An activity you can start today
Charades for Kids
Act it out, no words allowed — the classic guessing game sized down for kid-sized actors.
Know before you start
At a glance
- Setup
- 1 min
- Cleanup
- 0 min
- Mess
- low
- Energy
- moderate
- Adult help
- nearby
Before you start
- Whisper the word to young actors, or use picture prompts so pre-readers can play.
- Agree the basics: no talking, no pointing at real objects, sounds only if your house rules allow.
- Play in teams for parties so shy kids can act with a partner.
Step by step
Let’s play
- Choose the prompts. Write familiar actions or animals on slips, or whisper one to each actor.
- First actor up. They read or hear their word secretly and take the stage.
- Act, no words. Body, face and mime only — guessers shout freely or by invisible microphone.
- Land the guess. Correct answer becomes the next actor, or teams score a point.
- Keep turns moving. After everyone has acted, finish with reverse charades if the group wants one lively final round.
The child’s-eye view
Why kids love it
Children can exaggerate a walk, face, or gesture and see whether the group understands. A correct guess feels satisfying for both the actor and the guessers.
Built into the fun
What they’re learning
Conveying 'elephant' with only a body forces children to isolate what makes a thing recognizable — its essence — and perform it.
Actors have to consider which clues another person can see and which movements will make the idea recognizable.
Guessers riff through synonyms and categories at speed — word retrieval practice disguised as shouting.
Make it fit your child
Ways to change the game
Reverse charades
The whole team acts while one person guesses. It works well for parties because hesitant players can perform as part of a group.
Animal mashup crossover
For mixed ages, let young kids act single animals while older ones draw two-part combos.
Family favorites deck
Write your own prompts on slips referencing family jokes and routines — 'dad losing his keys' brings the house down.
Real-life fixes
If it’s not going to plan
A young actor freezes with stage fright
Offer a duo turn with a parent or let the child choose an easy prompt. They can also skip a turn and join when they feel ready.
Guessers shout over each other
Introduce the invisible microphone: only the actor can point to who answers. Order restored, and pointing power is its own reward.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What age can kids play charades?
From about 5 with animals and simple actions whispered or shown as pictures, with the game scaling to any age via harder categories. Under-5s enjoy being the audience and shouting guesses long before they act.
What are good charades words for kids?
Ages 5–7: animals, jobs, everyday actions like eating spaghetti or brushing teeth. Ages 8+: movies, book characters, sports, and two-word combos. Keep a no-fail rule: if it's been 60 seconds, the actor may give one sound clue.
Kidtivity Lab activity guide · Last updated
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