Ah, April Fools’ Day! The one day of the year when it’s socially acceptable (and even encouraged) to play pranks on your friends and loved ones.
While it’s a holiday that dates back centuries, it’s become increasingly popular in recent years, thanks in part to the internet and social media. This day may seem like a day that’s reserved for practical jokes and harmless hoaxes, it’s rooted in history and tradition.
The origins of April Fools’ Day are a bit murky, but one popular theory is that it dates back to the 16th century when the Julian calendar was replaced with the Gregorian calendar. Those who continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1st were deemed “fools,” and thus, the tradition of playing pranks on them was born.
Since then, April Fools’ Day has evolved into a day for lighthearted mischief and merriment.
Now back to the topic. April Fools’ Day provides the perfect opportunity to bond with their children and create some lasting memories. Whether you’re a seasoned prankster or a novice looking to try something new, there are plenty of kid-friendly pranks that are sure to bring smiles and laughter. From harmless pranks like filling their lunch box with fake food to more elaborate schemes like setting up a fake treasure hunt, the possibilities are endless.
So, whether you’re looking to create some silly moments with your little ones or just want to inject some laughter into your day, we’ve compiled a list of the best April Fool pranks for kids.
Get ready to embrace your inner child and let the pranking begin!
80 Best April Fools Pranks For Parents
Fake spider in bed – Place a fake spider on your parent’s pillow or under their bed covers to scare them when they go to bed.
Frozen breakfast – Freeze your parent’s bowl of cereal or their morning coffee to make it impossible for them to eat or drink.
Fake spilled milk – Glue a white cloth on a table or countertop to make it look like spilled milk.
Toothpaste in Oreos – Replace the cream filling in Oreos with toothpaste for an unexpected and unpleasant surprise.
Fake parking ticket – Print out a fake parking ticket and put it in your parent’s car to freak them out.
Fake spider web – Create a fake spider web using string or yarn to scare your parents.
Fake lottery ticket – Give your parent a fake lottery ticket that looks like a winner, but with ridiculous numbers.
Fake spilled paint – Use ketchup or other red substances to make it look like the paint has spilled on the floor.
Fake scratch on the car – Use a washable marker to draw a scratch on your parent’s car.
Fake bugs in the lamp – Put plastic bugs in a lampshade to make it look like they’re crawling around inside.
Fake snake in the toilet – Place a fake snake in the toilet bowl to scare your parents when they go to use the bathroom.
Fake spilled drinks – Put a small amount of water or another clear liquid on a table to make it look like a drink has been spilled.
Fake cockroach in the fridge – Put a fake cockroach in the fridge to freak your parents out when they open it.
Fake spider in the shower – Attach a fake spider to the shower head to scare your parents when they turn on the water.
Fake spilled glue – Use clear glue to make it look like glue has spilled on a surface.
Fake dog poop – Use clay or other materials to make fake dog poop and leave it in a conspicuous location.
Fake spilled oil – Use dark-colored substances like soy sauce to make it look like oil has been spilled on the floor.
Fake cracked screen – Use a screen protector to create a fake crack on your parent’s phone or tablet screen.
Fake dirty car – Use washable markers or mud to make your parent’s car look dirty.
Fake spider in the car – Attach a fake spider to the car’s visor or dashboard to scare your parents while they’re driving.
Fake spilled paint on shoes – Use acrylic paint or other substances to make it look like paint has spilled on your parent’s shoes.
Fake smashed phone – Use a hammer to smash an old phone and place it in a visible location to make your parents think their phone is broken.
Fake spider on the computer – Put a fake spider on your parent’s computer mouse or keyboard to scare them when they sit down to work.
Fake spilled drink in the car – Use a plastic cup or water bottle to make it look like a drink has been spilled in the car.
Fake spilled ink – Use washable markers or black paint to make it look like ink has been spilled on a surface.
Fake spider on the phone – Attach a fake spider to your parent’s phone to scare them when they pick it up.
Fake cracked windshield – Use washable markers to draw a crack on your parent’s car windshield.
Fake spider on the toilet paper – Put a fake spider on the roll of toilet paper to scare your parents.
Fake spilled milk in the car – Use a plastic cup or water bottle to make it look like milk has been spilled in the car.
Fake spider on the car seat – Place a fake spider on your parent’s car seat to scare them when they sit down.
Fake spilled coffee – Use brown paint or another brown substance to make it look like coffee has been spilled on a surface.
Fake spider on the doorknob – Attach a fake spider to the doorknob to scare your parents when they open the door.
Fake spilled soda – Use a plastic cup or water bottle to make it look like soda has been spilled on a surface.
Fake spider in the closet – Place a fake spider in your parent’s closet to scare them when they go to get clothes.
Fake spilled juice – Use a plastic cup or water bottle to make it look like juice has been spilled on a surface.
Fake spider on the lampshade – Put a fake spider on a lampshade to scare your parents when they turn on the light.
Fake spilled wine – Use red food coloring or another red substance to make it look like wine has been spilled on a surface.
Fake spider on the wall – Attach a fake spider to the wall to scare your parents when they walk by.
Fake spilled tea – Use brown paint or another brown substance to make it look like tea has been spilled on a surface.
Fake spider in the drawer – Place a fake spider in a drawer to scare your parents when they go to get something.
Fake spilled soup – Use white paint or another light-colored substance to make it look like soup has been spilled on a surface.
Fake spider in the plant – Put a fake spider in a potted plant to scare your parents when they water it.
Fake spilled flour – Use flour or another white substance to make it look like flour has been spilled on a surface.
Fake spider on the ceiling – Attach a fake spider to the top to scare your parents when they look up.
Fake spilled sauce – Use a red or brown substance to make it look like the sauce has been spilled on a surface.
Fake spider in the bed – Place a fake spider in your parent’s bed to scare them when they go to sleep.
Fake spilled cake batter – Use white or yellow paint to make it look like the cake batter has been spilled on a surface.
Fake spider in the closet – Place a fake spider in your parent’s closet to scare them when they go to get clothes.
Fake spilled syrup – Use brown paint or another brown substance to make it look like syrup has been spilled on a surface.
Fake spider in the mailbox – Put a fake spider in the mailbox to scare your parents when they go to get the mail.
Mix up the salt and sugar containers – Swap the contents of your parent’s salt and sugar containers so that they’ll be in for a surprise when they make their morning coffee or tea.
Add googly eyes to family photos – Stick googly eyes onto the frames of family photos or directly onto the faces in the pictures for a silly surprise.
Switch shampoo for honey or syrup – Fill up your parent’s shampoo bottle with honey or syrup and watch as they struggle to wash it out of their hair.
Place a whoopee cushion on their chair – Sneakily place a whoopee cushion on your parent’s chair before they sit down to hear them let out a loud fart sound.
Change the language on their phone or computer – Change the language on your parent’s phone or computer to a different language so that they’ll be confused and struggle to navigate it.
Put tape over the TV remote sensor – Cover the sensor on the TV remote with a small piece of tape so that it won’t work when your parent tries to use it.
Rearrange the contents of the kitchen cabinets – Rearrange the contents of your parent’s kitchen cabinets and watch them struggle to find things where they usually are.
Set all clocks ahead by an hour – While your parents are sleeping, set all the clocks in the house an hour ahead, so that they’ll be confused about the time.
Place a fake spider in their bed – Place a fake spider on your parent’s pillow or under the covers to startle them when they climb into bed.
Put plastic wrap over the toilet bowl – Cover the toilet bowl with plastic wrap, so that when your parents use the toilet, they’ll be surprised by the splashback.
Fill their car with balloons – Fill your parent’s car with balloons so that when they open the door, they’ll be bombarded with a bunch of colorful balloons.
Hide their phone or keys – Hide your parent’s phone or keys somewhere in the house, so that they’ll have to search for it before they can leave.
Put a fake parking ticket on their car – Place a fake parking ticket on your parent’s car and watch as they frantically try to figure out what they did wrong.
Cover their car with post-it notes – Cover your parent’s car with post-it notes of various colors, so that they’ll have to spend time peeling them off before they can drive.
Switch the salt and sugar in their coffee or tea – Instead of swapping the containers, switch the contents of your parent’s coffee or tea, so that they’ll be surprised by the taste.
Place a fake spider in the shower – Place a fake spider in your parent’s shower to startle them when they turn on the water.
Fill their office or workspace with balloons – If your parent has a workspace, fill it up with balloons for a fun surprise when they return.
Set up a fake spider web in their room – Create a fake spider web in your parent’s room with yarn or string, so that they’ll think they’re being invaded by spiders.
Put a piece of tape over the laser on their computer mouse – Cover the laser on your parent’s computer mouse with a small piece of tape so that it won’t work.
Switch out their regular coffee with decaf – Swap your parent’s regular coffee with decaf, so that they’ll be confused as to why they aren’t feeling the caffeine kick.
Add food coloring to their milk or orange juice – Add a drop or two of food coloring to your parent’s milk or orange juice, so that they’ll be surprised by the color.
Place a fake parking boot on their car – Put a fake parking boot on your parent’s car and watch as they try to figure out how to remove it.
Switch out their toothpaste with mayo – Replace your parent’s toothpaste with mayo for a strange taste when they brush their teeth.
Put a fake spider in their car – Place a fake spider in your parent’s car, so that they’ll be surprised when they get in.
Replace their hand soap with clear glue – Fill your parent’s hand soap dispenser with clear glue for a fun surprise when they try to wash their hands.
Place a fake mouse in their kitchen – Put a fake mouse in your parent’s kitchen for a silly surprise when they come across it.
Put a fake parking ticket on their bike – Place a fake parking ticket on your parent’s bike and watch as they try to figure out what they did wrong.
Replace their deodorant with cream cheese – Swap out your parent’s deodorant with cream cheese for a strange smell when they apply it.
Put a fake spider on their windshield – Place a fake spider on your parent’s windshield, so that they’ll be surprised when they get in the car.
Create a fake news story about their favorite celebrity – Create a fake news story about your parent’s favorite celebrity and watch as they freak out before realizing it’s a prank.
FAQs – April Fool’s Day
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about April Fool’s day:
What is April Fools’ Day?
April Fools’ Day is a holiday that is celebrated on April 1st each year. It is a day when people play practical jokes and pranks on one another, often with the goal of making someone look foolish.
Where did April Fools’ Day come from?
The origins of April Fools’ Day are unclear, but it is believed to have started in France in the 16th century. It may have been related to the spring equinox or the changing of the calendar.
Why is it called April Fools’ Day?
It is believed that April Fools’ Day got its name because the pranks and jokes played on that day often make people look foolish or gullible.
What day is April Fools’ Day?
April Fools’ Day is celebrated on April 1st each year.
What are some common April Fools’ Day pranks?
Some common April Fools’ Day pranks include fake news stories, replacing sugar with salt, putting fake spiders or insects in someone’s room or car, and changing someone’s ringtone to an embarrassing song.
Is it okay to play pranks on people on April Fools’ Day?
It’s important to make sure that the pranks you play on people are harmless and won’t cause any physical or emotional harm. Be mindful of other people’s feelings and avoid pranks that could be hurtful or damaging.
How can I come up with a good April Fools’ Day prank?
The best pranks are often simple and surprising. Think about what would catch someone off guard or what would be unexpected. You can also try to play off someone’s fears or weaknesses, as long as it’s done in good fun and won’t cause any harm.
What should I do if someone plays a prank on me on April Fools’ Day?
Try to take the prank in stride and don’t take it too seriously. If it’s harmless and just meant to be fun, it’s okay to laugh it off. If it crosses a line or makes you feel uncomfortable, let the person know how you feel and ask them to stop.
Are any countries or cultures that don’t celebrate April Fools’ Day?
April Fools’ Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, but not all. Some countries have similar holidays, such as Hilaria in Spain and India, but they are celebrated on different dates.
