Creative Charades Ideas You Haven’t Thought of Yet

Amy Mitchell
·4 min read
Photo credit: PixelsEffect - Getty Images
Photo credit: PixelsEffect - Getty Images
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No need to save it for special occasions: any night can be game night with the right activity! Sure, your living room may be piled high with the best family board games, and you’ve mastered the art of finding fun things to do at home, but if you happen to find yourself away from those essentials, or perhaps craving some good ol’-fashioned fun, a classic game of charades is the perfect way to let loose. Entertaining for all ages, the game can be played at any time, and in any place. You can even get friends and family who live far away in on the fun by hosting a virtual game night.

First: a quick refresher on the activity for those who need it. In charades, you act out a concept in silence—that’s right, no talking allowed—and the rest of your crew has to guess the chosen word or phrase.

Before deciding on a charades theme or word list, you’ll want to consider the age and skill level of your players. For younger kids, pick easy charades ideas (i.e. everyday activities, musical instruments) they’ll be likely to guess. Charades ideas for adults, on the other hand, can include more abstract ideas, such as movie titles and favorite songs. (You’ll also always score proverbial points with your crew for acting out something hilarious.)

If you’re ready to take charades night to a whole new level, we’ve got just the thing to kickstart the experience: 150+ creative and funny charades ideas for kids and adults. These are sure to make your next game night truly epic, no equipment required.

Charades Ideas for Kids

Think about topics that will be easy for kids to guess, like everyday activities, animals, sports themes, and food.

  1. Sleeping

  2. Waking up

  3. Cooking

  4. Sweeping the floor

  5. Mowing the grass

  6. Brushing teeth

  7. Brushing hair

  8. Taking a shower

  9. Tying shoes

  10. Walking a dog

  11. Talking on the phone

  12. Reading a book

  13. Playing video games

  14. Eating

  15. Drinking

Charades Ideas for Kids: Animals

  1. Alligator

  2. Cat

  3. Dog

  4. Bee

  5. Snake

  6. Fish

  7. Cow

  8. Horse

  9. Rabbit

  10. Spider

  11. Bird

  12. Owl

  13. Monkey

  14. Penguin

  15. Elephant

  16. Giraffe

  17. Lion

  18. Tiger

  19. Squirrel

  20. Pig

  21. Chicken

Charades Ideas for Kids: Sports

  1. Ice skating

  2. Skiing

  3. Diving off diving board

  4. Cheerleading

  5. Pogo stick

  6. Running/jogging

  7. Playing baseball

  8. Playing basketball

  9. Playing tennis

  10. Throwing a football

  11. Throwing a frisbee

  12. Playing golf

  13. Swimming

  14. Skateboarding

  15. Riding a bike

  16. Riding a scooter

  17. Jumping rope

Charades Ideas for Kids: Food

  1. Banana

  2. Orange

  3. Apple

  4. Ice cream

  5. Lollipop

  6. Bubblegum

  7. Spaghetti

  8. Sandwich

  9. French fries

  10. Hot dog

  11. Taco

  12. Milk and cookies

  13. Chips and dip

  14. Cake/pie

Charades for Kids: Musical Instruments

  1. Violin

  2. Guitar

  3. Drums

  4. Trumpet

  5. Flute

  6. Trombone

  7. Clarinet/recorder

  8. Saxophone

  9. Stand-up bass

  10. Tuba

  11. Piano

Photo credit: monkeybusinessimages - Getty Images
Photo credit: monkeybusinessimages - Getty Images


Charades Ideas for Adults

In addition to the more everyday terms listed here, consider popular book, movie, and TV show titles to make charades for grown-ups even more challenging.

  1. Applying makeup

  2. Getting dressed/undressed

  3. Applying lotion

  4. Washing hair

  5. Buckling a belt

  6. Buttoning a shirt

  7. Feeding a baby a bottle

  8. Feeding a baby food

  9. Burping a baby

  10. Pushing a baby in a stroller

  11. Changing a diaper

  12. Cutting food with a knife

  13. Opening a can

  14. Putting dishes in the dishwasher

  15. Washing dishes in the sink

  16. Doing laundry

  17. Mopping floors

  18. Sweeping floors

  19. Vacuuming floors

  20. Dusting furniture

  21. Fluffing pillows

  22. Making a bed

  23. Cooking pancakes

  24. Icing a cake

  25. Driving a car

  26. Listening to music

  27. Singing

  28. Typing

  29. Writing

  30. Shopping for groceries

  31. Checking the mail

  32. Opening a letter

  33. Coughing

  34. Sneezing

  35. Scratching

  36. Mowing the lawn

  37. Raking leaves

  38. Picking flowers

  39. Shoveling snow

  40. Watering plants

  41. Smoking a cigarette

  42. Lighting candles

  43. Blowing out candles

  44. Sharpening a pencil

  45. Spray painting

  46. Painting with a brush

  47. Watching television

  48. Going to the movies

  49. Going on a picnic

  50. Opening a present

  51. Going to church/praying

  52. Going to the gym

  53. Going to school

  54. Going to the hospital/doctor

Charades Ideas for Adults: Sports & Leisure Activities

  1. Doing yoga

  2. Ballet dancing

  3. Tap dancing

  4. Salsa dancing

  5. Playing croquet

  6. Playing horseshoes

  7. Playing corn hole

  8. Surfing

  9. Water skiing

  10. Snow skiing

  11. Riding a motorcycle

  12. Playing hacky sack

  13. Playing pool/billiards

  14. Bowling

  15. Fishing

  16. Shooting a bow and arrow

Charades Ideas for Adults: Personalities and Jobs

  1. Cashier

  2. Bartender

  3. Lumberjack

  4. Car mechanic

  5. Teacher

  6. Computer coder

  7. Police officer

  8. Doctor/nurse

  9. Pro wrestler

  10. Beauty queen

  11. Hair stylist

  12. Makeup artist

  13. President

  14. Firefighter

  15. Waiter/server

  16. Santa Claus

  17. Lifeguard

  18. Music conductor

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