Charades for kids: 24 printable prompts

One actor, everyone else guessing

Use three or more people for the host-list version: a host, an actor and at least one guesser. With cut cards, two people can take turns acting and guessing. Choose single actions, two-part challenges, or mix both. Players can choose the group they want on each turn.

1. Pick a first actor, then go around the group. The actor reads one unused card out of everyone else’s view. If needed, a helper whispers the prompt and explains any unfamiliar words before the turn starts. A helper who knows the prompt sits out of guessing.
2. Act without speech or sounds. Pretend to hold and use the objects; you don’t need any props. Small hand movements and facial expressions are enough, and you can act seated.
3. Everyone else offers guesses. Accept words that describe the action, even if they don’t match the card exactly. For a two-part challenge, guess both actions to finish the prompt.
4. Put the card aside after it’s solved, passed or left unsolved. A player can say “pass” to end their turn at any point. Give the next person a fresh prompt.

For a short cooperative game, stop after everyone has had two acting turns. You can stop sooner whenever the group wants. Nobody is eliminated, and there’s no need to keep score.

An umbrella guess counts

For card 2, mime gripping a handle and pushing an umbrella open above it. “Opening an umbrella” or “putting an umbrella up” both count. You don’t need to mime rain too; that card asks for one action.

Card 18 adds a second step. Trace a picture with an imaginary pencil, then outline a frame around it. If someone guesses “drawing,” keep acting the frame until they have both parts. “Drawing and framing a picture” counts.

Read all 24 prompts

The numbers match the cards and host list. These words are visible to anyone looking at the page, so keep the screen turned toward the host when you’re choosing a prompt.

Preview the two challenge sheets and remaining single-action sheet

You can leave out an unfamiliar prompt before playing. If someone wants help acting, offer a private suggestion before starting; for “Play a piano,” moving your fingers across imaginary keys is enough. You can switch to a single-action card on a later turn.

Use the host list without scissors

One person keeps the printed host list or this page out of the guessers’ view. The host privately points to a prompt or whispers it to the actor, then sits out of guessing. Mark used numbers on a scrap of paper so the next actor gets a different prompt. Nothing needs to be cut, folded or hidden in a bowl.

The host can rotate after a round if someone else wants that job. A new host who has already read the list still sits out of guessing while they’re choosing prompts. For a game where everyone can guess on other turns, use the cut cards instead.

Optional timer and team scores

If you want timed turns, try 60 seconds per prompt, starting after reading and help. Stop when the prompt is solved, the actor passes or time runs out. Put that prompt aside; don’t draw another in the same turn.

For two teams, alternate acting turns and let only the actor’s team guess. Give one point for a solved prompt, including both actions on a challenge. A pass or unsolved prompt scores zero. Use the same prompt group for both teams, give them equal turns, then compare totals. A tie is a shared win. The host can keep totals beside the used numbers on scrap paper.

Print the cards or just the list

Choose US Letter for 8.5 × 11-inch paper or A4 for 210 × 297-millimeter paper. Print the matching PDF in portrait at Actual size or 100%. Check your printer’s preview for clipped edges before printing the whole set.

The card PDF has four pages: single actions 1–6, single actions 7–12, challenges 13–18 and challenges 19–24. Print only the pages you want, single-sided, then cut along the dashed rectangles. The host PDF is a separate one-page file containing all 24 prompts and short rules.

The cards use 21-point text on white and work in grayscale. The words are fixed, without type-in fields or pictures. Download the PDF for printing; the preview images show the contents but aren’t the print files.