
Welcome, fellow pranksters! April 1st is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect opportunity to have some lighthearted fun with your family and friends.
Whether you’re looking to surprise your kids, amuse your partner, or simply enjoy a good laugh, I’ve got you covered with April Fool’s Pranks For Kids and Parents that are both hilarious and harmless. These ideas will keep everyone giggling, and best of all, no one will be too angry with you.
So, let’s dive into 50 fun and safe pranks that will leave your family in stitches—no one’s getting into trouble this time!
1. Cracked Phone Screen Prank
Download a cracked screen image or app and set it as your parent’s device wallpaper. Hand them their phone casually and watch their shock! Reveal the truth with a cheerful “April Fool’s!”
2. Whoopie Cushion Whopper
Hide a whoopee cushion under a chair or pillow. Wait for someone to sit and enjoy the surprise sound!
3. Broken Remote Prank
Remove batteries from all remotes and hide them. Add a note inside a remote saying, “April Fool’s!” for extra laughs.
4. Frozen Cereal Prank
Freeze a bowl of cereal with milk the night before. Serve it for breakfast and watch them try to dig in!
5. Broken Mouse
Place clear tape over the sensor of a computer mouse. Enjoy their confusion as they try to fix it! Write “April Fool’s!” on the tape for a fun reveal.
6. Food Swap Prank
Trick your family with foods that look normal but taste completely unexpected! Choose a food or drink to replace with something that looks similar but tastes different. Prepare everything beforehand to avoid suspicion.
Ideas to Try:
- “Orange Juice” Surprise: Water + mac and cheese powder.
- Whipped Cream vs. Mayo: Swap mayo for whipped cream on desserts.
- Fake Diet Coke: Mix soy sauce and Sprite.
- Wasabi Avocado: Replace avocado with wasabi on toast.
- Teriyaki Hot Chocolate: Serve teriyaki sauce in a mug.
- Vinegar Ice Cubes: Add frozen vinegar to drinks.
Pro Tip:
Keep pranks safe and allergy-free, and have real treats ready to smooth things over!
7. Salty Coffee Prank
Start the morning with a surprise – Swap sugar with salt in the sugar bowl or packets. Watch their surprise as they take a sip of their salty coffee!
8. Toothpaste Cookies Prank
Replace Oreo filling with white toothpaste and reassemble. Offer as a snack and enjoy their minty surprise!
9. Lost Phone Trick
Lost Phone Trick
Tape their phone under a chair or couch and then call it. Watch as they search for the ringing device!
10. Frozen Computer Prank
Frozen Computer
Take a screenshot of their desktop and display it fullscreen. Enjoy their confusion as nothing responds!
11. The Classic Soap Trick
Coat a dry bar of soap with clear nail polish. They’ll be so frustrated as they can’t lather it up!
12. Dirty Water
Dab brown food coloring on the faucet tip. Watch their reaction to the “dirty” water!
13. Out of Shampoo
Place plastic wrap under the caps of shampoo, conditioner, or body wash bottles. Enjoy the knowledge that they will struggle to get anything out!
14. Upside Down House
If you have a parent who is very particular about the way the house is decorated, this is the perfect April’s Fool’s prank for them. Turn objects upside down—clocks, books, picture frames—even hang photos upside down on the walls for a fun twist.
15. Scary Spiders
Draw a spider on toilet paper or hide fake bugs in shoes, towels, or ice cubes for creepy surprises.
16. Surprise Sink Spray
Wrap a rubber band around the sink sprayer handle so it soaks the next person who turns on the faucet.
17. Crazy Alarms
Set alarms to go off at random times throughout the day to drive everyone bananas!
18. Shoes Don’t Fit
Stuff cotton balls into the toes of your parents’ shoes to make them think their shoes shrunk.
19. Habla Español?
Change the TV or cell phone language settings to Spanish, French, or some other foreign language. Just make sure you remember how to switch it back!
20. Hair Loss
Scatter fake hair extensions on their pillow while they sleep to make them think they’re losing hair.
21. Brownie Batch
Serve “brown E’s” cut from brown paper or cardboard instead of actual brownies. Happy “baking”!
22. Moldy Bread
Dab green food coloring on bread slices and hide it under the top slice to fake mold.
23. Jello Mold
This classic prank was made famous by Jim on “The Office”, so it’s one of the best april fools day pranks for a parent who loves that show. Encapsulate a frequently used item (like a stapler) in a Jello mold and let it harden overnight.
24. Bubble Wrap Fun
Place bubble wrap under rugs, bath mats, or the toilet seat for surprise popping sounds.
25. Light Switch Trick
Cover light switches with clear tape to make them unusable, leaving everyone confused.
26. Special Delivery!
Stack empty boxes outside your front door to look like a massive delivery arrived. Watch your family’s reactions!
27. Quick Scare
Hide in a box, closet, or under a blanket and jump out with a loud “April Fool’s!” when they least expect it.
28. Autocorrect Chaos
Change your parent’s phone autocorrect settings so common words turn into ridiculous phrases. “Yes” becomes “No way!”
29. Frozen Hot Cocoa
Make hot chocolate, freeze it overnight, and pour a little hot water on top in the morning. Watch your parents try to sip their frozen drink!
30. Hard Boiled Eggs
Replace fresh eggs with hard-boiled ones in the carton. They’ll be surprised when they go to crack an egg for breakfast!
More Pranks
31. Gummy Worm Apples
Surprise your kids by poking gummy worms into their apple. At first glance, it looks like the apple is infested, but they’ll quickly realize it’s a delicious treat!
32. Strangers in Picture Frames
Swap out family photos with images of celebrities or random people. It’s a hilarious way to see if anyone notices the “new family members” in your home!
33. Smoking Toilet
Create a “smoking” toilet by using toilet paper rolls as eyes and a cardboard tube as a cigar. Then shout, “The toilet is smoking!” for a funny surprise.
34. Keep a Straight Face
Tell your parents something they don’t want to hear—like failing a class—while keeping a straight face. See how long you can keep the prank going!
35. “Lost” Phone Call
Call your parents from your phone and say you’ve lost it. Watch them try to figure out how that’s even possible!
36. Peanut Butter Poop Prank
Place peanut butter in a pile on tile floor to mimic a gross surprise. Then take a lick to reveal the joke!
37. Toothpaste Swap
Switch the labels of toothpaste and anchovy paste. Watch as your victim gets a wake-up call when they brush their teeth!
39. Cheesy Deodorant
Replace deodorant with cream cheese. Smooth it into the container for a convincing look.
40. Confetti Surprise
Place confetti on top of a ceiling fan. When it’s turned on, a surprise confetti shower will greet the unsuspecting victim!
41. Mailbox Surprise
Add fake bugs or a toy snake to the mailbox. Your parents will get a scare when they check the mail!
42. Kitchen Drawer Switch
Swap the contents of two kitchen drawers. Watch your parents get frustrated when they can’t find the utensils they need!
43. Fake Vomit
Place fake vomit in an unexpected place like their bed or car. Their reaction will be priceless!
44. Balloon Pillows
Fill pillowcases with balloons. When your parents go to bed, they’ll be in for a surprise!
45. Googly Eyes Everywhere
Stick googly eyes on all the fruit in the house for a funny surprise every time your family goes to grab a snack.
46. Catch the Poo
Cover the toilet bowl with plastic wrap and wait for someone to use it. Be prepared for a big reaction—use with caution!
47. Ice Cube Bugs
Freeze plastic bugs in ice cubes. Add them to drinks for a harmless but surprising twist.
48. Short Sheet the Bed
Fold the bed sheet halfway up to create a fake bottom. When someone tries to get in, they’ll find their feet stuck!
49. Faux Sponge Cake
Cover a clean kitchen sponge with icing. Offer it as “cake” and watch their confusion when they try to take a bite!
50. Mini Meatloaf “Cupcakes”
Make mini meatloaves and frost them with mashed potatoes to look like cupcakes. Serve them for dinner and watch the surprise!
Tips for April Fool’s Pranks
- Choose the right person to for your April Fool’s Day pranks. Find someone who likes a good joke. We don’t want to start any fights.
- Plan ahead if you can. Order the supplies you need to make your prank go perfectly.
- Keep a straight face as long as you can. This is what will really make the prank go well and be hilarious!
History of April Fool’s Day
The annual tradition of April Fool’s Day dates all the way back to 1582, when France changed from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. People who were slow to get the news continues to celebrate the start of the new year during the last week of March instead of on January 1st. They become the butt of the joke.
April Fool’s Day spree throughout Britan during the 18th century, where people would send their pranks on fake errands and pin fake tails on them.
It’s been celebrated for many centuries across various cultures, but its exact origins are not fully known.
We hope this list of pranks makes your April Fool’s Day memorable for your whole family, and that you make some great memories trying out these silly tricks.
Looking to bring more fun into your daily routine? Discover How to Be a Fun Mom with tips on bonding through authentic activities.
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Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.