Word Puzzle Games for Your Tiger Mom

The word puzzle games called Mixed Messages in this Tiger Moms' collection of puzzles can also be found under such names as Quotefalls, Letterdrops, and Dropquotes. As the names imply, something has to move downward – to fall or be dropped – in order to uncover a quote.

The principle is simple. In columns above a black-and-white grid, you see an alphabetical list of letters: one letter for each white square that appears below the column. The task of the solver is to determine which letter belongs in which square - to create words in a meaningful sequence (with black squares representing the spaces between words). When all of the words have been found and placed correctly, the sequence turns out to be a memorable (and sometimes not-so-memorable, oops) quote of some kind: possibly inspiring, possibly humorous, or possibly simply an observation of humankind.

To solve the puzzle, it can be helpful to notice these things:

• Columns that have only one letter

• Columns that have several of the same letter

• Short words that are easy to figure out (the, and, of, in, for, etc.)

• Spots where a word carries over from one row to the next, i.e. where there is no black square at the end of one row or the beginning of the next
• Author of the quote as the last word or two.

Occasionally you will find instances when there is more than one possible word that can be made from the available letters. In such cases, simply try all possibilities to see which makes the most sense – or just wait until other words have been completed.

Do pay attention to short words that can also be used as prefixes, such as in, of, to, and others. Work in pencil and cross off letters when you have used them, so that you can easily see which letters are still available to use for longer or more difficult words.

Is there a quotation you would like to see made into one of the Mixed Messages free online word games to share with others? I would love for you to send it to me via my Contact button, and I will post it "posthaste."

Happy puzzle-solving!

The solved Mixed Messages here read:

The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. Vince Lombardi

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. William James

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. Thomas Jefferson

I welcome all comments and will try to reply. Thanks for reading!!