Looking for a fun family game night idea or party game for kids? Then you’ll love our free printable Charades Ideas for kids. This hilarious game is a blast to play with both kids and adults. Plus with the easy charades categories & word lists, it allows all ages in your family to play together.
Find funny Charades categories like Animals, Food, Things to Do, Sports, Places, Disney Movies, Halloween, and Christmas. You’ll learn how to play Charades and have 144 Charade ideas so you can play the game over and over again without running out of options.
It’s sure to become one of your favorite family game nights. Or play it for a quick & fun birthday party game or a school party game. Your kids are going to beg you to play!
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Family Charades Ideas for Kids & Adults
Charades is a hilarious and entertaining game to play with all ages. Watching your kids, friends, or family act out the different charades words will have everyone laughing and having fun together.
Our easy charades ideas for kids were created with simple word lists so that the whole family could play together.
There are 8 different charades categories letting everyone find a topic they like to act out. Plus it gives you enough word options so you can play the game over and over again.
I’ve used these as both a fun family game night and at my son’s school parties and it was a hit at both. This would also be a fun holiday game to play with friends and family.
Don’t worry about writing down all the categories there is a free printable below with all 144 Charades Words.
How to Play Charades with Kids
To play charades you are acting out the words with motions rather than talking to get your teammates to guess your word.
It’s important to go over the rules before you start the game so that everyone knows how to play. Similar to if you play a Minute to Win it Game or plan a White Elephant exchange that way there is no arguing about the winners.
Teams or Against the Clock
First, decide if you want to break up into teams with a larger group or race against the clock individually on a family game night.
Number of Rounds
Decide the number of rounds you will play before you start the game. For instance, each team will let each player go one time or two times. Each time everyone on your team has gone you’ve completed one round.
Cut Up the Word List
Cut up your charades word list and add the pieces into a bowl so no one can see what the words will be. You could even fold the pieces over so players don’t peak.
Choose the Player
Pick the player or actor to start for your team or which individual to start if playing against the clock. The players will all rotate so everyone gets a chance to act out the words.
The first actor picks out of a bowl one of the charade words and starts.
Act it Out
A player will have 1 minute to use motions and gestures to act out the word on their slip of paper. They may not talk! If they do they automatically lose the point.
Charades Signs
Players can use some common Charades signs and hand motions to help act out the words.
Points
Make sure to have paper and pen to write down the score as you go under each team’s name.
Playing in Teams – If the player’s team guesses correctly in under 1 minute they get a point. If they do not guess correctly the other team gets a chance to make one guess. If the other team guesses correctly they get the point.
Playing Individually – The person who guesses the answer correctly in under 1 minute gets the point.
If no one guesses correctly no points are awarded and you go onto the next actor/player.
Winner
The team or individual who has the most points after the pre-determined number of rounds wins the game.
Charades Categories & Word Lists
There are eight different Charades categories – Animals, Food, Things to Do, Sports, Disney, Places, Halloween & Christmas.
Each category has a list of words to go with the category theme.
Our free printable Charades Ideas for Kids has all eight charades categories and word lists you’ll find below.
You can click below to download now or keep reading to check out the lists of words.
Food Charades Words
Banana
Corn on the Cob
Hamburger
Lollipop
Tacos
Cotton Candy
Sandwich
Chicken
Eating Soup
Ice Cream
Spaghetti
Donut
Animal Charades Words
Elephant
Monkey
Lion
Snake
Cat
Butterfly
Alligator
Chicken
Penguin
Frog
Kangaroo
Bear
Disney Movie Charades Words
Cinderella
Dumbo
Aladdin
Toy Story
The Little Mermaid
Mary Poppins
Frozen
Mickey Mouse
Finding Nemo
Pinocchio
Moana
Darth Vader
Thumper
Donald Duck
Grumpy
Tinkerbell
Pocahontas
The Beast
Happy
Minnie Mouse
Tigger
Fairy Godmother
Jiminy Cricket
Olaf
Things to Do Charades Words
Ride a Bike
Go Fishing
Take a Nap
Do the Limbo
Playing Soccer
A Pillow Fight
Juggling
Licking Ice Cream
Playing Baseball
Boxing
Rowing a Boat
Playing Checkers
Horseback Riding
Climb a Tree
Build a Snowman
Playing Card Games
Go Skiing
Raking Leaves
Playing Tennis
Playing Duck Duck Goose
Drive a Car
Read a Book
Mow the Lawn
Painting
Sports Charades Ideas
Gymnastics
Do Yoga
Playing Golf
Water Skiing
Raking Leaves
Playing Basketball
Cheerleading
Playing Volleyball
Swimming
Playing Hockey
Play Soccer
Playing Frisbee
Places Charades Ideas
Park
School
Library
Grocery Store
Amusement Park
Swimming Pool
Zoo
Arcade
Beach
Airport
Home
Museum
Christmas Charades Ideas
Enjoy these funny Christmas Charades Ideas we’ve loved at Family Holiday Parties.
If you want more Christmas game ideas check out our Free Printable Christmas Games for kids and our hilarious Minute to Win It Games for Christmas.
Rudolph
Santa’s Workshop
Nutcracker Ballet
Christmas Cards
Home Alone Movie
Elf on the Shelf
Snowman
Decorating a Gingerbread House
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Snowball Fight
Hot Chocolate
Mistletoe
Mittens
Mrs. Claus
Gingerbread Man
Elf
Reindeer
Christmas Stockings
Making Cookies
Ice Skating
Bells
Let it Snow
Presents
Little Drummer Boy
Halloween Charades Ideas
This is a great game for kids’ school parties and Halloween parties at home.
Witch
Pumpkin
Ghost
Frankenstein
Candy
Zombie
Trick or Treat
Face Paint
Witches Hat
Spider Web
Caldron
Monster Mash
Bobbing for Apples
Mummy
Haunted House
Bat
Scarecrow
Witches Broom
Black Cat
Skeleton
Halloween Party
Go on Hayride
Zombie Brains
Make Sure to Grab Your Free Printable Charades Ideas for Kids Words lists and be ready for your next party!
More Party Game Ideas for Kids
Keep the party going with more easy and fun party games for kids. Check out our Kids Party Page with tons of ideas and some of our favorites below.
Minute to Win it Games
20 Easy Minute to Win it Game for Kids
Minute to Win It Games for Teens & Tweens
Christmas Family Minute to Win it Games
Would You Rather Games
Read off these funny questions and listen to your kid’s hilarious answers.
Funniest Would you Rather Questions for Kids (Free Printable)
Best Would You Rather Questions for Tweens & Teens (Free Printable)
Christmas Edition of Would You Rather Questions for Kids – (Free Printable)
Party Games
Fun Outdoor Party Games for Kids – Great for birthday parties
Elementary School Indoor Party Games for Kids – Easy games to play at classroom parties for Room Parents & Teacher
30 Awesome Birthday Party Games for Kids – Both indoor & outdoor games
Coolest Nerf Wars Birthday Party Ideas – Step by Step guide to throwing this easy & fun birthday party.
Family Game Nights
Family Game Nights can be so much fun but who has time to plan them?
Make planning a night at home with the kids stress-free with my Family Game Night Planner. It includes 12 family game ideas for each month of the year plus tips, food ideas & prizes.
All you have to do is print out your family game night planner and you’ll be ready for an awesome night at home with the kids.
Are you ready now to plan a fun party or family game night with these Charades Ideas for kids? I hope these easy charades categories & word lists will inspire you to enjoy playing games with your kids.
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