Two parents and two children laughing around a board game on a living room coffee table
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Birthday charades

Charades is a reliable birthday party game: one phone, no set-up and it works for five guests or twenty-five. These 102 ideas are all about parties: blowing out candles, hitting a piñata, musical chairs, opening presents, plus songs and dance moves.

For a children's party, let the birthday child act first and use the easy section. For adults, the funny section ("pretending to like a gift") is where it gets good.

BirthdayEasy

Popping a balloon

 

Birthday party charades for kids

This set has 22 ideas. Start with "Dancing", "Blowing out candles", "The Hokey Pokey" — give each actor 30 to 60 seconds; it one clear gesture each, so the round moves fast and every player gets a fair turn.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 22 in this set, shown below

  • DancingEasy
  • Blowing out candlesEasy
  • The Hokey PokeyEasy
  • Pillow fightEasy
  • Birthday cakeEasy
  • Happy Birthday to YouEasy
  • Opening presentsEasy
  • The Chicken DanceEasy
  • Making a birthday wishEasy
  • Party hatEasy
  • Party hornEasy
  • Blowing up a balloonEasy
  • Popping a balloonEasy
  • Hitting a piñataEasy
  • Duck, duck, gooseEasy
  • Freeze danceEasy
  • Bounce houseEasy
  • Cutting the cakeEasy
  • Licking frostingEasy
  • CupcakeEasy
  • Water balloon fightEasy
  • Musical chairsEasy

Party game charades

This set has 13 ideas. Start with "Limbo", "Simon says", "Three-legged race" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 13 in this set, shown below

  • LimboMedium
  • Simon saysMedium
  • Three-legged raceMedium
  • Conga lineMedium
  • Hot potatoMedium
  • Posing for a group photoMedium
  • Jumping out at a surprise partyMedium
  • Crowd surfingHard
  • Hiding for a surprise partyMedium
  • Singing to the birthday kidMedium
  • Scavenger huntMedium
  • Relay of passing an orangeMedium
  • Pass the parcelHard

Funny birthday charades

This set has 11 ideas. Start with "Playing air guitar", "Getting socks as a gift", "Trick candles that relight" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: mixed-age groups, family night and first-time players · 11 in this set, shown below

  • Playing air guitarMedium
  • Getting socks as a giftMedium
  • Trick candles that relightHard
  • Pretending to like a giftHard
  • Surprise party gone wrongHard
  • Opening presents too fastHard
  • Cake falling overHard
  • Too many candles to blow outHard
  • Finding a gray hairHard
  • Over the hillHard
  • Pretending you're turning 29 againHard

Party songs

This set has 13 ideas. Start with "Dancing Queen", "Gangnam Style", "Macarena" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: mixed-age groups, family night and first-time players · 13 in this set, shown below

  • Dancing QueenEasy
  • Gangnam StyleEasy
  • MacarenaEasy
  • YMCAEasy
  • The TwistEasy
  • CelebrationEasy
  • Sweet CarolineMedium
  • Uptown FunkMedium
  • Rock Around the ClockMedium
  • Girls Just Want to Have FunMedium
  • Can't Stop the Feeling!Medium
  • I Gotta FeelingMedium
  • Party in the U.S.A.Medium

More birthday charades

This set has 43 ideas. Start with "Breakdancing", "Pin the tail on the donkey", "Holiday party" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: mixed-age groups, family night and first-time players · 43 in this set, shown below

  • BreakdancingMedium
  • Pin the tail on the donkeyMedium
  • Holiday partyMedium
  • Sack raceMedium
  • MoonwalkingMedium
  • Treasure huntMedium
  • Egg-and-spoon raceMedium
  • Doing the robotMedium
  • Face paintingMedium
  • Singing karaokeMedium
  • Goodie bagMedium
  • Rocking out at a concertMedium
  • Ice cream cakeMedium
  • Bobbing for applesMedium
  • SleepoverMedium
  • Doing a viral danceMedium
  • Birthday crownMedium
  • Riding a mechanical bullHard
  • Birthday cardMedium
  • Pool partyMedium
  • Unwrapping a giant boxMedium
  • Decorating with streamersMedium
  • Breakfast in bedMedium
  • Counting the candlesMedium
  • Bubble machineMedium
  • Making a balloon animalMedium
  • Puppet showMedium
  • Confetti cannonMedium
  • Party invitationMedium
  • Carrying the cake with candles litMedium
  • Waiting for guests to arriveMedium
  • Dance partyMedium
  • Karaoke machineMedium
  • Party gamesMedium
  • Party balloonsMedium
  • Pizza partyMedium
  • Sack of presentsMedium
  • Writing thank-you cardsHard
  • Smash cakeHard
  • Party favorsHard
  • Turning 100Hard
  • Guessing what's in the boxHard
  • Birthday paradeHard

64 cards from this list, eight to a page with cut lines and card backs for double-sided printing. Free PDF.

US Letter PDFA4 PDF

Questions

What are good birthday charades ideas?

Blowing out candles, opening presents, hitting a piñata, musical chairs, making a wish, cutting the cake and party songs like Happy Birthday to You.

Is charades a good party game for kids?

Yes. It needs no props, works indoors and every child gets a turn. Keep turns to about a minute and use the easy section.

What are funny birthday charades for adults?

Pretending to like a gift, finding a gray hair, trick candles that relight, too many candles to blow out.

How many kids do you need for birthday charades?

Four or more. With eight or more, split into two teams.

Can I print birthday charades cards?

Yes. Use the printable cards link on this page for a free PDF; put the cards in a party hat and let guests draw.