How to play Fishbowl with kids
Fishbowl turns one bowl of paper slips into three guessing games: describing, giving one-word clues and acting. Two teams use the same answers in every round, so remembering an earlier clue can help with the next one. Here’s how to get ready, take turns and keep score, with a Birthday cake example for each round, a blank score sheet and 42 prompts to choose from.
Get the bowl and teams ready
This version is intended for 6–16 players, ages five and up. Set out a bowl, paper slips, pencils and a timer. The group can sit together for the guessing rounds; actors can use hand movements or stand if the room allows.
- Copy three prompts per player onto separate slips: eight players means 24 slips. For ages five to seven, try two each instead, giving eight players 16 slips.
- Choose words everyone recognizes from the 42-prompt pack. Preview any homemade prompts; write one answer per slip, not a trivia question, and leave out anything aimed at another guest.
- Fold each slip twice, mix them in the bowl and put the timer where both teams can see it.
- Split into two teams, mixing younger and older players. Write each team’s clue-giver order and go through that list before anyone takes another turn.
- Pair non-readers with a reading buddy who can whisper the answer privately. The buddy must not guess on a slip they have read; everyone else on the team guesses. Let someone who prefers not to give clues stay with the guessers.
- Copy or print the score sheet below. If you want prizes, set aside two or three small options and explain how you will share them if the game ties.
The mixed-age games guide has more ways to share jobs among siblings. If someone would rather vote or guess throughout, see games for people who do not usually play games for alternatives to a solo performance.
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Play the three rounds
Start with Team A, then alternate teams after every turn. The clue-giver draws one slip at a time and only their teammates guess. Set a 60-second timer; for teams of six- and seven-year-olds, you can agree on 90 seconds instead. Use the same turn length for both teams.
Put correctly guessed slips in a completed pile beside the bowl and draw another while time remains. A player may pass: put that slip aside until the turn ends, then return it to the bowl. If a clue breaks a round rule, set that slip aside without scoring it and keep the clock running. Return it after the turn too; do not restart the timer.
If there are no slips left to draw, end the turn early and return any passed or invalid slips. An empty bowl ends the round only when every slip has been guessed correctly; slips set aside during a turn still need to go back in.
Only answers completed before the buzzer score. Return the unfinished slip without reading it aloud, record the points, and pass the bowl to the other team’s next clue-giver. The waiting team listens rather than calling out answers; everyone will need to remember the slips later.
Round 1: Describe the answer
Say what the thing does, where you find it or what it looks like. Do not say any word written on the slip.
For Birthday cake, try: “You eat this at parties. It has candles on top. You blow them out and make a wish.” A correct guess earns one point.
Round 2: Give one-word clues
Return all the slips to the bowl and mix them. Say exactly one word for each slip, without using a word from the answer. You may repeat that clue, but cannot add another word or act it out.
For Birthday cake, say “candles.” Teammates can connect that clue to the answer they heard in round one. Each correct slip earns one point.
Round 3: Act without speaking
Return and mix the same slips again. Act without words or sounds; do not mouth the answer.
For Birthday cake, mime spreading frosting, lighting candles and blowing them out silently. Each correct slip earns two points. If you want different acting prompts, browse charades ideas before your next game, rather than adding new slips during this one.
Keep score and finish the game
Use these house rules to give the game a definite ending. Each round ends when the bowl is empty, when its agreed time limit expires, or when two consecutive turns—one from each team—score no slips. If both teams are stuck, reveal the remaining answers and award no points for them. Keep those slips for the next round so everyone knows the answers.
Between rounds, count the completed and remaining slips, return them all to the bowl and mix. Start the next round with whichever team was due to play next, and continue through each team’s clue-giver list. Do not add new prompts during the three-round game.
Print or copy this sheet. Write points in the team columns: in charades, multiply correctly guessed slips by two before recording the score.
Team A name: ____________________ Team B name: ____________________
| Round | Clue style | Points per slip | Team A | Team B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Describe it | 1 | __________ | __________ |
| 2 | One word | 1 | __________ | __________ |
| 3 | Charades | 2 | __________ | __________ |
| Total | Add all three rounds | __________ | __________ |
For example, five correct charades slips earn ten points. Add each team’s three rows after round three; the higher total wins and can choose the next game. Equal totals mean a shared win, including a 0–0 game if nobody succeeds. You can let both teams suggest a next game or share the optional game prizes.
To play again, clear the score sheet, choose the new game’s prompts, refill the bowl and agree who starts. You can keep the same teams or mix them again.
An example 30-minute Fishbowl schedule
This is an example for eight players and 24 slips, not a promise that every bowl will take 30 minutes. Collect slips as guests arrive, then play after food and before cake. The blocks below total 30 minutes, including three minutes for changing rounds and adding scores.
- 0:00–0:10 · Describe the answers — 10 minutes. Explain a sample clue, then alternate timed turns. End early if the bowl empties or both teams take consecutive turns without scoring.
- 0:10–0:11 · Refill the bowl — 1 minute. Record round-one points, reveal any unguessed answers and mix all the slips.
- 0:11–0:20 · Give one-word clues — 9 minutes. Keep rotating clue-givers and alternating teams.
- 0:20–0:21 · Refill the bowl again — 1 minute. Record the scores and return every slip.
- 0:21–0:29 · Act the answers — 8 minutes. Use silent charades and score two points per correct slip.
- 0:29–0:30 · Add the scores — 1 minute. Announce the winner or shared win, then get ready for cake or another activity.
Tell players these round limits before starting. At a limit, stop the current turn, count only completed answers, and reveal any remaining slips without points. If a round finishes early, move on; you do not need to fill every minute. Allow more time for 90-second turns, or agree to play just two rounds with fewer slips if you have only 15 minutes.
If guests are still arriving or food is delayed, use games to play while waiting for food before filling the bowl. For a movement break between rounds, Would You Rather Four Corners offers another format; allow extra time outside this schedule.
Choose prompts for your players
The prompt pack has 42 answers: 16 easy prompts, 14 family-mix prompts and 12 silly challenges. You do not need to use all 42 in one game. Choose the set before filling the bowl, then use those same slips in every round.
Easy for kids includes Dog, Pizza, Snowman and Birthday cake. Start here with younger children or non-readers. Family mix includes School bus, Lost sock and Jumping in puddles; use the ones your group knows. Silly challenge includes Dancing robot, Sneezing dragon and Dinosaur on a skateboard for players who enjoy acting imaginary scenes.
Use the random prompt picker to find prompts while preparing the slips, or select Print all 42 for the full list. During play, draw from your paper bowl so correctly guessed slips stay out until the round ends. The picker does not track which slips your teams have completed.
What can we play after Fishbowl?
If everyone wants to keep guessing, try a Christmas carol drawing relay at a holiday party: players draw instead of giving spoken clues. If you already have wrapped gifts for each player, the dice gift exchange game provides a different activity with a roll chart.
For a quieter finish, choose familiar Never Have I Ever questions and let guests pass any statement. If everyone needs to stay seated, browse dinner-table party games. For a winter celebration, the winter games and food guide shows an example of arranging activities around a meal.
If the guest list is growing, large-group party games gives you more formats to consider. For a simpler next activity, see easy party games; if you have no paper or bowl, browse no-supplies party games. The party games collection covers more occasions and groups.
Questions about playing Fishbowl with kids
How do you play Fishbowl with kids who cannot read?
Pair each non-reader with a reading buddy and choose easy prompts the child recognizes. The buddy whispers the slip privately once; the child gives the clue or acts. The reading buddy does not guess on a slip they have read. A child who prefers to guess can stay with the guessers.
How many slips should the bowl hold?
Use three slips per player: eight guests means 24 slips. For ages five to seven, try two each instead, giving eight guests 16 slips. Pick the full set before starting and keep it for all three rounds.
What happens when a clue-giver breaks the rules?
Set that slip aside without a point and keep the timer running. Return it to the bowl after the turn. Do not restart the clock; the same rule applies to both teams.
How long does a three-round game take?
The example schedule allows 30 minutes for eight players and 24 slips, including changes between rounds and scoring. Actual play varies with the group and turn length. For a 15-minute slot, agree on two rounds and fewer slips before starting rather than expecting the full game to fit.
Can adults and kids share teams?
Yes. Mix ages on both teams and rotate clue-givers instead of having adults describe every slip. A reading buddy can help a younger child privately. The buddy does not guess on a slip they have read; everyone else on that team guesses.
Should Fishbowl slips contain questions or things to guess?
Use words or short phrases such as Snowman, School bus or Dancing robot. Put one answer on each slip, not a trivia question. Preview homemade prompts so players recognize them and no prompt targets another guest.
Why do we use the same slips in every round?
Hearing the answers in the first round helps players recognize one-word clues and charades later. Count and return every slip between rounds, including any that did not score. Add new prompts only when starting a new game.
What happens to the slip in someone’s hand when the timer rings?
Only an answer completed before the buzzer scores. Return an unfinished slip to the bowl without reading it aloud, then pass the turn to the other team. Use the same cutoff for both teams.