A collection of gesture-game prompts for elementary school kids: fun ideas to liven up class parties and children's gatherings.

baseball

They say the declining birthrate and aging population are leading to fewer kids playing baseball.

Because of that, in many places a single neighborhood can’t field a team, so they’re forming joint teams with kids from other areas.

But if kids who don’t know each other can interact, work together, and enjoy baseball, then joint teams aren’t such a bad thing.

Baseball gestures like swinging a bat or throwing a ball are relatively easy, too.

It’s a great prompt that even lower-grade kids—and of course girls who’ve never played baseball—can handle without trouble!

Goldfish scooping

Speaking of goldfish scooping, it’s a particularly popular stall at summer festivals.

Goldfish scooping is said to have started in the late Edo period; it’s a traditional summertime pastime, and in the old days people even used wire nets to scoop them—sounds easier, doesn’t it? Catching goldfish without tearing the paper on the poi is quite tricky and takes skill.

Turning that motion into a gesture can be fun, and if you do it well people will recognize it right away.

It’s one of the recommended gesture prompts, especially in the summer season.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

banana

Perfect for a fruit-themed prompt! Here are some banana ideas.

When hosting a charades game, narrowing the theme until elementary school kids get used to the game can help it run smoothly.

To start, how about choosing fruits that they’re familiar with from school lunches or at home? If you ask them to express “banana” with gestures, you’ll likely see unique interpretations—some children will mime peeling and eating it, while others will use their whole bodies to become a banana.

Relay

The highlight event of any sports day or field day! Here are some relay race ideas.

When you think of sports day or a field day, what events come to mind? There are many, like ball tosses and giant ball rolls, but relays are the kind of competition that gets everyone—kids and adults alike—fired up.

This time, let’s try expressing a “relay” through gestures.

In the actual event, teams pass a baton, so conveying a relay solo is the tricky part.

Try incorporating gestures like handing off the baton and running with all your might to get the idea across.

soccer

It probably depends on the value of money in that era, but I hear the top spot on the richest athletes list is held by soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo.

His total is $275 million.

That’s about twice the $150 million of the NBA’s Stephen Curry in second place, which shows just how incredible it is.

Speaking of soccer gestures, nothing beats the shooting motion.

Even people with no connection to soccer could probably pull it off somehow.

The powerful motion of a goalkeeper diving for the ball is great too.

Vision test

There’s a comedy bit by the comedian Tomonori Jinnai called “Vision Test,” and it’s really funny.

If you get tired of hunting for gesture ideas, you should definitely watch it! Speaking of vision tests, there’s that gesture where you point to a Landolt ring that looks like the letter C.

The other iconic one is covering one eye with that spoon-like occluder.

But since eye exams have gone digital lately, I’m not sure how far those old-school actions still land… It might actually be a prompt that shows a generation gap.

Swimming

Perfect for a summer theme! Here are some ideas for “swimming.” In summer, many people have experience swimming in the sea or a pool.

However, the tricky part is getting respondents to say the word “swimming.” When they see a swimming gesture, they might answer with place names like “the beach!” or “the pool!” The key for the questioner is to persist and express it in a way that draws out the specific word “swimming.” Highly recommended as a prompt for summer recreational activities or event games!