April Fools Day Pranks are a fun tradition at our house. A kids prank is always best if it is simple enough for them to do most of the set up by themselves while delivering the maximum amount of laughter afterward.

At my house, the kids start planning April Fools pranks weeks in advance.

easy and funny pranks for kids for April Fools Day - 23 Pranks with 5 pictured here
Let’s play a funny prank today!

The point of April Fools Day (at least at our house) is to do something unexpected that will make your child smile – or better yet giggle hysterically!

Here are just a few of the ideas we have planned for this year!

Easy Funny Pranks for Kids

College Prank

Ok, we actually call this the Sleeping Boy Prank, but it always reminds me of one of those silly early TV shows that would display the hijinks of college life.  I am very happy about using the word hijinks in a sentence…

As your child is sleeping color on their face – if they are awake, have them pretend to be sleeping.   They will still think it’s hilarious!

Toilet Paper Secret Message Prank

This uses way less toilet paper than TP’ing a yard and could be a super sweet message year round, but for April Fools we call it the TP Note Prank.

Your child will think they are pulling the toilet paper, but a note will pop out and surprise them!

You Grew Out of Your Shoes Practical Joke

As a mom, this prank isn’t that funny.  It is life.  But for kids the Stuffed Shoes Practical Joke seems hilarious because they don’t foot the bill (get it, foot?).  The pranks goes like this…

For older kids, fill just the toes of their shoes with a funny item (cotton balls, deflated balloon, small bouncy ball, etc.).   For younger kids, fill the whole shoe with something unexpected.  And when they put on their shoes they will think they have outgrown them!

Elusive Dollar Trick

This kids prank takes a little more set up, but it is totally worth it.  For the Catch a dollar Practical Joke, you will need a dollar bill, some tape, fishing line or light thread and a “fishing pole” whether real or makeshift.

Place the dollar in the grass at the park and go hide, see who tries to pick it up and reel it in as they reach for it and watch them run after it.

Scary Glowing Eyes Prank

Fill a TP tube with a glow stick and hide a set of eyes somewhere in the kids room to make the silly TP Tube Glowing Eyes prank.  This is best for older kiddos because it can be a little scary.  This is something fun kids could play on a parent as well.  

Just a tip, don’t leave glow sticks in the room with tots.  We want April Fools to be all about fun.

Where’s My Toy Practical Joke

This only works if the toys are put away, but it can be really funny to switch out the toys in the toy bin with:

  • shoes
  • socks
  • other clothing
  • the washed recycling items

Or grab five things that your kids *know* where they are kept and put them in a “wrong” place.

prank idea - plastic wrap toys - easy pranks for kids for April Fools Day
This plastic wrap prank is super easy to do!

Shrink Wrap Prank

Two year olds are mesmerized when you shrink wrap their toys.   Half the fun is unwrapping them.   It’s Christmas all over again!  Be sure to supervise so this practical joke is safe for the kids.

Saran Wrap Door Prank

This is a popular one, but be careful because it can turn out a little violent.  I suggest not aiming for the practical joke subject’s head but lower.  

Watch the short video how to do the Cling Wrap Practical Joke:

Never Ending Gift Trick

Give your child a small silly gift.

…only put it in a small box, wrap it.   Put that in a medium box.   Wrap it.   Put that in a larger box, etc., etc. etc.  They will have fun finding their gift.

Frozen Cereal Practical Joke

Freeze your child’s breakfast with this super easy and silly cereal prank.  Fill your child’s bowl with cereal and milk – then stick it into the fridge!   The kids will be frustrated as they try to eat their breakfast (be sure to have a regular bowl of food nearby).

Marshmallow Tree Prank

Let’s go Marshmallow Picking!  What? Marshmallows do NOT grow on trees!  

Well, marshmallows definitely grow on trees this April Fools Day! Stuff marshmallows onto the tips of branches in your yard.   Tell the kids that the bushes started growing puffy berries and watch them race to pick the “berries”.

Thick Milk Trick

Do a pudding swap. Instead of a glass of milk for breakfast, give your kids a glass of pudding!  This is actually grosser than you might expect!

{Giggle}

LOTS of Pranks for kids to pull on April Fools Day - 3 pictured here including pillow trick, blue milk trick and water changing prank
Which easy prank should we do first?

Pillow Prank

Pull the balloon prank on your child’s pillow.  Fill your child’s pillow with balloons at nap time.   Watch them giggle when they discover what their pillow is *really* made of!

If your child is younger, this is another one you want to closely supervise for maximum fun!

blue milk april fools joke for kids - easy pranks
Cows always give blue milk on April Fools Day!

Blue Milk Practical Joke

Dye the Milk……and pretend you have NO clue it’s a different color!  This literally gets funnier and funnier the longer you can keep a straight face.

It totally makes sense that cows only give blue milk on April Fool’s Day!

Faucet Jokes to Play

Pull this bath water prank on your kids which is a simple color your bath water joke.  Swab the water faucet with gel food dye – later when the kids go to turn on the bath, the water will burst out with a fun color!

Kissing Surprise

Have some fun with Surprise Kisses! When your child thinks you are going to kiss them, fool them, by blowing raspberries instead, or grabbing them and tickling, or whispering April Fools in a goofy voice.

Eyes in My Drink Prank

Eyeball Ice CubesMake a batch of ice cubes that will gross your kids out – until they ask if they can eat them!

A Small Dinner Practical Joke

Mini- Meal
Grab the doll dishes and call your kids to dinner… only instead of the regular plates and portions, give them a “tiny” meal.

Balloon Prank

Play a practical joke that is a balloon surprise over the door.  It is kind like the pail of water above the door, but much more fun and less mess. After your kids go to sleep, close their door.   Tape a garbage bag to the outside of the door and fill the gap between the bag and the door with balloons.   When your kids open the door, balloons will fall on them.

Yummy Fake Cake

Make a fake cake. Your kids will love making this fake cake!   Have them “ice” an empty container with shaving cream or as we did in this video, ice a sponge…

Watch Short Video How to Do the Fake Cake Prank

How have you pranked your kids in the past??

More Jokes & Fun from Kids Activities Blog

lots of pranks for kids to pull on their friends and family - 8 funny pranks pictured here
So many pranks, so little time!

What is your favorite easy prank for kids?

Don’t miss out on this list of the best prank ideas for kids!

You have got to see all these funny jokes for kids!



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34 Comments

  1. I am really excited about tomorrow because it is first day of April and it will be April fools day and I already have a trick planed for my mom and maybe dad.