How to play a describe-the-word game with kids and adults together

To play a describe-the-word game fairly with kids and adults together, mix ages on every team, give younger players a longer timer, allow them more passes, use easier cards when a child is describing, and score by team rather than by player. One person describes the word on the card without saying it, their team guesses before time runs out, then the turn passes to the next team. Those few adjustments let a 7-year-old and a grandparent play the same game without anyone feeling left out.

The basic game

Split into teams of 2 or more.
On your turn, draw a card and describe the word so your team can guess it. You cannot say the word itself.
Your team guesses out loud. Each correct guess scores a point; you can pass on a hard card.
When the timer ends, the next team plays.
After an agreed number of rounds, the team with the most points wins.

You can play with paper slips in a bowl and a kitchen timer, or with an app that deals the cards and keeps time.

1. Mix ages on every team

Do not put all the children on one team. Pair each child with at least one adult or older child. The adult helps when the child guesses, and the child gets to hear how others describe words.

2. Give younger players more time

A 60-second turn is relaxed for an adult and stressful for a 6-year-old who is still finding words. Common fixes:

Add 30 seconds when a child is describing
Or use one longer timer for everyone in a family game

Reviewers of the official Taboo app ask for exactly this kind of option for younger players (App Store), so it is worth agreeing on before you start.

3. Be generous with passes for kids

Passing on a word you do not know is fine. Let children pass more often than adults, or without penalty. Adults can have a limit, for example two passes per turn.

4. Use easier cards when a child describes

A child cannot describe a word they have never heard. Options:

Keep a separate pile of easier words (animals, food, toys, places at home)
Let the child redraw if they do not know the word
With an app, choose a family mode or kids pack

5. Allow acting and sounds for younger players

For children under 7 or so, allow gestures and sounds as well as words. "Woof woof" for a dog is a perfectly good clue at that age.

6. Keep scoring simple

Score by team. A visible scoreboard (paper or the app) helps children follow along. Agree on the number of rounds in advance so the game ends before anyone gets tired.

7. Agree the rules out loud before round one

Say the house rules once: timer length, number of passes, whether gestures are allowed, how many rounds. Settling it before you start avoids arguments in the middle of a turn.

Without an app

Write 50 to 100 words on paper slips, fold them into a bowl and use a phone timer. It works well, but someone has to write the words, keep score and watch the time.

Where Cluekin fits

Cluekin is a team describe-the-word game made by ODEL for parties and family game nights. It handles the parts that slow a paper game down:

2 to 6 teams, with timed rounds and built-in scoring
Adjustable timers, pass limits and scoring, so you can set house rules like the ones above before you play
Family and party game modes, plus an optional Child Cards Pack
Works offline on one phone, with no account; scores and settings stay on the device
Available on iOS and Android, in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish

Cluekin is free to download. Free players may see ads between completed matches, never during a timed turn. Optional card packs (Geography, Film & Series, Music, Child, Science & Tech, History, Sport) are $0.99 each, and a one-time Complete Pack unlocks all current and future standard packs and removes ads (US App Store, Nov 2026). It is a newer app with few ratings.

To compare word games, see Best word guessing party game apps and Heads Up alternatives.

House-rules checklist

Mixed ages on every team
Longer timer for young describers
Extra passes for kids
Easier cards or a kids pack
Gestures allowed for little ones
Rounds agreed in advance