Our family is full of practical jokers, so we all look forward to April 1st - April Fool's Day! I'm always on high alert that day, expecting a prank at every turn. My boys are starting to realize that the best time to take me by surprise is early in the morning, before the coffee has even been made. So from sunup to sundown we like to keep it festive on April Fool's Day and fit in as many laughs as we can, but we always keep it silly and fun, and keep everyone laughing! No mean tricks allowed!! Some things I do the night before so everything is set to go in the morning when they climb out of bed.
Here are 14 of our favorites, past and present, as well as a couple of new ones that I plan on trying out this April 1st!
1. The Bathroom. I like to leave a little April Fool's message in the bathroom, as that's usually my kid's first stop of the day. I do this the night before, so it's ready to go and reminds them what day it is. I switch it up from year to year. This year, I'm leaving a message on the toilet paper Happy April Fool's Day . In the past I've used lipstick to write on the mirror, the toilet seat lid, and the bathroom window. It's a great way to start the day reminding them of jokes to come!
2. Paint a Moustache. If you kids are sound sleepers like mine, sneak into their room while their sleeping the night before April Fool's Day, and "paint" a moustache on their upper lip. I use my black liquid eyeliner and to see their faces when they go to brush their teeth in the morning is SO FUNNY, I can't even put into words.
3. Tie Two Rooms Together. If you have two rooms that are opposite of each other, get out your old pantyhose! Tie an end to each of the door knobs. Knock on both of the doors and they will pull each other's doors trying to open theirs - and you will watch and laugh. The kids will think it's pretty funny too (especially once they escape their rooms)!
4. Turn Things Upside Down. After the kids go to bed the night before April Fool's Day, I pick one room and turn as much stuff as possible upside down! I'll turn small furniture, picture frames, clocks, etc. upside down for a big surprise and laugh!
5. Bugs in the Cereal. A classic, and it works! Do your kids have some big, fake bugs from the dollar store or fake snakes and lizards? Put them (after giving them a good washing), in their morning cereal box. When they eat their cereal in the morning, they'll be in for a big surprise!!
6. Fake Lollipops. My kids LOVE lollipops of any kind. Except the kind they'll be getting on April 1! Take a lollipop stick and put one small piece of broccoli on the end. (I'm repurposing a leftover wrapper and stick from a sucker I got at the bank.) Wrap in a sucker wrapper and let the kids know you have a treat. Watch the fun ensue! (I usually have a back up real lollipop, also from the bank, to give them after the prank is over!)
7. Stuff Tissue in their Shoes. Mention to your kids first thing in the morning how big their feet look and how much they must have grown overnight. Hide and watch when they go to put their shoes on later.
8. Googly Eyes. I put googly eyes on all kinds of things on April 1. This year, I'm targeting the refrigerator. Just imagine opening up your fridge, and seeing eyes on the milk, juice, cheese, etc looking back at you! They won't be expecting that and will definitely get a big laugh at my house!
9. Let your Kids Make a Sign. This can be a sign they fool Dad with and stick on his car "unknowingly" that says Honk It's April Fool's Day! Or it could be a sign they take a cruise around town with Mom, trying to get as many honks as they can, along with a lot of laughs!
10. Cover Remote Sensor with a Piece of Tape. This is a funny prank that will work on Dad too! Put a piece of clear tape over the sensor on the remote and tell the kids that they can pick a show/movie to watch. Everyone will get a good laugh after trying their hardest to get the remote to work. Show the kids where the tape is and let them peel it off to reveal a working remote.
11. Put a Surprise in the Mailbox. If your kids like to help get the mail, don't pass up on this April Fool's opportunity! I would wait until after your mail carrier has delivered the mail that day (you don't want to scare an unsuspecting bystander!), then sneak out to your mailbox and place something that will surprise your kids! Maybe a big dinosaur, a scary clown, a babydoll, etc. Just pick something big enough that will get their attention!
12. Serve an April Fool's Day Dinner. Get creative with dinnertime on April 1! One of the best (and edible!) ideas I've seen is to make a nutritious dinner that looks like a yummy dessert. For example, turn mini meat loaves into cupcakes with "frosted" mashed potatoes on top. You could also make meatballs and serve them on sticks, just like a lollipop.
13. Put a For Sale Sign in Your Yard. Okay, this one may be pushing the boundaries on meanness! But this prank will be sure to turn heads. You may also be playing a prank on your neighbors, and have a lot of explaining to do! Be careful what you "sign" up for!
14. Stuff their Pillow. It's been a long day by this point. But why stop now? It's always good to get a last laugh in. Before bedtime take your child's pillow out of their pillowcase and stash the pillow nearby. Stuff their pillowcase with something like toilet paper, towels, bubble wrap, stuffed animals, etc. When they go to lay their head on their pillow for nite nite time, they will realize just how awesome Mom is at playing practical jokes!
