Appropriate grades or age groups:
Elementary School

Estimated time to complete activity or implement technique:
30 minutes.

Materials needed (if applicable):
None

Activity instructions or description of technique:
Charades is a great way for your child to find inventive ways to express an idea or concept without saying a word. Have your child use only his or her body to play or act out a thought for you and friends to guess what that thought is!

1. Introduce the rules of charades to your child and his or her friends, e.g., tugging on the ear means "sounds like," tracing a square in the air means "on TV," holding up fingers means "one/two/three words" etc.

2. Kids can make up their own rules for what the symbols mean.

3. It is important to set the rules straight as these will be your only clues to guess what your child is trying to say.

4. Yell out your guesses. Your child can only nod yes or no in response. You will have a lot of fun with this highly animated game.

5. Play it often with the entire family and visiting friends to get really good at it.

6. Your child will be able to play this game into adulthood.

Other suggestions or comments:
Visit http://www.gamesters.org/Rules/DramCharades2.jpg for some helpful charade tips and hints.