APRIL FOOLS’ PRANKS
Your kids will think you’re the coolest mom ever — for a moment at least. Bake up mini meatloaves in muffin cups (don’t forget the colorful wrappers). Then “frost” them with creamy mashed potatoes. See how long it takes for your kids to realize that you really aren’t that cool after all.
16 best April Fools’ pranks to pull on your family and friends
With these April Fools’ pranks in your back pocket, you’ll keep young and old on their toes from the moment they wake up until they crawl back into bed. Start things off at home with a frozen breakfast (followed up by an edible one, of course), then sprinkle in a few April Fool’s jokes throughout the day to keep the laughs coming.
It goes without saying that you should stay away from any pranks that’ll bring your kids to tears — unless the tears are from laughing so hard.
Pranksters and prankees alike will get a kick out out of these silly gags. Keep on scrolling for some good old-fashioned fun.
Swap sleepers
If your kids are heavy sleepers, carry them into their sibling’s bed and let them wake up in a different room to start April Fools’ on the right foot.
Frozen breakfast
Put cereal and milk in a bowl and let it freeze overnight. When your hungry kids try to dig in, they’ll get quite the surprise.
Juice joke
Anyone want juice? When your family tries to taking a sip of this juice, they’ll find out it’s really Jell-O.
Underwear surprise
Swap out their underwear drawer for bathing suits for an early morning prank.
“Eye” see you
Give your kids a laugh at lunchtime by attaching googly eyes to, well, everything.
Toilet paper message
Unroll the toilet paper and leave a funny message for the unsuspecting user. A good option: “You’re going to wash your hands, right?” Roll the toilet paper back up and wait to see who ends up getting the message.
Honk for April Fools’
Let your practical jokers put a sign on your car that reads “My kids are playing an April Fools’ joke on me. Honk and wave at me!” This joke is even funnier if they get to take a ride in the car with you.
Bugs in your ice
This oldie-but-goodie prank is easy to make at home with this tip. Add almost boiling water to the ice cube trays and toss in a few plastic bugs. The hotter the water, the more clear the ice will be when frozen.
Sweet trick
Offer up brownies as an afternoon snack, but everyone will be shocked when they find brown letter “E”s (get it — brown “E”s?) instead!
Bathtime hoax
Use a Q-tip to put gel food coloring around the inside of the faucet in the bathtub or sink. When the water is turned on, you’ll have colored water! You might want to stay away from red. This is April Fools’ and not Halloween, after all.
Pillow prank
Just when they thought April Fools’ Day was over, here’s one last prank. Remove the pillows and fill their pillowcases with several partially inflated balloons. When they put their head down to sleep, they’ll realize you got the last April Fools’ laugh. Obviously if you have younger children, you’ll want to take the balloons out of their room before they drift off to sleep. with a smile on their faces.
Toothpaste switcheroo
Surprise your kids this April Fools’ Day with a little toothpaste switcheroo. After breakfast, hand over their toothbrush — but instead of the usual white paste, opt for something white, creamy and…sweet! Cream cheese or vanilla frosting will do the trick; if they use a colored kids’ tooth gel, try using cake decorating gel instead.
Whoopee!
Put a whoopee cushion under your baby’s high-chair cushion, under the booster seat or car seat cover and see if you get a laugh from the baby, his fart-loving older brother or your hubs.
Milk shenanigans
Add a few drops of food coloring to the carton of milk; when your child goes to pour it into her glass or bowl of cereal, she’ll get a colorful surprise — bright pink (or blue, or green) milk!
Cupcakes for dinner
Your kids will think you’re the coolest mom ever — for a moment at least. Bake up mini meatloaves in muffin cups (don’t forget the colorful wrappers). Then “frost” them with creamy mashed potatoes. See how long it takes for your kids to realize that you really aren’t that cool after all.
Bedtime classic
Borrow a summer camp classic and short sheet your kid’s bed before bedtime — when he tries to get in, you’ll have the last laugh.
Get laughing in 3, 2, 1.
- Corny jokes that kids and adults can’t help but laugh at
- Funny puns that’ll make everyone chuckle — and cringe
- Bad jokes that are so dumb they’re actually funny
- Short jokes that are a laugh a minute
Sarah W. Caron contributed to this story, which was originally published in 2016 and has been updated.
Amanda Mushro is a writer, on-air parenting and lifestyle expert, and a mom of three. Sometimes she thinks she’s doing a great job at this mom gig, but then she does something that makes her question her own parenting abilities.
APRIL FOOLS’ PRANKS
Celebrate 1 April with these top tricks – and find out some cool facts, too!
Calling all tricksters! Get ready for the funniest day of the year with these speedy April Fools’ pranks…
Hilarious April Fools’ Pranks
Egg surprise!
Fried egg and chips, anyone? This tasty-looking meal is actually half a tinned peach, placed in a carefully arranged blob of yoghurt, with some peeled slices of apple disguised as chips! Serve with strawberry jam ‘ketchup’, too, if you like!
Grape hunt?!
Planning an early Easter hunt? Wrap some grapes in silver foil or old sweet wrappers and hide them alongside foil-wrapped mini chocolate eggs. They’re almost the same shape and size, so the winner’s hoard may be healthier than they expected. GOTCHA!
Brrr-reakfast!
Prepare a bowl of cereal with milk and a spoon, and then put it in the freezer overnight. When you serve it to your victim the next morning, the spoon will be stuck solid in the frozen milk and they won’t be able to eat it. You rascal!
Feet don’t fit!
For a really annoying prank, shove some scrunched up newspaper, tissue or old socks into the bottom of your folks’ work shoes. When they try to put them on, their feet won’t fit. Oh no! Another classic April Fools’ prank is tying someone’s shoelaces together. Naughty!
Jelly juice!
Ask an adult to help you whip up some orange or green jelly. Pour it into clear drinking glasses and add a paper straw. Then leave to set. In the morning, offer someone a glass of juice – and give them the jelly instead! They’ll never be able to slurp that through the straw.
April Fools’ Day facts
Now you’ve got your April Fools’ pranks prepared, it’s time to learn about this silly celebration! Wow your friends and family with these five facts…
- 1. All over the world, April Fools’ Day is celebrated on 1 April. But no one really knows how the tradition of playing pranks started! Some historians date it back to an Ancient Romanfestival called Hilaria, which was held at the end of March.
- 2. This silly day might seem like a time to abandon all rules but, like most traditions, it has its own superstitions. Make sure you play your pranks by midday, otherwise the joke’s on YOU!
- 3. In France, 1 April is known as poisson d’avril, or ‘April Fish‘! There, a common April Fools’ prank is to attach a paper fish to a friend’s back without them noticing. Sneaky!
- 4. On 1 April, 1957, the BBC released a fake documentary which showed Swiss farmers harvesting pasta from ‘spaghetti trees‘. You can still watch it online today!
- 5. Many news outlets and shops play jokes to celebrate April Fools’ Day. So, pay extra attention to anything you read on this funny day – it might not be what it seems!