120 Charades Ideas for Kids

Charades for kids is hands-down one of the best party games you can pull out when a room full of little ones needs something to do — no supplies, no screens, just giggles and wild arm-flapping. Whether you are running a birthday party, a classroom game day, or a rainy-afternoon playdate, this list of 120 kid-friendly charades ideas has everything you need. I have sorted them into five themes so you can grab just the right vibe for your group, and every single one is easy enough for kids to act out without any hints (well, mostly — we all know that one kid who will immediately start talking).

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This post contains affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

How to Play

Charades is beautifully simple: one player draws a card (or picks a folded slip of paper from a bowl), reads it silently, then acts out the word or phrase using only body movements and facial expressions — no talking, no mouthing words, no pointing at objects in the room. Everyone else shouts their guesses until someone gets it right, then that guesser becomes the next actor. For a party, split kids into two teams, set a one-minute timer, and award a point for every correct guess within the time limit. The team with the most points at the end wins — though tbh, at a kids’ party the real prize is watching someone try to mime a penguin in snow boots.

Animal Charades Ideas for Kids

Animals are the perfect starting category for charades for kids — every child already knows exactly how a gorilla walks, and watching them prove it is pure gold.

1. Elephant
2. Penguin
3. Kangaroo
4. Snake
5. Monkey
6. Frog
7. Lion
8. Butterfly
9. Dog
10. Cat
11. Horse
12. Duck
13. Bear
14. Crab
15. Flamingo
16. Rabbit
17. Shark
18. Parrot
19. Turtle
20. Zebra
21. Bee
22. Owl
23. Gorilla
24. Dolphin

Action Charades Ideas for Kids

Action charades are where the real chaos begins — kids love acting out everyday movements, and this list has plenty of gems that will have everyone in stitches.

1. Brushing your teeth
2. Swimming
3. Riding a bike
4. Jumping rope
5. Eating spaghetti
6. Flying a kite
7. Making a snow angel
8. Rowing a boat
9. Blowing out birthday candles
10. Tying your shoes
11. Climbing a ladder
12. Reading a book
13. Throwing a frisbee
14. Stirring a big pot of soup
15. Building a sandcastle
16. Catching a butterfly
17. Hula-hooping
18. Opening a present
19. Waving goodbye
20. Sneezing
21. Yawning
22. Smelling a flower
23. Pouring a glass of water
24. Planting a seed

Everyday Object Charades Ideas for Kids

Everyday objects make brilliant charades prompts because kids know them well and there are so many fun ways to mime holding, using, or becoming one — yes, becoming one.

1. Umbrella
2. Toothbrush
3. Backpack
4. Bicycle
5. Alarm clock
6. Magnifying glass
7. Lunchbox
8. Telephone
9. Scissors
10. Balloon
11. Watering can
12. Kite
13. Trampoline
14. Guitar
15. Telescope
16. Camera
17. Pillow
18. Rake
19. Broom
20. Yo-yo
21. Boomerang
22. Torch / flashlight
23. Piggy bank
24. Wheelbarrow

Jobs and Careers Charades Ideas for Kids

Job-themed charades for kids are secretly educational — nothing like miming a dentist drilling a tooth to make every child in the room cover their mouth in sympathy.

1. Firefighter
2. Chef
3. Doctor
4. Teacher
5. Police officer
6. Pilot
7. Farmer
8. Painter
9. Astronaut
10. Bus driver
11. Librarian
12. Zookeeper
13. Mail carrier
14. Dentist
15. Baker
16. Scientist
17. Sailor
18. Gardener
19. Photographer
20. Magician
21. Builder / construction worker
22. Vet
23. Referee
24. Lifeguard

Sports and Play Charades Ideas for Kids

Sports and playground games are naturally physical, which makes them some of the easiest and most energetic charades for kids to act out — expect a lot of running in place and very dramatic penalty kicks.

1. Dribbling a basketball
2. Kicking a football
3. Serving in tennis
4. Playing goalkeeper
5. Doing a cartwheel
6. Surfing a wave
7. Scoring a goal
8. Swinging a baseball bat
9. Skipping on a skipping rope
10. Playing hopscotch
11. Skiing down a slope
12. Ice skating
13. Doing a handstand
14. Playing tug of war
15. Shooting an arrow
16. Spinning a hula hoop
17. Bouncing on a pogo stick
18. Climbing monkey bars
19. Playing ping-pong
20. Doing a forward roll
21. Throwing a javelin
22. Skateboarding
23. Riding a scooter
24. Doing a belly flop into a pool

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play charades for kids?

One player draws a card, reads it silently, and acts it out using only body movements — no talking allowed. Everyone else guesses until they get it right or the timer runs out. For parties, split into two teams and keep score.

How many players do you need for kids charades?

Charades works with as few as three players, but it gets really fun with six or more. For large groups, split into two teams so everyone stays engaged even when it’s not their turn.

What age is charades suitable for?

The prompts in this list are designed for kids aged roughly 5 and up. Younger children (ages 3–4) can join in with picture cards and a bit of help from a grown-up — just pick the simplest animal cards to start.

How do I print the charades cards?

Print each sheet on white cardstock for best results, then cut along the dashed lines. Run them through a laminator to make them waterproof and durable, then clip each themed deck together with a binder ring and store the full set in a small tin.

Can I use these charades ideas in a classroom?

Absolutely — these are perfect for brain breaks, end-of-week fun, or themed curriculum days (the Jobs deck works brilliantly alongside a community helpers lesson). No prep needed beyond printing the cards.

How long does a game of charades take?

A casual game with young kids usually runs 20–30 minutes if you use a 60-second timer per turn. You can stretch it out by working through more themed decks, or keep it short by setting a fixed number of rounds.

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