The Power of Pretend Play: Best Improv Games for Kids

Has your child started acting out fictional characters and situations? This type of play is called “pretend play,” and it’s an important developmental milestone.

Improv games are acting games that prompt kids to make things up on the spot, and they are a great way to facilitate pretend play with your child and a group of their friends. These games can teach active listening and facilitate collaboration between kids.

In this article, let’s look at some improv games you can try with your own kids.

Improv Games For Kids

Freeze
In Freeze, two players start acting out a scene. Then, the game host (in this case you, the parent) yells “Freeze!” and the players must stop exactly where they are. A third player then taps one of the frozen players on the shoulder and takes over in the scene, positioning themselves right where the person they tapped out left off. This game often leads to lots of giggles as kids get stuck freezing in silly poses. This game is best suited for children age 3 and up.

Alphabets
Alphabets is a storytelling game where kids take turns adding lines to a story. The catch is, each line must start with the next letter of the alphabet. For example:

Child 1: Apples are my favorite fruit.

Child 2: But I like bananas better!

Child 3: Cherries are the best of all.

Child 4: Does anyone like grapes?

This game is best suited for children age 5 and up.

Animal Switch
Animal Switch is a two-player game. Give each player the name of an animal to start a scene. For example, player one could be a lion and player two could be a bird. They each have to act like that animal until you call, “Switch!” Once you call switch, they have to continue the scene acting like their partner's animal. The player who starts as a lion is now a bird, and vice versa. This game is best suited for children age 3 and up.

Zip, Zap, Zop
Zip, Zap, Zop is one of the fundamental games of improv. It’s very simple to play and great as a warm-up game. In Zip, Zap, Zop, all the players stand in a circle. One player starts the game by saying “zip” and pointing with their arm at another player. The player who was pointed at then says “zap” and points to a third player. The third player says “zop” and points to another player. The game continues with “zip, zap, zop” being passed around the circle. The game builds listening and attention skills as kids have to stay on their toes waiting for their turn. This game is best suited for children age 6 and up.

Kitty Cat Careers
Help your kids imagine their future careers right meow. In Kitty Cat Careers, one player starts by acting out a career (teacher, policeman, doctor) but as if they were a cat doing that career. The rest of the group has to guess what career the player is acting out. Whoever guesses first moves into the center of the circle and acts out their own career. The game continues until everyone has had a chance to act something out. This game is best suited for children age 5 and up.

Discover More Play and Learning Milestones

Pretend play is just one of the developmental milestones your child will experience. Learn more about the play and learning milestones here so you know what to expect and how to help your child reach these milestones.