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120 Charades Ideas for Kids, Sorted by Age
120 charades ideas for kids aged 3 to 8, with acting cues, simple hand signals, Christmas prompts and an easier game for non-readers.
Which charades ideas should you start with?
Good charades ideas for kids include animals, everyday actions, jobs, Christmas traditions and familiar film titles. Start with cat, rabbit or brushing teeth, then try a firefighter or a penguin carrying shopping. Below are 120 prompts for ages 3 to 8, each with an acting cue, plus simple rules and a version where younger children can act and guess together.
Choose words your child knows. The age groups are suggested starting points, so swap freely. Start anywhere in the list; you don't need to work through it. You need someone to act and someone to guess; paper prompts are optional. For children who aren't reading yet, use pictures: Leeds Community Healthcare recommends naming and miming familiar action pictures before taking guessing turns. Charades can also fill a slot in a family games evening.
How do you play, and what do the signals mean?
One player secretly chooses a prompt and acts it without speaking or making noises; the others guess. That's the basic game described by Scouts. For a competitive round, try 60 seconds per turn and a point for each correct answer. Passing is allowed.
Explain these traditional hand signals before starting:
- Number of words: hold up that many fingers.
- Which word: hold up its position, then act it.
- Book: mime opening and reading a book.
- Film: pretend to turn an old camera's handle.
- Sounds like: touch your ear, then mime a rhyming word.
Keep the floor clear, as Scouts advises for active games. All food, tools and equipment in the prompts are imaginary.
Which charades suit ages 3 to 4?
Begin with animals and actions from everyday life. Show the first movement yourself if needed, then let your child copy or guess. For a first game, allow talking and animal noises. You can introduce silent turns later, whenever they fancy the challenge.
Animals
1. Cat
Smooth imaginary whiskers, then wash a paw.
2. Dog
Pant silently and wag an imaginary tail.
3. Rabbit
Make long ears with your hands.
4. Elephant
Swing an arm as a trunk.
5. Monkey
Scratch your head and peel a banana.
6. Lion
Show claws and open your mouth wide.
7. Penguin
Keep elbows tucked in and waddle.
8. Duck
Make a beak with your hands.
9. Frog
Bend your knees and widen your eyes.
10. Butterfly
Flutter your hands like delicate wings.
11. Snake
Make your arm slither through the air.
12. Fish
Press palms together and swish them sideways.
13. Bird
Flap your arms, then peck imaginary seeds.
14. Horse
Trot gently on the spot, holding reins.
15. Mouse
Nibble imaginary cheese with tiny paws.
16. Cow
Make horns with fingers beside your head.
17. Chicken
Tuck hands under arms and peck.
18. Crocodile
Open and close your arms like jaws.
19. Spider
Walk your fingers across your other palm.
20. Crab
Make pincer hands and step sideways.
Everyday actions
21. Brushing teeth
Scrub with an imaginary toothbrush, cheeks puffed.
22. Washing hands
Rub your palms beneath an imaginary tap.
23. Brushing hair
Sweep an imaginary brush over your head.
24. Putting on wellies
Pull each imaginary boot onto your foot.
25. Eating an ice cream
Lick an imaginary cone before it melts.
26. Sleeping
Rest your cheek on your joined hands.
27. Drinking
Raise an imaginary cup to your lips.
28. Reading
Open an imaginary book and turn pages.
29. Drawing
Move an imaginary crayon across some paper.
30. Stirring soup
Stir an imaginary saucepan with big circles.
31. Driving
Steer an imaginary wheel, looking ahead.
32. Taking a photo
Frame your face, then press a shutter.
33. Opening a present
Peel imaginary paper away and look surprised.
34. Blowing out candles
Puff your cheeks towards an imaginary cake.
35. Eating a banana
Peel an imaginary banana, then take bites.
36. Carrying shopping
Carry heavy imaginary bags beside your legs.
37. Putting on a coat
Slip arms into sleeves, then fasten buttons.
38. Sweeping
Push an imaginary broom across the floor.
39. Sneezing
Wrinkle your nose for a silent sneeze.
40. Playing a drum
Tap an imaginary drum with alternating hands.
What can children aged 5 to 6 act out?
Try jobs and Christmas scenes, telling everyone the theme before you begin. Show what the person does with their hands, then add a facial expression. Accept a close answer: "putting things on the tree" is enough for "decorating a Christmas tree".
Jobs
41. Firefighter
Aim an imaginary hose at a fire.
42. Doctor
Listen through an imaginary stethoscope, then nod.
43. Dentist
Inspect an imaginary patient's open mouth.
44. Teacher
Write on an imaginary board, then point.
45. Chef
Chop imaginary vegetables and stir a pan.
46. Baker
Knead imaginary dough, then shape a loaf.
47. Hairdresser
Snip your fingers around an imaginary head.
48. Postal worker
Sort imaginary letters, then post them.
49. Builder
Lay imaginary bricks in a straight row.
50. Gardener
Dig an imaginary hole and plant seeds.
51. Bus driver
Steer, stop, then welcome imaginary passengers aboard.
52. Farmer
Scatter imaginary feed and gather eggs.
53. Vet
Examine an imaginary animal's sore paw.
54. Librarian
Stamp imaginary books and arrange a shelf.
55. Window cleaner
Wipe an imaginary window in broad circles.
56. Painter
Roll imaginary paint up and down.
57. Waiter
Balance an imaginary tray and serve plates.
58. Mechanic
Open an imaginary bonnet and tighten bolts.
59. Astronaut
Put on an imaginary helmet; move slowly.
60. Conductor
Raise an imaginary baton and direct musicians.
Christmas
61. Decorating a Christmas tree
Hang imaginary baubles on spreading branches.
62. Wrapping a present
Fold imaginary paper and smooth sticky tape.
63. Hanging a stocking
Hold up an imaginary stocking; hang it.
64. Pulling a Christmas cracker
Pull an imaginary cracker, then look surprised.
65. Building a snowman
Roll imaginary snowballs and stack them.
66. Putting a star on the tree
Raise an imaginary star above your head.
67. Writing to Father Christmas
Write an imaginary letter and seal it.
68. Opening an advent calendar
Find an imaginary door and open it.
69. Carrying a Christmas tree
Carry awkward imaginary branches through a doorway.
70. Putting on a paper crown
Unfold an imaginary crown and wear it.
71. Father Christmas
Stroke an imaginary beard; carry a sack.
72. Reindeer
Make antlers with hands beside your head.
73. Elf
Point to imaginary ears, then wrap presents.
74. Snowflake
Flutter your fingers gently towards the floor.
75. Sleigh ride
Hold imaginary reins and lean around corners.
76. Icing a biscuit
Trace icing onto an imaginary biscuit.
77. Making a snow angel
Sweep your arms sideways while standing.
78. Singing carols
Hold imaginary music and sing silently.
79. Serving Christmas dinner
Carry an imaginary platter to the table.
80. Taking down decorations
Remove imaginary ornaments and pack them away.
What can children aged 7 to 8 try?
Try sports, silly combinations and film titles your child already knows. For the silly scenes, show the character before the action. Keep the suggested ages flexible: an older child can choose a rabbit, and a younger child can try a familiar film.
Sports
81. Football
Mime a kick, then celebrate a goal.
82. Tennis
Swing an imaginary racket across your body.
83. Swimming
Move your arms through an imaginary pool.
84. Cricket
Hold an imaginary bat and defend wickets.
85. Basketball
Bounce an imaginary ball, then shoot.
86. Golf
Line up an imaginary putt carefully.
87. Rowing
Pull imaginary oars towards your body.
88. Table tennis
Make small strokes with an imaginary bat.
89. Bowling
Roll an imaginary ball along a lane.
90. Cycling
Hold imaginary handlebars and pedal with hands.
Silly scenes
91. A robot brushing its teeth
Brush with stiff arms and jerky movements.
92. A penguin carrying shopping
Waddle while struggling with imaginary bags.
93. A chef with hiccups
Stir, pause and twitch your shoulders.
94. A sleepy superhero
Strike a heroic pose, then yawn.
95. A dog using a phone
Make floppy ears; tap an imaginary screen.
96. A giant drinking tea
Hold a tiny imaginary cup very delicately.
97. A pirate doing the washing
Peer through a telescope, then scrub socks.
98. A dinosaur at the dentist
Show tiny arms, then open wide.
99. A magician losing a rabbit
Check an imaginary hat, then search everywhere.
100. A king washing dishes
Adjust an imaginary crown, then scrub plates.
101. A melting snowman
Show a round tummy, then slowly droop.
102. A cat conducting an orchestra
Show whiskers, then wave an imaginary baton.
103. An octopus getting dressed
Mime putting sleeves on endless extra arms.
104. An invisible heavy suitcase
Struggle to lift something nobody can see.
105. A sandwich that's too big
Stretch your hands apart; open your mouth.
106. An umbrella in the wind
Hold an imaginary handle and wobble.
107. A hat that won't stay on
Catch your imaginary hat again and again.
108. A shoe stuck in mud
Pretend your foot won't leave the floor.
109. A toothbrush that tickles
Brush, squirm and pull the toothbrush away.
110. A shrinking chair
Mime sitting on an ever-smaller seat.
Films
Choose familiar titles from Disney UK's film list.
111. Frozen
Shiver, then freeze like a statue.
112. Toy Story
Become a stiff toy, then come alive.
113. The Jungle Book
Mime opening a book, then jungle animals.
114. Cinderella
Try on an imaginary shoe; look delighted.
115. Peter Pan
Spread arms, then mime a pirate hook.
116. Bambi
Make deer ears and take tentative steps.
117. Beauty and the Beast
Admire an imaginary mirror, then show claws.
118. The Princess and the Frog
Adjust an imaginary crown, then mime hopping.
119. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Mime biting an apple; count seven fingers.
120. One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Act like a dog; point to spots.
How can you make a short game from the list?
Pick a small selection before starting, and save the rest. Give everyone a turn instead of making the quickest guesser perform again. These combinations are suggestions, so stop when the game has run its course rather than working through every prompt.
- First try: choose cat, rabbit, sleeping and brushing teeth. Act together, then let your child choose something for you to guess. Skip scores. Let them repeat a favourite before introducing another prompt.
- Family round: mix animals with jobs. Pair a younger child with a grown-up; let the older players tackle silly scenes. Swap partners between rounds.
- Christmas round: choose wrapping a present, building a snowman and pulling a cracker. Finish with everyone acting the same prompt while a grown-up guesses. Then change guessers.
For an animal round with yoga poses, explore Yogi-Me's mats. Each has 15 numbered poses laser-engraved into the surface, for ages 3 to 8. Pick a familiar animal pose as the clue, then let everyone copy it.
What if your child doesn't want to perform?
Let them guess, choose prompts or watch. Offer to act together without making a solo turn the price of joining in. Scouts suggests paired acting or letting someone else mime when a player doesn't want to perform. Sitting beside you is an option too.
If guessing doesn't appeal, try acting out a familiar story together, an activity suggested by NHS Best Start in Life. Both of you can be the animal instead of taking turns. Or move on to another of these indoor party games. Keep the unused prompts for another day, when they can choose whether to join in.
Frequently asked questions
What are easy charades words for kids?
Start with cat, dog, rabbit, elephant, sleeping, brushing teeth and eating an ice cream. Choose words your child already uses, and tell the guessers the category before the turn. If an animal is hard to recognise, offer a choice, such as cat or rabbit, and keep playing.
How do you play charades with a three-year-old?
Start by naming an animal and acting it out together. Let your child say the answer while they're moving, copy your actions or make animal sounds. When they want a guessing turn, offer a familiar picture or whisper the prompt. Leave out the timer and score.
What are some funny charades ideas for children?
Try a robot brushing its teeth, a penguin carrying shopping or a dinosaur at the dentist. Show the character first, then add the action. If the full phrase is too much, accept the animal or job as the answer and reveal the extra bit afterwards.
Can two people play charades?
Yes. Take turns choosing your own secret prompt while the other person guesses. You don't need teams or a score sheet. If your child needs you to whisper the word, let them perform it anyway, or choose between pictures themselves so the answer can still be a surprise.
