50 Simple Pranks for Kids to Pull on Their Parents (2025)

Get ready, mischief-makers! April 1st is approaching fast, and it’s the ideal time to play harmless tricks on your loved ones and pals.

Whether you want to delight your children, entertain your significant other, or just have a fun time, I’ve got everything you need withFun April Fool’s Day Tricks for Children and Adultsthat are equally funny and inoffensive. These suggestions will have everyone laughing, and the best part is, no one will hold a grudge against you.

Let’s explore 50 fascinatingplayful and harmless practical jokesguaranteed to have your family roaring with laughter—this time, no one’s causing any mischief!

1. Damaged Phone DisplayPrank

Grab a fake cracked screen image or app and set it as the wallpaper on your parent’s device. Casually return their phone and enjoy their startled reaction. Then, lightheartedly announce, “April Fool’s!” to let them in on the joke.

2. The Whoopie Cushion Whopper Prank

Place a whoopee cushion beneath a chair or pillow. Anticipate the moment someone takes a seat and delight in their startled reaction to the unexpected noise!

3. Malfunctioning RemotePrank

Take the batteries out of every remote and stash them away. For an added touch of humor, slip a note inside one that reads, “April Fool’s!”

4. Cereal in Frozen FormPrank

Prepare a bowl of cereal with milk and freeze it overnight. The next morning, serve it for breakfast and enjoy watching their attempts to eat it!

5. Malfunctioning Mouse

Cover the sensor of a computer mouse with transparent tape. Watch their bewilderment as they attempt to troubleshoot it! For a playful twist, add “April Fool’s!” on the tape to reveal the prank.

6.Prank Swap: Food Edition

Surprise your loved ones with dishes that appear ordinary but deliver a totally unexpected flavor! Pick a meal or beverage to swap with something visually alike yet distinctly different in taste. Get everything ready in advance to keep them from guessing.

New Concepts to Experiment With:

• Unexpected Twist in “Orange Juice”:Macaroni and cheese powder mixed with water.
• Whipped Cream versus Mayo:Replace mayonnaise with whipped cream when topping sweet treats.
• Counterfeit Diet Coke:Combine soy sauce with Sprite.
• Wasabi Avocado: A bold fusion of spicy wasabi and creamy avocado, creating a unique and flavorful combination. This pairing blends the sharp heat of wasabi with the smooth richness of avocado, offering a distinctive taste experience. Perfect for those who enjoy adventurous flavors, Wasabi Avocado delivers a harmonious balance of intensity and creaminess. Ideal for sushi, dips, or creative culinary experiments, it brings a fresh twist to traditional dishes. Whether used as a spread, topping, or standalone ingredient, Wasabi Avocado adds an exciting kick to any meal.Swap avocado for wasabi on toast.
• Spiced Hot Chocolate with a Teriyaki Twist:Pour teriyaki sauce into a mug for serving.
• Frozen Vinegar Cubes:Enhance beverages by incorporating frozen vinegar.

Expert Advice:

Ensure pranks are harmless and free from allergens, and keep genuine treats on hand to ease any tension!

7. Coffee with a Hint of SaltPrank

Kick off the day with an unexpected twist—replace the sugar in the bowl or packets with salt. Enjoy their shocked reactions when they taste their coffee’s salty flavor!

8. Cookies Made with ToothpastePrank

Swap the cream inside an Oreo with white toothpaste and put it back together. Serve it as a treat and savor their refreshing shock!

9. Missing Mobile DeviceTrick

Hide their phone beneath a chair or sofa and give it a call. Enjoy the sight of them scrambling to find the ringing gadget!

10. Unresponsive ComputerPrank

Capture an image of their desktop and show it in fullscreen mode. Watch their bewilderment as every click fails to work!

11. The Timeless Soap Technique

Cover a dry bar of soap with transparent nail polish. They’ll get annoyed because it won’t create any lather!

12. Contaminated Water

Apply brown food coloring to the edge of the faucet. Observe their response to the “contaminated” water!

13. Shampoo Is All Gone

Place a piece of plastic wrap beneath the lids of shampoo, conditioner, or body wash containers. Relish the thought of them struggling to squeeze out even a drop!

14. Inverted House

For parents who are meticulous about home decor, this April Fool’s prank is ideal. Flip items like clocks, books, and picture frames upside down—even invert photos on the walls for a playful surprise.

15. Frightening Arachnids

Sketch a spider on toilet paper or conceal fake insects in shoes, towels, or ice cubes to create eerie surprises.

16. Unexpected Sink Spray Surprise

Secure a rubber band around the sink sprayer handle to drench the next person who activates the faucet.

17. Insane Wake-Up Calls

Trigger alarms to sound at unpredictable intervals during the day to drive everyone crazy!

18. The Shoes Are the Wrong Size

Place cotton balls inside the tips of your parents’ footwear to trick them into believing their shoes have gotten smaller.

19. ¿Hablas español?

Adjust the language settings on your TV or mobile device to Spanish, French, or another foreign language. Just be sure you know how to revert it to the original setting later!

20. Thinning or Loss of Hair

Sprinkle synthetic hair extensions on their pillow as they sleep, creating the illusion that their hair is falling out.

21. Batch of Brownies

Offer “brown E’s” made from brown cardboard or paper as a playful alternative to real brownies. Enjoy the fun of “baking”!

22. Bread Affected by Mold

Apply green food coloring to pieces of bread and conceal it beneath the upper layer to simulate mold.

23. Gelatin Dessert Mold

This iconic prank gained popularity thanks to Jim from “The Office,” making it an ideal April Fools’ Day joke for any parent who enjoys the series. Simply encase a commonly used object, such as a stapler, in a Jello mold and allow it to set overnight.

24. Enjoying the Delights of Bubble Wrap

Slide bubble wrap beneath rugs, bath mats, or the toilet seat to create unexpected popping noises.

25. Clever Light Switch Hack

Secure light switches with transparent tape to prevent their use, creating bewilderment among everyone.

26. Exclusive Express Delivery!

Pile up empty boxes by your front door to mimic a huge delivery. Enjoy your family’s surprised responses!

27. Sudden Fright

Conceal yourself inside a box, closet, or beneath a blanket, then leap out unexpectedly while shouting “April Fool’s!” to catch them off guard.

28. The Disorder of Autocorrect

Adjust the autocorrect feature on your parent’s phone to transform ordinary words into absurd sentences. For example, replace “Yes” with “No way!”

29. Iced Hot Chocolate

Prepare hot chocolate, let it chill in the freezer overnight, and drizzle some hot water over it the next day. Enjoy watching your parents attempt to drink their icy beverage!

30. Eggs Cooked Until Firm (Hard-Boiled)

Swap fresh eggs for hard-boiled ones in the carton. It’ll be a fun surprise when they try to crack an egg for breakfast!

Additional Mischief

31. Apples with Gummy Worms
Startle your children by sticking gummy worms into their apple. Initially, it may seem like the fruit is crawling with pests, but they’ll soon discover it’s a tasty surprise!

32. Unknown Faces in Photographs
Replace family pictures with shots of famous personalities or strangers. It’s a fun prank to test whether anyone spots the “unfamiliar faces” now part of your household!

33. The Toilet That Smokes
Make a “smoking” toilet by turning toilet paper rolls into eyes and a cardboard tube into a cigar. Then yell, “The toilet is smoking!” for a hilarious prank.

34. Maintain a neutral expression.
Drop a bombshell on your parents—like flunking a course—with a completely serious expression. See how long you can keep up the act before they catch on!

35. The “Lost” Phone Call
Use your phone to call your parents and tell them you’ve misplaced it. Enjoy their confusion as they attempt to understand how that could happen!

36. The Peanut Butter Fake Poop Prank
Spread peanut butter in a clump on the tile floor to imitate a disgusting shock. Then give it a taste to uncover the prank!

37. Switching Toothpaste
Swap the toothpaste and anchovy paste labels. Your target will get a rude awakening the next time they clean their teeth!

39. Deodorant with a Cheesy Scent
Fill the deodorant container with cream cheese instead. Spread it evenly to achieve a realistic appearance.

40. Unexpected Confetti Celebration
Sprinkle confetti over a ceiling fan. Once it’s switched on, an unexpected burst of confetti will rain down on the unsuspecting person below!

41. Unexpected Mailbox Discovery
Place a fake insect or a plastic snake inside the mailbox. Your parents will be startled when they open it to retrieve the mail!

42. Switch for the Kitchen Drawer
Switch the items in two kitchen drawers. Enjoy seeing your parents grow annoyed as they struggle to locate the utensils they’re looking for!

43. Artificial Vomit
Position fake vomit in a surprising spot, such as their bed or vehicle. Their response will be absolutely unforgettable!

44. Inflatable Cushions
Stuff pillowcases with balloons. Once your parents are asleep, they’ll get an unexpected shock!

45. Stickers of Googly Eyes on Everything
Add googly eyes to every piece of fruit in your home for a hilarious surprise whenever someone reaches for a snack.

46. Capture the Poo
Wrap the toilet seat tightly with plastic film and wait until someone sits down. Expect a strong response—proceed carefully!

47. Frozen Cube Insects
Embed plastic insects in ice cubes and drop them into beverages for a fun, unexpected element without any risk.

48. Tuck the Sheets Short on the Bed
Fold the bedsheet midway to form a false base. If someone attempts to climb in, their legs will get trapped!

49. Imitation Sponge Cake
Frost a fresh kitchen sponge with icing. Present it as “cake” and enjoy their puzzled reaction when they attempt to eat it!

50. Petite Meatloaf “Cupcakes”
Create adorable mini meatloaves and top them with mashed potatoes to resemble cupcakes. Enjoy them as a meal and delight in the unexpected twist!

Ideas for April Fool’s Day Tricks

1. Pick the perfect target for your April Fool’s Day jokes. Make sure they enjoy humor and won’t take offense. The goal is to have fun without causing any conflicts.
2. Prepare in advance whenever possible. Gather all the necessary materials to ensure your prank goes off without a hitch.
3. Maintain a serious expression for as long as possible. This is the key to ensuring the prank succeeds and becomes truly amusing!

Origins and Traditions of April Fool’s Day

April Fool’s Day has been celebrated annually since 1582, when France transitioned from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. Those who were unaware of the change kept observing the new year in the final week of March rather than January 1st. As a result, they were often ridiculed and made the targets of pranks.

During the 18th century in Britain, April Fool’s Day was marked by playful mischief, with people sending others on false errands and attaching mock tails to them as pranks.

The exact beginnings of this tradition remain unclear, though it has been observed for countless generations in diverse societies around the world.

May this collection of pranks bring laughter and unforgettable moments to your family this April Fool’s Day as you enjoy these playful antics together.

Want to add more excitement to your everyday life? ExploreHow to Be an Enjoyable and Engaging Motherwith advice on connecting through genuine shared experiences.

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Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has dedicated more than ten years to leveraging her expertise as a mother of three, crafting a go-to resource for family-friendly activities in Milwaukee.

Her ten years of experience as an educator in Milwaukee Public Schools, combined with her academic achievements—a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison—drive her dedication to creating inclusive and captivating content for families.

Calie is a prominent voice in regional media, regularly appearing on WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.

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