Charades Ideas for Kids

Animal charades ideas for kids

Animals doing one thing are the easiest charades of all.

1. 1.A monkey swinging from tree to tree
2. 2.A kangaroo with a baby in its pouch
3. 3.A bear waking up from a long sleep
4. 4.A puppy chasing a ball
5. 5.A cat stretching in the sun
6. 6.A bird learning to fly
7. 7.A fish blowing bubbles
8. 8.A dinosaur hatching from an egg
9. 9.An elephant flapping its big ears
10. 10.A frog on a lily pad
11. 11.A tortoise in a race
12. 12.A mouse eating cheese
13. 13.A horse jumping over a fence
14. 14.A worm wiggling out of the ground
15. 15.An owl hooting at night
16. 16.A shark swimming fast

Playground and sports charades for kids

Things kids do every recess.

1. 17.Jumping rope
2. 18.Playing tag
3. 19.Climbing the monkey bars
4. 20.Spinning on a merry-go-round
5. 21.Playing tug-of-war
6. 22.Shooting a basketball
7. 23.Riding a seesaw
8. 24.Running a race
9. 25.Doing a somersault
10. 26.Swimming in a pool
11. 27.Playing soccer goalie
12. 28.Hitting a baseball
13. 29.Rolling down a grassy hill
14. 30.Hopping in a sack race

Charades ideas about home and family

Everyday moments the whole family will recognize.

1. 31.Eating spaghetti
2. 32.Setting the table
3. 33.Feeding a goldfish
4. 34.Cleaning up toys
5. 35.Watching cartoons
6. 36.Making a fort out of pillows
7. 37.Helping make pancakes
8. 38.Reading a book under the covers
9. 39.Talking on the phone
10. 40.Drying off after a bath
11. 41.Wrapping a present
12. 42.Sweeping the floor
13. 43.Looking for a lost sock
14. 44.Petting the family dog

Pretend play charades ideas

Become someone else for a minute.

1. 45.Being a chef
2. 46.Being an astronaut on the moon
3. 47.Being a mermaid
4. 48.Being a cowboy riding a horse
5. 49.Being a magician
6. 50.Being a firefighter
7. 51.Being a knight with a sword
8. 52.Being a doctor
9. 53.Being a ballerina
10. 54.Being a race car driver
11. 55.Being a zookeeper
12. 56.Being a snowman melting
13. 57.Being a lifeguard at the pool
14. 58.Being a rock star

School charades ideas for kids

From the bus stop to the last bell.

1. 59.Waiting for the school bus
2. 60.Packing your backpack
3. 61.Sharpening a pencil
4. 62.Eating lunch in the cafeteria
5. 63.Lining up for recess
6. 64.Taking a spelling test
7. 65.Doing a science experiment
8. 66.Painting in art class
9. 67.Playing a recorder in music class
10. 68.Showing something at show-and-tell
11. 69.Getting a sticker from the teacher
12. 70.Running in gym class
13. 71.Reading out loud to the class
14. 72.Erasing a big mistake

Charades ideas for things that move

Vehicles, machines and anything that goes.

1. 73.Flying a helicopter
2. 74.Driving a dump truck
3. 75.Riding an elevator
4. 76.Paddling a canoe
5. 77.Riding a horse on a carousel
6. 78.Steering a pirate ship
7. 79.Riding a skateboard
8. 80.Launching a rocket
9. 81.Pedaling a tricycle
10. 82.Driving an ice cream truck
11. 83.Riding a bumper car
12. 84.Floating in a hot air balloon
13. 85.Riding an escalator
14. 86.Pulling a wagon

Feelings charades for kids

Great for little ones who are still learning the words for feelings.

1. 87.Feeling happy
2. 88.Feeling sleepy
3. 89.Feeling scared
4. 90.Feeling surprised
5. 91.Feeling grumpy
6. 92.Feeling proud
7. 93.Feeling shy
8. 94.Feeling silly
9. 95.Feeling cold
10. 96.Feeling hungry
11. 97.Feeling excited
12. 98.Feeling bored
13. 99.Feeling brave
14. 100.Feeling confused

How to play charades with kids

Kids catch on fast, but a few changes make it more fun for everyone. Play in two mixed teams so younger kids are paired with older kids or a grown-up, and use longer turns (90 seconds) at first.

Let non-readers play too: a grown-up or an older kid can whisper the idea in their ear. Start the game at the top of this page, and the phone keeps time and score. The full rules are on the charades page.

Start with the easiest ideas

If the group is new to charades, begin with Animals and Feelings. They're quick to act and quick to guess, and even the youngest players know what a sleepy face or a monkey looks like. Save School and On the move for the second round, once everyone knows the rules.

A few small changes help younger kids feel confident:

• Allow sounds for the youngest players, like barking or a rocket countdown.
• Cheer for good tries, not just right answers.
• Keep turns moving. If an idea is too hard, skip it and pick the next one.

More games for family game night

For more fun with kids, try What's Missing?, a memory game the whole family can play, or Simon Says with a narrator who calls the commands. The family game night page has more ideas for every age.

Charades also works on a rainy afternoon with just two players: one acts, the other guesses, and you swap after every idea. Keep score on the phone and see who gets the most in a minute.

Questions