20 Most Engaging Quiet Games for Kids (Keep Them Entertained for Hours)
These quiet games for kids feature creative challenges to calming contests. And they’re great for wind down or when you need to keep high energy kids busy while waiting.
The games will tone down the volume!
Research shows that these mini periods of silence are a great way to reset the mind. Kids can see a spike in creativity, focus, self-regulation, and comprehension. As well as a calming effect. It’s a win!
But how do you get your kids to engage in quiet time? Keep reading to find out!
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20 Wildly Entertaining Quiet Games to Play
1. The Telephone Game
To make it even quieter, call it the “whisper game.”
How to Play:
- Sit in a circle or a line and whisper your phrase into the first person’s ear.
- From there, each person whispers to the next exactly what they heard.
- Once you get to the end, the last person reports to the group what they heard.
The object of the game is to see how close you can get to the original word or phrase.
Fun Phrases to Try: I’m the boss, applesauce! She can speak to trees. I put a spell on you. I built a giant robot to take over the world. Liar liar, pants on fire!
See more fun telephone phrases for kids >>
2. Drawing Telephone
This is like the game above but requires no speaking.
Each person draws a quick picture and then passes it to the next person.
The second person has to guess what it is and draw it from memory. Keep passing it until you get to the end. The last person shows their drawing and what they think the original picture was.
3. Play Silent Scattergories
Choose a category and write down words silently. Score points for unique answers.
1. Determine the letter for the round. (Letters Q, U, V, X, Y, and Z are excluded)
2. Start a 3-minute timer.
3. All players write words that start with the letter for each category on the list of 12.
4. When the time is up, players share their words. Each unique answer scores points, but common answers with opposing players cancel out.
See more about Scattergories and fun word lists >>
Also try these Fun and Easy Whiteboard Games >>
4. Simon Says (No Talking Version)
Use only gestures to give Simon Says instructions.
5. Hilarious Charades Game Ideas
Players act out words or phrases without speaking, while their team tries to guess what they’re portraying. It’s a game that tests imagination and non-verbal communication skills.
See a great list of Charades Words >>
6. Create a Quiet Challenge
Engage kids quietly by turning an activity they like to do into a challenge!
- Coloring relaxes the mind and body. See who can color the brightest lion. Or draw the most creative candy castle.
- Got builders? Try these free Lego Challenge Cards!
7. Do a Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of items to find without talking.
Try this nature scavenger hunt or Pirate treasure hunt.
8. Play I Spy
This game includes talking, but it’s an EASY way to keep kids engaged without a lot of work (and noise).
- One player chooses an object within sight and says, “I spy with my little eye, something that is [color or characteristic of the object].”
- Other players then take turns guessing the object until someone identifies it correctly and becomes the next “spy.”
9. Play Two Truths & a Lie on Paper
Each person writes down two true statements and one false statement about themselves on a piece of paper, without revealing which is the lie.
Then, everyone exchanges papers, reads each other’s statements, and guesses which one is the lie. After all guesses are made, players reveal their lies and see who guessed correctly!
Find the trickiest two truths and lie ideas >>
10. Try An Origami Challenge
Give everyone paper and see who can create the coolest origami (silently).
Check out this origami book to help learn!
11. Try to Be Quiet Statues
The rules are simple. No talking is allowed. And once the timer goes off, players must stand perfectly still!
How To Play:
- Split your group in half. Half of the participants draw an animal out of a hat. The other half will be guessing.
- Set a timer for five minutes and have each person that’s going to be a statue quietly gather two props (if they need them).
- When they return, players pose as their assigned animal.
- The remaining half of the group tries to decipher which animal each person is pretending to be.
You can do this with animals, occupations, action verbs, and more!
12. Play Heads Up Seven Up
This is a great game for big groups!
How To Play:
1. Choose seven players to be “it” and have everyone else sit at their desks or around a table with their heads down, eyes closed, and thumbs up.
2. The seven players walk quietly around the room and each lightly taps one seated player on the thumb. If you’re tapped, you must keep your thumb down.
3. Once all seven players have tapped someone, the game leader calls, “Heads up, seven up!” Everyone who was tapped lifts their heads.
4. The tapped players stand up and try to guess who tapped them. If they guess correctly, they swap places with the player who tapped them and become the new “it” in the next round.
13. Play Follow the Leader (Quietly)
First, pick a leader to be in the front of the line or room.
The leader does silent movements (skipping, tiptoeing, etc) that everyone else copies.
If anyone makes a noise, they have to move to the back of the line.
Switch leaders every few minutes.
14. Find the Hidden Object
Start by having the kids close their eyes while you hide an object in the room. Then, give the kids three minutes to find the hidden object. (They must be silent during their search.)
If they have not found the object within 3 minutes you can give a clue or hide the object in a different place.
15. Doggie Doggie, Where’s Your Bone?
How to Play:
1. Pick two children to stand at the front of the room. Have one child face the wall while the other child faces the rest of the kids.
2. The child facing the kids will then take the “bone” (can be any object) and hide it in one student’s desk.
3. The students then say “Doggie Doggie, where’s your bone?”. The child facing the wall will turn around and examine the room. That child has 3 guesses to figure out who has the bone.
If the child guesses correctly, they switch places with the child who has the bone.
If they do not guess correctly, the game restarts with 2 new students at the front.
16. What or Who Am I?
Stick a note with a famous character or person on your forehead and ask questions to guess who you are.
Find great what am I Riddles >>
17. Silent Ball
*Also great for hand-eye coordination!
Have the kids stand in a circle. Next, the first child with the ball passes to whoever they wish in the circle. And the kids continue passing.
If the child drops the ball, makes a bad pass, or begins talking or laughing they are out.
18. Four Corners
Start by labeling the four corners of the room.
Label the corners of the room with letters, colors, objects, adverbs, answers, etc.
Then, gather all the kids in the center of the room.
First Way: Have the kids walk to any corner they choose. At random, hold up a piece of paper with the letter (number, etc). If the paper shows the letter G, then the children who are in that corner must sit down quietly. The remaining children will go back to the center of the room. You keep playing until only one child is left.
Second Way: This option helps kids learn vocabulary while giving a silent opinion. Ask a question or say a verb and have kids go to the corner of the room that corresponds with their answer.
19. Ninja Hand Game
Have the kids stand in a circle with their palms together at their chests. On the count of three, each child takes a step back into a “ninja pose.”
The child who did the countdown starts by making one quick move to try and tap the hand of the person to their left or right, while that person can make a single move to dodge.
If tapped below the elbow, a player is out; if they dodge, it becomes their turn to make a move. Players must stay still and quiet until their turn.
20. Play Rock Paper Scissors
Finally, while this one can get rowdy, it keeps their attention focused. Make it a rock paper scissors tournament with larger groups!
Other Things You Can Do For Quiet Time
- Play playdoh
- Do bubbles
- Work on puzzles
- Build with blocks or Magnatiles
- Sort numbers, letters, colors
- Coloring
- Making jewelry
- Sensory bins
- Discovery jars
- Yoga stories
- Busy boards
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