How to Play Charades with Kids, A Simple Guide

Charades is a classic game that kids love. It’s active, screen-free, and easy to set up — no special equipment needed. Whether you're at home, in a classroom, or planning a party, here’s a quick and simple guide on how to play charades with kids.

What You’ll Need

To get started, all you need is:

• A timer (your phone works great)
• A list of easy, kid-friendly words or picture clues
• Two or more players

If you want to save time, try Playmime.com. It’s a quick tool that gives you ready-to-go charades prompts.

How to Play Charades with Kids

1. Pick a Word or Clue

Choose a simple word or phrase. For younger children, you can whisper the word or show a picture instead of using written prompts.

You can prepare your own word cards or use Playmime to generate ideas instantly.

2. Act It Out — Without Talking

The child acts out the word using body movements and facial expressions. No speaking, mouthing words, or pointing at objects.

3. Make a Guess

The other players try to guess what the word is. Give about one to two minutes per turn. If no one guesses it, offer a hint or move on to the next player.

4. Take Turns

Once the round ends, switch roles. Keep the pace quick and let everyone have a turn to act and guess.

Easy Charades Ideas for Kids

Here are some kid-friendly categories to start with:

• Animals: cat, dog, elephant, bird
• Everyday Actions: brushing teeth, jumping, eating, waving
• Objects: backpack, ball, book, umbrella
• Characters: robot, pirate, superhero, teacher

Need more ideas? Playmime.com has a “Kids Mode” with ready-made clues for fast and easy gameplay.

Helpful Tips

• Use picture prompts for early readers
• Keep the game short and high-energy
• Focus on fun, not competition
• Celebrate every effort, not just correct answers

Start Playing

Now that you know the rules of charades, you're ready to jump in.