34 Imagination Games for Kids of All Ages

Imagination is crucial to the formation of creative thoughts according to book author Robert Eberle. Hence, educators must design learning environments that will further this ability. And what’s more fun than using imagination games in the classroom?

Here’s a list of different imagination games you and your students of any age can enjoy during your class.

The best part? You don’t have to spend a lot on any of these.

Fun Imagination Games to Play

Toddler

• I’m Thinking of an Animal

For this game, you will say, “I’m thinking of an animal…” then add a clue such as “with a beak.” The children will then guess what animal you are referring to. 

• Car Bingo

Watch car videos or films suitable for toddlers.

To play, have a 3 x 3 grid of photos you see in a car. Then as they watch the video, they will cross out the picture they spotted in the video. The first player who crosses out everything shouts “Bingo!”

• Mad, Sad, Glad

When you see kids are feeling bored or tired, gather them in a circle then ask them to take turns sharing what makes them mad, sad, and glad.

• Dress Up for the Job

Tell the students to pick one job, but they should keep it to themselves. Then, they will dress up for that job, and their classmates will guess what job that is.

• Boxes

Give the students big boxes and tell them to transform it into anything they want. It can be a fort, tent, car, etc. You may create a story out of what they’ve created afterward.

• Dance Party

Create a dance party playlist. Then tell your students you will have a dance party. Dim the lights and let them dance for a few minutes.
Have some snacks and juice afterward.

• Dance Party

Assign one student to be the doctor while the rest are patients. The ‘patients’ will tell the doctor one symptom, and the latter will give a diagnosis.

• Doctor

Assign one student to be the doctor while the rest are patients. The ‘patients’ will tell the doctor one symptom, and the latter will give a diagnosis.

Preschooler Imagination Games

• I’m Going on a Trip and I’m Packing…

Say “I’m going on a trip and I’m packing…” then add an item. The first student will repeat the phrase “I’m going on a trip and I’m packing ” then add another item. Help them remember the items mentioned.

• Conversation Starters

Write interesting questions in index cards then gather the children around. Read each question and let the children answer. Questions should prompt their imagination such as “If you had x money, what would you buy?”

• Hourglass

Get a sand timer. Ask the students what things they can accomplish before the sand timer runs out. Test these activities if they’re indeed within the timeframe.

• Draw a Face Relay

Draw an oval on the board. The students will take turns adding parts of the face to the oval until the face is complete.

• “Everybody Wins” Musical Chairs

This is a twist to the popular game–no one is out. Keep removing chairs every time the music stops until all of them are piled up in one chair.

• Pass the Parcel

Wrap different treats in layers–one treat, one layer. Then pass the parcel to one of the students and let him/her get the topmost layer and instruct the child to pass it to the next person who will do the same until everyone has a treat.

• Feather Blow

Give each student a feather and instruct them to blow the feathers in the air. The goal is to keep the feather in the air the longest.

• Shopkeeper

Assign shopkeepers and shoppers in the class. Use items in the classroom for their ‘shop.’ Let the shopkeepers set their prices (one-digit prices only). The shoppers should buy as many items within the allocated budget.

• Hopscotch

Draw a hopscotch board on the floor. Instead of putting numbers, use other objects (e.g. fruits). Then instruct the students to hop into select boxes only (i.e. fruits that are round)

• Superhero

Ask the students to come up with their own superhero. Tell them to share it with the class.

Middle childhood Imagination Games

• Stage Show

Group the students and tell them to act out their favorite film. Provide props if needed.

• Geography

Students will take turns naming a country, state or city. Provide the first place then the next person should name a place that starts with the last letter of the name you mentioned.

• Fortunately, Unfortunately

Start a story then the students will take turns continuing it, starting with “fortunately” and “unfortunately.” Use these words alternately.

• Opposites

Say a word then the students should say the opposite of it. For example, “high/low,” “up/down,” etc.

• Anagrams

Tell the students to write their full name on a paper. Then ask them to write words based on the letters in their name.

• Buzz

Choose a number from 0-9 then have the students count 1 through 100. Whenever the number will be mentioned, they should say “buzz” instead of saying it.

• What’s Missing?

Show students a group of objects that are related to each other (e.g. pencil and crayons) but is missing something. Then ask them “what’s missing?” (an answer can be “paper”)

• Mystery Bag

Put several items in a deep black bag. Have the kids reach inside it and touch one object without looking. Let him/her guess what it is.

• Penny Relay

Group the students into two. Place two boxes on a desk. Tell them to stand a few meters from the desk. Give each student one penny. Their goal is to place all the pennies in the box without using their hands.

• Egg-Roll Race

This is like the penny relay but using hard-boiled egg. Also, the eggshells should not crack.

• Cloud glazing.

If there are plenty of clouds outside, go out with students and ask them to imagine objects based on the cloud formations they see.

• Scavenger Hunt

Provide a list of “scavenger items” then tell them to look for them in the classroom.