Printables › Secret codes › Ages 4–5

Secret code puzzles for 4–5 year olds

12 free printable secret codes chosen for 4–5 year olds (preschool and kindergarten), easiest first, each with an answer key. Print the whole set, or open any one to play it on screen.

Secret Word #1: printable secret code puzzle, level 1, ages 4–5
Secret Word #1Level 1 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer
Secret Word #21: printable secret code puzzle, level 1, ages 4–5
Secret Word #21Level 1 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer
Secret Word #41: printable secret code puzzle, level 1, ages 4–5
Secret Word #41Level 1 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer
Secret Word #61: printable secret code puzzle, level 1, ages 4–5
Secret Word #61Level 1 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer
Secret Word #81: printable secret code puzzle, level 1, ages 4–5
Secret Word #81Level 1 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer
Secret Word #101: printable secret code puzzle, level 1, ages 4–5
Secret Word #101Level 1 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer
Secret Word #121: printable secret code puzzle, level 1, ages 4–5
Secret Word #121Level 1 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer
Secret Word #141: printable secret code puzzle, level 1, ages 4–5
Secret Word #141Level 1 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer
Secret Word #1: printable secret code puzzle, level 2, ages 4–7
Secret Word #1Level 2 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer
Secret Word #37: printable secret code puzzle, level 2, ages 4–7
Secret Word #37Level 2 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer
Secret Word #73: printable secret code puzzle, level 2, ages 4–7
Secret Word #73Level 2 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer
Secret Word #109: printable secret code puzzle, level 2, ages 4–7
Secret Word #109Level 2 · about 5 minPlay or print · Answer

How to help a 4–5 year old with secret codes

Secret codes turn reading and spelling into a spy game. Children use a key of shapes, numbers or a shifted alphabet to reveal a hidden word, phrase or riddle answer. At this age they mainly build letter recognition, spelling and decoding.

The first codes use three or four letters and big shapes. Say each letter sound as your child finds it, so the code doubles as phonics practice.

Ten minutes a day is plenty. Stop while it is still fun, and praise the effort (“you kept going after that dead end”) more than the speed.

Questions parents ask

Can my child do these before they read well?

Yes. Level 1 codes reveal short words with a shape key, which supports early reading rather than needing it.

What kinds of codes are there?

Shape codes, number codes (A = 1), and shifted-alphabet codes for older children, getting harder level by level.

Are answers included?

Yes. Every code comes with an answer key showing the hidden message.

More free puzzles: the full library of 10,000+ · all secret codes by age

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