Family charades
Family charades has a tough job: the six-year-old and the grandparent both need a fair chance. These 1,336 ideas are things every generation knows, from "riding a bike" to The Sound of Music, with nothing a parent would need to explain later.
Mix ages in each team and let younger players pick easy cards while older ones take medium. Or turn on the Kid-safe filter and leave difficulty on Any for a lucky dip.
Babe
Easy ideas everyone can act50 of 265
This set has 265 ideas. Start with "Brushing teeth", "Dog", "Pirate" — give each actor 30 to 60 seconds; it one clear gesture each, so the round moves fast and every player gets a fair turn.
- Brushing teethEasy
- DogEasy
- PirateEasy
- HappyEasy
- DoctorEasy
- SoccerEasy
- Jumping ropeEasy
- CatEasy
- CowboyEasy
- SadEasy
- NurseEasy
- BasketballEasy
- Riding a bikeEasy
- ElephantEasy
- NinjaEasy
- AngryEasy
- TeacherEasy
- BaseballEasy
- SleepingEasy
- MonkeyEasy
- SuperheroEasy
- ScaredEasy
- FirefighterEasy
- FootballEasy
- Eating spaghettiEasy
- LionEasy
- PrincessEasy
- SurprisedEasy
- Police officerEasy
- TennisEasy
- Blowing bubblesEasy
- TigerEasy
- PrinceEasy
- ExcitedEasy
- ChefEasy
- GolfEasy
- Flying a kiteEasy
- SnakeEasy
- KingEasy
- TiredEasy
- FarmerEasy
- SwimmingEasy
- Building a sandcastleEasy
- BirdEasy
- QueenEasy
- BoredEasy
- PilotEasy
- BowlingEasy
- Climbing a treeEasy
- FishEasy
Family movie charades40 of 196
This set has 196 ideas. Start with "Frozen", "The Lion King", "Toy Story" — 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.
- FrozenEasy
- The Lion KingEasy
- Toy StoryEasy
- Finding NemoEasy
- CarsEasy
- ShrekEasy
- UpEasy
- MoanaEasy
- AladdinEasy
- CinderellaEasy
- The Little MermaidEasy
- Beauty and the BeastEasy
- MadagascarEasy
- Kung Fu PandaEasy
- Despicable MeEasy
- MinionsEasy
- The IncrediblesEasy
- Monsters, Inc.Easy
- Ice AgeEasy
- Peter PanEasy
- DumboEasy
- BambiEasy
- BabeEasy
- Happy FeetEasy
- TangledEasy
- CocoEasy
- Inside OutEasy
- The Jungle BookEasy
- PaddingtonEasy
- Home AloneEasy
- ElfEasy
- The Polar ExpressEasy
- The GrinchEasy
- E.T.Easy
- TrollsEasy
- SingEasy
- The Secret Life of PetsEasy
- How to Train Your DragonEasy
- CasperEasy
- Sonic the HedgehogEasy
TV, book and song charades40 of 315
This set has 315 ideas. Start with "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", "SpongeBob SquarePants" — 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.
- The Very Hungry CaterpillarEasy
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little StarEasy
- SpongeBob SquarePantsEasy
- The Cat in the HatEasy
- Baby SharkEasy
- Sesame StreetEasy
- Green Eggs and HamEasy
- Old MacDonald Had a FarmEasy
- Peppa PigEasy
- Winnie-the-PoohEasy
- The Wheels on the BusEasy
- Paw PatrolEasy
- Dog ManEasy
- If You're Happy and You Know ItEasy
- BlueyEasy
- Pete the CatEasy
- Head, Shoulders, Knees and ToesEasy
- Barney & FriendsEasy
- MatildaEasy
- Itsy Bitsy SpiderEasy
- TeletubbiesEasy
- HolesEasy
- Row, Row, Row Your BoatEasy
- Dora the ExplorerEasy
- WonderEasy
- Mary Had a Little LambEasy
- Scooby-DooEasy
- HatchetEasy
- Humpty DumptyEasy
- Tom and JerryEasy
- Romeo and JulietEasy
- The Hokey PokeyEasy
- Mickey Mouse ClubhouseEasy
- FrankensteinEasy
- I'm a Little TeapotEasy
- Looney TunesEasy
- DraculaEasy
- Five Little MonkeysEasy
- Bob the BuilderEasy
- Where the Wild Things AreMedium
Medium ideas for older kids and adults50 of 337
This set has 337 ideas. Start with "Doing a cartwheel", "Peacock", "Vampire" — give each actor 30 to 60 seconds; it one clear gesture each, so the round moves fast and every player gets a fair turn.
- Doing a cartwheelMedium
- PeacockMedium
- VampireMedium
- NervousMedium
- VeterinarianMedium
- Break the iceMedium
- ArcheryMedium
- Doing a somersaultMedium
- CaterpillarMedium
- WerewolfMedium
- ConfusedMedium
- MechanicMedium
- Spill the beansMedium
- FencingMedium
- Pretending to be a statueMedium
- JellyfishMedium
- GenieMedium
- EmbarrassedMedium
- PlumberMedium
- Piece of cakeMedium
- WrestlingMedium
- Eating corn on the cobMedium
- SeahorseMedium
- VikingMedium
- JealousMedium
- ElectricianMedium
- Raining cats and dogsMedium
- Sumo wrestlingMedium
- Opening a jarMedium
- StarfishMedium
- SamuraiMedium
- LonelyMedium
- CarpenterMedium
- Let the cat out of the bagMedium
- WeightliftingMedium
- Raking leavesMedium
- LobsterMedium
- Roman gladiatorMedium
- DisgustedMedium
- JudgeMedium
- Hit the sackMedium
- RowingMedium
- Mowing the lawnMedium
- HedgehogMedium
- CheerleaderMedium
- WorriedMedium
- PhotographerMedium
- Cold feetMedium
- KayakingMedium
- VacuumingMedium
More family charades80 of 223
This set has 223 ideas. Start with "Noah's Ark", "Blowing out candles", "Christmas tree" — 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.
- Noah's ArkEasy
- Blowing out candlesEasy
- Christmas treeEasy
- PizzaEasy
- FireworksEasy
- UmbrellaEasy
- Adam and EveEasy
- Birthday cakeEasy
- SnowmanEasy
- Hot dogEasy
- Counting down to midnightEasy
- TrainEasy
- David and GoliathEasy
- Opening presentsEasy
- Building a snowmanEasy
- BananaEasy
- Throwing confettiEasy
- RocketEasy
- Jonah and the WhaleEasy
- Making a birthday wishEasy
- Candy caneEasy
- PopcornEasy
- Waving a sparklerEasy
- CameraMedium
- Daniel in the Lions' DenEasy
- Party hatEasy
- Christmas stockingEasy
- SpaghettiEasy
- Staying up lateEasy
- ToasterMedium
- Three Wise MenEasy
- Party hornEasy
- Wrapping presentsEasy
- Dancing at midnightEasy
- WindmillMedium
- Baby JesusEasy
- Blowing up a balloonEasy
- Unwrapping a giftEasy
- Party popperEasy
- HelicopterMedium
- Forbidden FruitEasy
- Popping a balloonEasy
- Santa's sleighEasy
- Banging pots and pansEasy
- Ferris wheelMedium
- PrayingEasy
- Hitting a piñataEasy
- Decorating the treeEasy
- Making a wish at midnightEasy
- AngelEasy
- Duck, duck, gooseEasy
- Snowball fightEasy
- Watching the ball dropMedium
- The BibleEasy
- Freeze danceEasy
- Making snow angelsEasy
- Making a resolutionMedium
- Moses Parting the Red SeaMedium
- Bounce houseEasy
- Hot chocolateEasy
- Hanging a new calendarMedium
- Joseph's Coat of Many ColorsMedium
- Cutting the cakeEasy
- Baking Christmas cookiesEasy
- Falling asleep before midnightMedium
- Baby Moses in a BasketMedium
- Licking frostingEasy
- Christmas ornamentEasy
- Disco ballMedium
- Zacchaeus Up a TreeMedium
- CupcakeEasy
- Ringing a bellEasy
- GlitterMedium
- The Lost SheepMedium
- Water balloon fightEasy
- MittensEasy
- Balloon dropMedium
- Rainbow after the FloodMedium
- Musical chairsEasy
- ScarfEasy
Printable charades cards
64 cards from this list, eight to a page with cut lines and card backs for double-sided printing. Free PDF.
Questions
What are good family charades ideas?
Things every age knows: animals, everyday actions, jobs, classic family films (The Wizard of Oz, Toy Story) and songs like Happy Birthday.
How do you play charades with a mixed-age family?
Mix ages in each team, let young children act in pairs with an adult, and let each player choose easy or medium words.
Are these charades ideas safe for kids?
Yes. The family list leaves out anything aimed at adults, including R-rated film titles.
What is a good family charades game for the holidays?
Use the Christmas charades list in December, or keep this list and add a few holiday films and songs.
How many people do you need for family charades?
Three or more. With six or more, play in two teams and keep score.