Follow the rules supplied with this set.
What age is it for?
The Ratna’s listing and box say 7+. A child needs to form English words; younger readers may enjoy playing with an adult’s help. Adults can play too.
How long should we allow?
Allow roughly 30–60 minutes as our planning estimate, with extra time when helping a younger reader. We have not found a manufacturer play-time figure or timed this set ourselves.
Which Crossword edition does the Amazon link open?
Ratna’s Junior Crossword, model 1279. Ratna’s also sells Premium, Neo, travel and combination sets, so check that the title and box say Junior.
Game facts
- Publisher
- Prem Ratna Toys (Ratna’s)
- In India
- Prem Ratna Toys
- Players
- 2–4
- Language
- Needs English – The game uses English letters and words. Reading and spelling matter more than the age printed on the box. An adult can help a younger player look up words; agree on that approach before starting.
Sources & photo creditsThe references behind this guide.
Facts on this page come from the publisher, the Indian maker or distributor, and the sources below. Photos are credited under each one.