Children's Charades Game – 50 Picture Cards in a Metal Tin

Act it out without a sound: a round of picture charades

The player whose turn it is to mime takes the top card from the pile, looks at it in secret and hands it to the other team, who act as referees. Each round card carries a single drawing on a plain background: a magician in a blue suit sending stars from his wand, a black and white dog lying down, a blue alarm clock with bells, a baby in a nappy with a dummy. The mimer now has to get their teammates to name it with face, hands and whole body, without speaking and without making a single sound.

The magician becomes the wave of an invisible wand; the alarm clock, a pretend sleep followed by a sudden jump. Teammates call out guesses as fast as they can while the referees watch closely: one whispered "ring ring" and the card changes sides. Unlike a charades guessing game played from a list of words, this children's charades game uses pictures, so a four-year-old can hold the card and act, not just guess.

What miming a picture asks of a child

Miming forces a child to turn an idea into movement. To get the red drum kit with its golden cymbals across, they have to choose what sums it up best: two invisible sticks beating the air, a foot tapping, a head nodding in time. In a charades acting game like this one, children find out that raised eyebrows or arms rocking a baby say as much as a sentence, which is real work on expressing themselves with the body.

For the guessers the task runs the other way: watch someone else's gestures, link what they see to a word and say it before anyone else does. That is why this children's charades game sits comfortably among our learning games: an educational game where the learning happens in the playing. Taking turns matters too. The mimer changes every round and the teams swap roles, and watching a card go to the referees after a word slips out shows that the rule applies to everyone.

Your first game of charades: rules and a gentle start

Goki's rules for the charades game start at four players, split into two teams as equal as possible. Agree how many cards you will play, then place the pile face down in the middle of the table. In each round one team guesses while the other referees. If the teammates find the answer, they keep the card; if the referees catch a word or a noise, the card is theirs. When all the agreed cards have been played, the team holding the most wins.

The first time you open this children's charades game, mime two or three cards yourself before anyone keeps score: children see that you can show a house by drawing a roof in the air with both arms. The usual mistake with four-year-olds is to bring out the whole pile. A short game with a handful of cards keeps their attention right up to the count at the end; the full set of 50 can wait.

When the children know how to play charades this way, bring in the variant from the rule sheet: a time limit, one minute for example, timed by the referee team. A card not guessed in time goes to the referees, and everyone starts hunting for the gesture that gets the answer fastest.

From age 4 to grandparents: a family charades game that lasts

At first a child mostly mimes what they know well: the dog, the baby, the house with the red roof. These easy charades for kids make it a good choice for a small group at nursery, with an adult as referee. As they grow, they look for finer gestures for the yellow bike helmet or the magician, and adults play on equal terms, since the drawing gives everyone a clear subject without any reading. It starts with four-year-olds, carries on among our toys for 5 and 6 year olds and well beyond.

The rules set no maximum number of players, so the tin also comes out when the table fills up: as a Christmas charades game when relatives gather after lunch, or for a family game night when cousins of every age want to join in.

The cards are made of cardboard: put them back flat in the tin after each game, keep them away from drinks and snacks, and wipe them with a dry cloth if needed. Close the lid firmly and keep the metal tin somewhere dry.

Picture cards instead of word lists: choosing a charades game

Many versions of charades rely on charades game words written on a list, which leaves non-readers guessing but never miming. Here every card is a drawing, so a four-year-old can take a full turn. The 50 cards are 50 ready-made charades ideas for kids, so nobody has to invent subjects before each game: everyday objects such as the alarm clock or the helmet, characters such as the magician or the baby.

This charades card game also comes in a round metal tin rather than a cardboard box. The lid closes over the pile, and the whole thing goes into a bag for a weekend at the grandparents' or a holiday. Among card games for kids it is one of the few that needs no board and no reading, and it fits in with our board games for evenings at home.

It is also one of the simplest party games for kids to set up: a birthday table and a pile of cards are enough and it sits well alongside other children's party games. On a wet afternoon it is one of those indoor games for kids that need no room to run around. It is not a role-play toy either: in a pretend shop a child plays a character, whereas here they make others guess one.

Questions parents ask

What age is this children's charades game for?

Goki recommends it from 4 years. Because the cards have no text, younger players can take their turn at miming, and adults enjoy it too, with more inventive gestures.

How many players do you need?

The rules call for at least four players in two teams, with no upper limit. A large family table or a small group of children can play together.

Can a child who cannot read yet play?

Yes. The cards carry no words, only a drawing on a coloured background: the child recognises the subject and mimes it without anyone reading it out.

What do the 50 cards show?

Familiar subjects drawn on plain yellow, lime green, sky blue, fuchsia pink, blue-violet or lilac backgrounds: for example a magician, a dog, an alarm clock, a bike helmet, a drum kit, a house or a baby.

Product details

• Recommended age: from 4 years
• Players: 4 or more, in two teams
• Contents: 50 round illustrated cardboard cards, 1 rule sheet
• Storage: round metal tin with removable lid, decorated with a lion, an elephant and a drum kit on a sky-blue background
• Tin dimensions: 9 x 9 x 5.2 cm
• Brand: Goki
• 2-year guarantee

Warning: Not suitable for children under 3 years.