20 easy April Fools' pranks for family that are harmless and hilarious

20 easy April Fools' pranks for family that are harmless and hilarious

April Fools' Day is a perfect time to bring laughter into your home with harmless but hilarious pranks. Whether you are tricking your kids, parents, or partner, these creative jokes will keep everyone on their toes. From frozen breakfasts to sneaky wardrobe swaps, these easy April Fool's pranks for the family are simple to pull off and guarantee priceless reactions.

April Fools' pranks
he tradition of April Fools Day dates back to 16th-century in France. Photo: DALL.E (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • The tradition of April Fools' Day dates back to 16th-century France, when calendar changes led to confusion, inspiring the playful spirit of tricking those unaware of the shift.
  • Many pranks, such as swapping soap, freezing cereal, or tweaking TV settings, require minimal effort but deliver maximum confusion and laughter, making them easy to execute at home.
  • Most of these pranks use everyday items like food colouring or balloons, making them easy and budget-friendly.

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Easy April Fools' pranks for family

Are you looking for April Fools' pranks to do at home that are harmless and hilarious? Below are some at-home ideas for pranks that will interest you and your family.

1. Frozen cereal

Make breakfast unforgettable with this playful prank. Pour cereal and milk into bowls the night before and freeze them. On April 1, serve them as usual and watch your family struggle with their rock-solid breakfast. Their reactions will be priceless as they try to scoop up what should have been a simple morning meal.

2. Balloon pillow

April Fools pranks for family
Balloon pillow pranks are simple and harmless. Photo: Recep-bg
Source: Getty Images

Swap out your partner's pillow with a bunch of balloons for a hilarious bedtime surprise. Arrange them properly and secure them with tape to prevent shifting. When they lay down expecting a soft pillow, they'll be met with an unpredictable, wobbly cushion instead. Their confused reaction will make this harmless prank worth it.

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3. Broken light switch

Keep it simple but effective with this classic prank. Cover light switches with transparent scotch tape, making it seem malfunctioning. Your parents will be puzzled as they repeatedly flip the switch without success. Sit back and enjoy their frustration as they figure out why the lights refuse to work.

4. Change the date

Reset all the clocks and calendars in the house to convince your family it's a different day. If you can, change their phones, too. Since April 1 falls on a Saturday, wake the kids early, insisting it's a school day. The confusion and panic will be a hilarious way to kick off April Fools' Day.

5. Empty the drawer

For a simple yet effective prank, empty a few drawers and disappear. Your family will be left searching for clothes, utensils, or essentials, wondering where everything went. To make it even more confusing, rearrange drawers instead of obliterating items. The disarray will leave them completely baffled.

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6. Frozen cocoa

Give your parents a chilly surprise with frozen hot chocolate. Prepare cocoa as usual, then freeze it overnight. In the morning, add a little hot water and top with marshmallows to disguise the prank. Watch as they attempt to sip, only to realise their warm drink has become an icy, unexpected treat.

April Fools' pranks for parents

April Fools' pranks for parents
Parents too will enjoy great and simple pranks. Photo: Halfpoint Images
Source: Getty Images

Planning some easy April Fools' pranks for family on parents? These harmless tricks will leave them confused, surprised, and laughing.

1. Sneaky soap swap

Trick your parents with this clever soap prank! When their dish or hand soap runs out, refill the empty bottle with water mixed with food colouring to match the original liquid. Swap it back and wait for their confusion when the "soap" won't lather. For extra fun, pretend to drink it and watch their shocked reaction.

2. Short-sheeting the bed

Give your parents a bedtime prank they won't forget by folding their top sheets in a tricky way. Tuck one end under the mattress and fold it over to look normal. They'll find their legs stuck in a surprise trap when they get into bed. It's a harmless but funny way to add humour to their night.

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3. TV picture prank

Turn your family's TV into a confusing mess by tweaking the display settings! Adjust the tint, brightness, contrast, and sharpness to make the screen look bizarre. Just remember to note the original settings first. Then, sit back and enjoy their frustration when they turn on the TV and wonder what happened.

4. Moldy bread trick

April Fools pranks for family
April Fools pranks on parents should not be extreme. Photo: Justin Case
Source: Getty Images

Fool your family into thinking their fresh bread has spoiled! Lift the top slice and dab a bit of green food colouring on the one beneath it. Put the top slice back to hide the "mold" and wait for their shocked reaction when they think they've bought a bad loaf.

5. Clothing swap surprise

Catch your parents off guard with a sneaky wardrobe switch! While they're away, swap all their dresser drawers—put dad's clothes in mom's and vice versa. You can even mix up their closets or mismatch their shoes for extra confusion. Watching them struggle to find their outfits will be hilarious.

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6. Tricky computer screen prank

Confuse your parents with a clever computer trick. Take a screenshot of their desktop, then move all the icons into a hidden folder. Set the screenshot as the new background to look normal, but nothing will work when they click. Watch their frustration as they struggle to "fix" it.

7. Battery bandit prank

Give your parents a puzzling surprise by secretly removing the batteries from all household remotes, including the TV and car key fob. Put the covers back to keep it unnoticed. At first, they may dismiss one remote as not working, but their confusion will only grow as more fail.

April Fools' pranks for kids

April fools pranks for kids
Pranking your kids and having a hearty laugh will strengthen your bond. Photo: Kali9
Source: Getty Images

Kids are simple beings who are easily amused. Using easy April Fools' pranks will bring forth laughter and merriness in the household during this precious day. Here are some fun and engaging pranks you can use on them.

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1. Box of surprises

Start the morning with a playful trick! Take your child's favourite cereal box, remove the bag, and replace the contents with classic toys like Legos or stickers. They'll be met with an unexpected surprise when they pour their cereal instead of their usual breakfast. This fun joke will keep them giggling all day.

2. The sponge cake trick

Fool the family's sweet tooth with a cake that's not what it seems! Stack clean sponges, layering them with frosting in between and on top, then decorate with sprinkles. Leave it out for someone to take a bite—only for their fork to bounce right off! Just be sure the sponges are food-safe to avoid any unwanted tastes.

3. Endless underwear chain

Pull off a hilarious laundry prank by sewing together every sock or piece of underwear in your partner's drawer. When they reach for one, they'll keep pulling out a never-ending chain of clothes. Get your child involved for extra fun, and watch as the confusion turns into laughter.

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4. The money chase

April Fools pranks for family
Nothing brings family together than games and pranks. Photo: Skynesher
Source: Getty Images

Make a simple $5 bill into an amusing prank. Tape a fishing line to the note and place it on the floor where your partner will easily spot it. Please have your child hide and tug the string when they try to pick it up. Their reaction to the moving money will be priceless.

5. Mayo-filled cookies

Twist a classic sandwich cookie by swapping the creamy filling with mayonnaise or Greek yogurt. The look remains the same, but the taste will be an unexpected shock! Watch as the first bite turns into a hilarious realisation that their favourite treat isn't quite what they expected.

6. Bug surprise

Add creepy fun to April Fools' Day by freezing tiny plastic bugs inside ice cubes. Drop them into drinks and wait for the shocked reaction when they spot the "bug" floating around. Scatter plastic roaches or ants around the house to keep the pranks going for extra fun.

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7. Inflated shoes

Stuff tissue paper or cotton balls into the tips of your child’s shoes, so their feet won’t fit properly. When they try to put them on, they will think their feet grew overnight.

What is the origin of April Fools' Day?

The tradition dates back to 16th-century France when the Julian calendar was replaced by the Gregorian calendar, moving New Year's Day from April 1 to January 1. Those unaware of the change continued celebrating in April and were ridiculed as April Fools.

These easy April Fools' pranks for family bring lighthearted fun and laughter. From a surprising breakfast swap to a sneaky computer trick or a wardrobe mix-up, these playful pranks keep the mood cheerful without causing frustration. Enjoy simple, family-friendly tricks that everyone can join in on!

Yen.com.gh recently published an interesting piece on fun office games to promote teamwork Many spend more time in the office and with coworkers than at home. Positive relationships with colleagues can boost workplace productivity and contribute to overall well-being and contentment.

One way to ensure that everyone enjoys their time at the office is by using fun office games that include everyone. Discover more games that will interest your colleagues here.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Peris Wamangu avatar

Peris Wamangu (Lifestyle writer) Peris Wamangu is a reporter with more than four years of experience as a content writer. Peris joined Yen in 2024. Before that, she worked with Legit's team from 2021 to 2024. Peris graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Nairobi in 2019. She enjoys writing about various topics such as fashion, currency, biographies, entertainment and business. In 2023, Peris finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: wamanguperis@gmail.com

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