Image: Midjourney/ MomJunction Design Team
There’s no doubt that children are bundles of energy and quite curious. Since they are ever ready for new and exciting activities, you can introduce them to Pictionary. Here, a list of cool Pictionary words for kids that can come in handy for the parents. A game of Pictionary can be an easy and entertaining activity for your children and keeps them occupied. This post brings you a list of fun Pictionary words suitable for kids of all age groups to make sure your kids have a fun and exciting game night.
Benefits Of Playing Pictionary For Kids
Pictionary is a game that anyone, regardless of their age, can play. It has several benefits for young children. It is a picture and word game, and word games have been proven to aid children in academic settings. In a study published in the American International Journal of Contemporary Research, two groups of first-grade students were formed to compare the benefits of using word games to teach English vocabulary. It concluded that “the improvement achieved by the experimental group may have been attributed to the way he (the researcher) rendered instruction; using word games (1).”
So, here are some benefits of playing Pictionary with your kids:
- Pictionary is an excellent game to bond with children through your shared love for words and art.
- It nurtures their creativity and imagination as they try to depict various subjects using drawings.
- The game teaches them to use logical thinking and problem-solving skills as they interpret drawings and try to guess accurately.
- Pictionary game words are flexible; they can be as easy or difficult as you want so that you can adjust them according to the age range of the players.
- The game helps children improve their vocabulary and comprehension, which can lead to their academic success. This has been observed in experimental settings as well. A study published in the Journal of Applied Linguistics and TESOL recorded two groups of primary school children, where one group was taught vocabulary using Pictionary, and the other was taught using traditional methods. The findings exhibited that students exposed to Pictionary-based instruction demonstrated significant improvements in vocabulary recognition, usage, and retention compared to the control group (2).”
- The game enhances their communication skills as they work in a team to convey their ideas, understand social cues, and take turns to answer.
- Pictionary can help introduce new topics and concepts to make learning interesting.
The game can also help kids with emotional expression as they can use art to depict feelings they cannot express with words.
Did you know?You could add some rewards for the ‘milestone’ achievers or winners to incentivize children to play the game. You could also offer them snacks, extended playtime, movie tickets, toys, or anything that’ll make them extra competitive.
Some Easy Ways To Make And Play Pictionary
You can buy the Pictionary board game online or make one at home in the steps listed below. Alternatively, you could download Pictionary Air, a futuristic version of this game that you can play on any compatible device, such as your TV or smartphone.
You can get creative while playing Pictionary. Rob, a blogger and entertainment enthusiast, says, ”A few of my friends and I have a new hobby, playing Movie Pictionary through Google Hangouts. As if Pictionary wasn’t fun enough, having it movie-themed makes it a lot more fun. Plus the added difficulty of drawing on a small area with your computer mouse, or touchpad, results in some really bad doodles. But that just makes the guessing even better (i)!”
Here’s how you can make Pictionary at home
First, you’ll need the following things:
- Stationery: Pens, pencils, and markers
- Whiteboard
- Dice
- Square paper cards for listing the categories and words against each
- Stopwatch or sand clock
Setting up the game
- Pick at least five categories—animals, names of places, movies or famous people, objects, and so on, to doodle.
- Write a word under each category on a single card.
- Shuffle the cards.
Rules of the game
- Make two teams with an equal number of players
- Each team has to select a player to pick the card and draw – ensure each player gets their turn to draw
- The player who is drawing is not allowed to speak, draw, scribble, illustrate, sketch, or enact the word at any point.
- The other teammates need to guess the word within the time given to them.
- Each team earns a point for each correct guess.
- In the end, tally the points earned by each team and decide the winner.
367 Pictionary Words For Kids
Here’s a comprehensive list of Pictionary words based on difficulty levels and various other categories.
Simple Pictionary Words For Kids
- House
- Chair
- Cup
- Ball
- Pen
- Swing
- Door
- Drum
- Skipping rope
- Sunglasses
- Star
- Moon
- Airplane
- Telephone
- Mason jar
- Room
- Turtle
- Doll
- Cycle
- Car
- Bottle
- Spoon
- Crayon
- Pencil
- Eraser
- Frame
- Santa Claus
- Ice cream
Medium Pictionary Words For Kids
- Basketball
- Skates
- Computer
- Scooter
- Bus
- Mobile phone
- Watch
- Flip-flops
- Cupcake
- Bicycle
- Helmet
- Glove
- Violin
- Guitar
- Ukulele
- Goldfish
- Pig
- Jack-o’-lantern
- Shoe
- Hat
- Kite
- Sock
- Christmas tree
- Doctor
- Painter
- Pokemon
Hard Pictionary Words For Kids
- Rollerblades
- Kite surfing
- Ice skating
- Gymnastics
- Bike
- Bat
- Trampoline
- Torch
- Basket
- Spider web
- Shipwreck
- Journal
- Flag
- Invitation
- Team captain
- Dripping
- Cold
- Calendar
- Spitball
- Drinking fountain
- Communicate
- Girlfriend
- Chuck Norris
- Scuba diver
- Old woman
- Girl
- Boy
- Teenager
- Accountant
- Gasoline
- Gas station
- Airport
- Platform
- Mountain
- River
- Chewing gum
- Glue
- Geometry
- Lightning
- Prison
- Piano
- Newsletter
- Neutron
Point to ponderMovie-Themed Pictionary Words For Kids
- Alien
Food Pictionary Words For Kids
- Tomato
- Spinach
- Orange
- Banana
- Corn
- Sugar cube
- Salt
- Grape
- Mango
- Watermelon
- Lemon
- Carrot
- Pineapple
- Kiwi
- Spaghetti
- Pasta
- Pizza
- Apple
- Chips
- Fries
- Hash brown
- Cereal
- Doughnut
- Potato
- Cheesecake
- BBQ
- Turkey
- Ketchup
- Cheese
- Cracker
- Cookie
- Cotton candy
- Milkshake
- Pop tart
- Bacon
- Sandwich
Human/Emotion Pictionary Words For Kids
- Stomach
- Baby
- Belly
- Head
- Mouth
- Chin
World Pictionary Words For Kids
- Spain
- Rivers
- Seas
- Continent
- Country
- Pacific Ocean
- India
- Afghanistan
- New Zealand
- Asia
- Canada
- Alaska
- Australia
- Antarctica
- Russia
- Mexico
- China
- Egypt
- Suez Canal
- England
- Scotland
- Iceland
- The White House
- New York
- Washington D.C.
- The United States
- Thailand
Sports/Game Pictionary Words For Kids
- Football
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Hockey
- Soccer
- Baseball
- Ice hockey
- Golf
- Table tennis
- Chess
- Surfing
- Horse riding
- Hopscotch
- Pole vault
- Gymnasium
- Homerun
- Pac-man
- Call of Duty
- Foosball
- Limbo
- Tennis
Place Pictionary Words For Kids
- Mosque
- Church
- St. Petersburg
- Machu Picchu
- Christ the Redeemer
- The Great Wall of China
- Taj Mahal
- The Grand Canyon
- Island
- Disneyland
- Bathroom
- Backyard
- Bedroom
- Kitchen
- Playground
- Bus stop
- Library
- School
- University
- Beverly Hills
- Hollywood
- Opera House
- The Great Barrier Reef
- Building
Verb/Action Pictionary Words For Kids
- Blink
- Point
- Dance
- Skip
- Kick
- Jump
- Cycle
- Drink
- Trip
- Run
People/Personalities Pictionary Words for Kids
- Donald Trump
- Paul McCartney
- Harry Potter
- Hermoine Granger
- Albus Dumbledore
- Voldemort
- Batman
- Justin Bieber
- Selena Gomez
- Superman
- Spongebob
- Barack Obama
- Joe Biden
- Teacher
- Artist
- Singer
- Dancer
- Athlete
- Usain Bolt
- Michael Jackson
- Michael Phelps
- Serena Williams
- Novak Djokovic
- Roger Federer
- Rafael Nadal
- Mona Lisa
- Tom Hanks
- Beyonce
- Drummer
- Guitarist
- Chef
- Waitress
- Manager
- Police officer
- President
- Hair Stylist
- Michael Jordan
- Neil Armstrong
- Scooby-Doo
- Princess Leia
- Sherlock Holmes
- The Grinch
- Elvis Presley
- Waldo
- Beethoven
- Dr. Seuss
- Albert Einstein
- Steve Jobs
Tips To Engage Kids In Pictionary
Pictionary is a game that can be as easy or difficult as you want it to be. Do you want to know how you can best use pictionary words for kids to engage them and aid their studies? Here are some tips and tricks that can help:
- Pick age-appropriate words that is, use simple 4-5 letter words for younger kids and longer, complex, and abstract words for older kids.
- Choose a theme for the game, for instance, animals, holidays, or cartoon characters. For educational games, choose topics like nature, history, or literature.
- Make rules for the game, that is, tell your kids what they can do and what they cannot (for example, no letters or numbers in the drawings). Make sure they play in a team and not act out if they lose.
- Use visual aids like markers and large whiteboards to make the game interesting. You can also have picture cards to hand out for kids who are unsure or shy about drawing.
- Make sure everyone participates so they can all feel involved. Encourage those who hesitate to draw and tell them it is about having fun, no about having artistic skills.
- Appreciate creative drawings even when they don’t exactly represent the prompts if they are imaginative enough. You can also have some gifts or prizes to motivate the children.
Pictionary is not just a fun recreational game; you can use it to aid your kids’ studies at home and in the classroom. Here are some ways you can engage kids in their lessons using the game:
- Use Pictionary words for kids to enhance their vocabulary in language classes and to teach spelling, meaning, and comprehension.
- Use the game to reinforce concepts. For instance, in geography classes, have kids draw a “lake” or a “volcano.” Have them use the game to depict historical figures or events.
- The game can be used to promote critical thinking when you give kids abstract or challenging words, like “confusion,” “surprise,” or “laughter,” and have them represent it visually.
- Pictionary can be used to assess understanding to check if kids comprehended the material, for example, drawing a concept like “water cycle” or “photosynthesis.”
- The game can aid cross-disciplinary learning when it is used to combine subjects. For example, combine literature and art to have kids draw and guess words from a story.
Last but not the least, Pictionary is a great game to break the ice in classroom settings. You can use it as a warm-up activity to get kids excited at the beginning of a lesson.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can Pictionary help build vocabulary and language skills in children?
In Pictionary, players have to guess words by seeing a drawing, which prompts them to think of different words related to the drawing, helping them to expand and develop their vocabulary. While playing Pictionary, you can also add word games for kids to play for more fun and more learning.
2. How long does a game of Pictionary usually last?
The duration of a game of Pictionary depends on various factors such as the number of players, the difficulty level of the words, and the pace of the game. Mostly, a game of Pictionary lasts around 30 to 60 minutes.
3. How do I make Pictionary more challenging for older kids?
Use complex words and concepts to draw and guess. Also, you can use categories such as history and science that further complicate the game.
4. How can Pictionary help kids improve their problem-solving skills?
Pictionary promotes quick and creative thinking in children. It encourages them to approach a situation or problem differently to develop the best solution, enhancing their problem-solving skills.
5. What age is suitable for playing Pictionary?
Pictionary can be played by children eight years and above. Children younger than eight may have insufficient vocabulary or drawing skills to participate and have fun.
6. Can Pictionary be played online?
Yes, Pictionary can be played online on various multiplayer drawing and doodling platforms. Online random word generators can also be used if you do not have Pictionary word cards on hand.
7. How do I choose Pictionary words for younger children?
Pictionary words suitable for younger children are simple and have one to two syllables. These words relate to things and concepts kids know, like animal names, flower and plant names, cartoon characters, stars and planets, and food items.
8. How to enhance the Pictionary game?
Decide on a theme for the game, such as holidays, books, movies, animals, or celebrities. You may add a time limit to amp up the challenge. Also, note that some children may not be able to draw quickly. In such a case, allow them to act out the word as a charade so they can continue playing.
When playing Pictionary, choose appropriate Pictionary words for kids depending on their age and experience playing the game. You may give them simple instructions and words in the beginning to help them learn the game. Gradually, difficult words can be introduced to enhance their vocabulary, drawing, and imagination skills. When more members are playing, you could allow them to draw on a whiteboard for ease. You may also choose various themes, such as movies, food, books, or emotions, in advanced levels.
Infographic: Ways To Make And Play Pictionary
Did you know that besides the online Pictionary games, you can also create DIY easily and make it even more fun for the children? This infographic will guide you through the process of making one yourself and provide you with easy steps to understand the rules of the game. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Pictionary is a wonderful game for kids and teens, allowing them to express their creativity and imagination.
- The game encourages children to think fast and out of the box to convey the meaning of a word in the simplest way possible.
- Pictionary also encourages children to improve their vocabulary and drawing skills.
- A game of Pictionary is excellent for teaching children how to solve problems and execute a task effectively in a short time.
Learn English with Pictionary! Have fun guessing the words and drawing pictures to help your friends guess them. Improve your English skills while having a blast!
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Movie Pictionary #2.https://entertainmentblur.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/movie-pictionary-2/
References
- Dr. Amaal Al Masri et. al.; (2014); The Effect of Using Word Games on Primary Stage Students Achievement in English Language Vocabulary in Jordan.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/MagedaNajjar/publication/336370008_The_Effect_of_Using_Word_Games_on_Primary_Stage_Students_Achievement_in_English_Language_Vocabulary_in_Jordan/links/5d9e1d74a6fdcc04fac5dce1/The-Effect-of-Using-Word-Games-on-Primary-Stage-Students-Achievement-in-English-Language-Vocabulary-in-Jordan.pdf - Nadia Rasheed et. al; (2024); Impact of Pictionary based instructional techniques on lexical proficiency of ESL learners at primary level.
https://jalt.com.pk/index.php/jalt/article/view/110
Community Experiences
Join the conversation and become a part of our nurturing community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with fellow parents.
Read full bio of Elisa Yi
Read full bio of Advaitaa Ravi
Read full bio of Harshita Makvana
Read full bio of Kavita Kankani
