Valentine charades cards for kids
Print the 27 Valentine charades cards above, or use Draw another card to select a prompt on screen. The deck has three groups of nine: sweet moves, animal charm and two-part acts. Let each child choose a pile, then act while the others guess. Below are preparation instructions, ideas for picture hints and an example game for a class of 24.
Print and prepare the cards
Use Print all 27 above and check the print preview before printing. The page provides text prompts, not illustrated cards or a separate PDF. Cut the printed prompts apart, or copy them onto index cards if you want more room for drawings.
- Print one deck for a shared game. For teams playing at the same time, prepare a separate pile for each team.
- Keep the three groups separate. Use different-color rubber bands or clips so you can find each pile again.
- Add optional picture hints before the party, or ask older children to help draw them.
- Put a phone or sand timer where the actor can see it.
- Set out an empty cup for each team and a shared supply of 15 scoring tokens for a shared game.
- Leave a place for played cards, separate from the cards waiting to be drawn.
Allow about five minutes to set out cards and supplies once they are ready. Printing, cutting and drawing hints take extra time. If you prepare the deck two days before the party, check the piles and token cups again on party morning.
Keep the rules and supply locations with your printable party game notes so another adult can take over without searching for the cards.
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Let each child pick a pile
The age labels are suggestions. A child who enjoys acting may want a longer scene; another may prefer one familiar movement. Let them read or hear the card before deciding whether to keep it.
| Pile | What the actor does | Examples from the deck |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet moves | Show a movement or a pretend action | Trace a heart with an elbow; twirl like a balloon; hand out imaginary chocolates |
| Animal charm | Pretend to be an animal doing something | A puppy fetching a card; a turtle delivering a flower; an octopus hugging friends |
| Two-part acts | Show one action, then what happens next | Make a card, then hide it; carry valentines, then sneeze and scatter them |
All the actions are pretend. Children do not need cupcakes, chocolates, gifts or animals to perform them. For the parrot card, mime the singing or whistling without making a sound.
The random picker draws from all three groups. Use the printed piles when a child wants to choose a particular group. For older players who want more prompts, the charades ideas collection includes everyday actions, adventures and animal scenes, with guidance aimed at ages eight and up.
Add picture hints for children who cannot read yet
Read the card quietly to the actor so the guessers do not hear it. A simple drawing can help them remember what to do, but it may still need an explanation. Start the timer after the child understands the prompt.
Draw in the margin of the printed card, or copy the prompt onto an index card and leave a blank corner for the hint. Try a quick sketch rather than a detailed illustration:
- Sweet moves: draw a stick figure with its arms raised for the balloon twirl, or hands forming a heart.
- Animal charm: draw floppy ears beside a small heart-shaped card for the puppy, or a turtle beside a flower.
- Two-part acts: draw two small boxes joined by an arrow. For making and hiding a valentine, put a card and pencil in the first box and a figure holding the card behind its back in the second.
Aim for a roughly 10-second sketch where that is enough to show the idea. Keep the same hint on repeated copies. If a drawing does not make sense to the child, explain or demonstrate the action privately instead of adding more detail.
The Halloween acting cards for kids use a similar approach to adding your own hints, with different seasonal prompts.
Take turns acting and guessing
For a shared game, split players into two or three teams. Give each team an empty cup and keep the scoring tokens beside you. Show each card only to the actor; teammates guess aloud.
Start the timer when the actor understands the card. They have up to 60 seconds, with no talking or sound effects. Allow one no-penalty swap while the timer keeps running. End the turn after one correct guess or when time runs out, then put the card in the played pile and let the next actor draw.
Add one token to the team’s cup for each correctly guessed card. A missed guess, swap or pass removes no tokens. Stop when the teams have earned 15 tokens in total, when the deck is empty or when it is time for treats or the next activity. For a cooperative version, put every earned token in one shared cup.
Let a child act with a partner, guess from their seat or pass. If they need an unfamiliar word explained, do that before their turn begins. Finish with applause for favorite acts; an optional vote for the funniest act need not become a ranking of the players.
For another holiday, the Thanksgiving acting cards offer three groups of prompts too. Use that page’s own scoring instructions when switching decks rather than assuming its token target is the same.
An example 20-minute classroom game
For 24 children, try six teams of four playing at the same time, with a reader or helper available where needed. Print two decks: each deck supplies one nine-card pile of each kind, so two decks give you six starting piles. Start two teams with sweet moves, two with animal charm and two with two-part acts.
Rotate piles between teams after each playing block. Keep used cards separate within each pile until that block ends, then gather the pile before passing it on. Each team tries all three kinds of card. A team may see cards another team has already used; this is a rotation, not a promise that every class prompt stays secret.
This suggested schedule totals 20 minutes. Turns last up to 60 seconds; explaining cards and changing actors also take time, so do not promise a fixed number of turns in each block.
- 0:00–0:02 · Explain and demonstrate. Show one silent action, explain the swap and pass options, and give teams their first piles.
- 0:02–0:06 · Play with the first pile. Change actors after each turn. Have the next child ready while the current team guesses.
- 0:06–0:07 · Pass the piles. Gather cards and move each team to a different kind of prompt.
- 0:07–0:11 · Play with the second pile. Continue the acting order so children who have not acted get the next turns.
- 0:11–0:12 · Pass the piles again. Give each team the kind of prompt it has not yet tried.
- 0:12–0:16 · Play with the third pile. Offer pairs or simpler cards where needed.
- 0:16–0:20 · Finish and collect the cards. Use the remaining time for children still waiting for a turn, invite applause, count earned tokens and gather supplies.
Give each team an empty cup and its own scoring supply if you are keeping six separate scores. The timed blocks set the classroom finish; teams do not need to reach 15 tokens. With fewer helpers, play as one class instead and allow more time if everyone wants an acting turn.
The Valentine party food and games plan can help you arrange the card exchange, food and other activities around this game.
Notes for the person leading the game
Print these fields if a helper will lead a team. Token cups already hold the score; the table is optional for recording the result afterward.
Team name: ______________________________
Acting order: ______________________________________________________
Pile to start with: ____________________ Finish time: _______________
| Playing block | Pile used | Correct guesses or final token count | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | __________________ | __________________ | __________________ |
| 2 | __________________ | __________________ | __________________ |
| 3 | __________________ | __________________ | __________________ |
Favorite act: ______________________________________________________
Cards to explain, skip or replace next time: _________________________
Helper name: __________________ Cards and supplies go: ______________
For an October party with a separate seated craft table, the Halloween lacing card guide includes preparation and helper instructions. Those cards need outlines, holes and yarn prepared beforehand; they are not an instant printable backup for this game.
What can we play after charades?
Choose another activity only if the group wants one and you have time to prepare it.
- For a seated picture game, see Valentine picture bingo. Check its board and picture preparation before adding it to the party.
- For a clue trail, the Valentine scavenger hunt for kids describes a 13-stop home route and a separate classroom version. Choose the route that fits your setting.
- For several Valentine stations, the Valentine party games to print page includes sketch-your-own bingo, musical hearts, compliment prompts and an estimation activity.
- For a different game with short rules, browse easy party games for options such as Freeze Dance or Cup Stack Challenge.
You can also stop after charades. If you are still deciding what suits the whole gathering, party games offers broader choices by group and occasion.
Valentine charades questions
How do you play with children who cannot read yet?
Read the prompt quietly to the actor before starting the timer. Add a simple picture hint if it helps, and demonstrate a movement when needed. A drawing may still need an explanation.
How many cards do we need?
One deck has 27 cards. That gives nine players three cards each if you use every card once, but it does not mean those turns fit into 20 minutes. For simultaneous classroom teams, prepare enough separate piles for every team.
What happens when an actor freezes?
Offer one no-penalty swap while the timer keeps running. They can also act with a partner or pass. Explain an unfamiliar prompt privately before starting the next turn; nobody loses earned tokens.
Can grown-ups join the same deck?
Yes. Let adults and children choose a pile they want to try, and use the same 60-second limit. Adults can try the two-part scenes while younger children choose simpler movements, but nobody has to use a particular pile.
How do you store the cards for next year?
Keep the three piles separate with rubber bands or clips, then put them in one labelled envelope. Keep picture hints with their prompts and add a note about any cards you skipped or explained differently.