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April Fools’ Day is coming up, and if you’re looking for some fun and relatively harmless pranks, we’ve got you covered. Pranking your kids is a great way to get some much needed “pay back” after all they put us parents through. Plus, it’s a totally fun way to blow off some steam and have a great laugh as a family.
The pranks on this list include fake juice and broccoli wrapped up to look like lollipops, just to name a few. These awesome April Fools’ pranks will definitely bring the laughter from all those involved, not just the prankster parents. Just be warned: We can’t guarantee that your kids won’t want to exact some sort of revenge.
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If pranking your kids isn’t really your style, perhaps you can work together to prank your unsuspecting spouse? Although, we have to say, you’ll likely get a lot of satisfaction watching your kids unwrap a piece of broccoli rather than a piece of candy.
April Fools’ Day is only once a year, and you’re allowed to play a few funny tricks on your kids. After all, adults can get in on the silliness, too! (We’ve even included a few pranks to make dad smile.) Check out our favorite April Fools’ pranks for families below.
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1 of 18 Image Credits: Instructables living
Undrinkable Juice
Fill your child's usual juice cup with gelatin after dinner and place it in the refrigerator. In the morning when the drink is firm, offer your little one a sip and watch them wonder what happened.
2 of 18 Image Credits: Williams Sonoma
Got (Blue) Milk?
Put a few drops of food coloring into a pitcher of milk (choose your kid's fave shade). Make sure they're watching when you nonchalantly fix their morning bowl of cereal.
3 of 18 Image Credits: Lady Create a Lot
Bath Time Fail
Paint a bar of soap with clear nail polish and let it dry. Put the non-sudsing soap in the shower or bath and wait for the questions to begin.
4 of 18 Image Credits: Jokeroo
Sour Apples
Buy a bag of yellow onions and dip them in melted candy to make them look like caramel apples. Offer the family the pungent pranks after dinner—but be sure to have some real sweets ready, too.
5 of 18 Image Credits: Chocolate Rocks
A Prank That Rocks
If you want to make your kids think you've lost your marbles, pretend you found some pretty rocks in the backyard, and then enjoy the look of surprise on their faces when you bite into one. They don't have to know you're actually noshing on chocolate candy rocks.
6 of 18 Image Credits: Kid's Activities
Blue Bath
Swab the inside of the bathtub faucet with blue food gel dye. When your child turns the handle, they'll get a big blue surprise at bath time.
7 of 18 Image Credits: PNP Flowers Inc
No TV Tonight
Prank both the kids and dad by placing small pieces of clear tape over the sensors on the television and gaming console remotes.
8 of 18 Image Credits: All for the Boys
Squirting Bottle
Over the sink, poke tiny pinholes into a plastic water bottle using a sewing needle. Gently wipe down the outside and set the bottle on the counter. When someone picks it up, the pressure of their hand will cause a light spray of water to go everywhere.
9 of 18 Image Credits: Nuts.com
Stacked against Them
After the kids go to bed on March 31, sneak into their playroom and replace their Legos with candy blocks. They'll wish Lego Batman was with them to use his "world's greatest detective" skills to figure out why their blocks won't stack.
10 of 18 Image Credits: Kids Activities Blog
Upside Down House
After everyone goes to bed, turn as many things upside down as you can, including framed pictures, clocks, chairs and toys. When the family wakes up in the morning, they'll do a double-take and wonder what happened.
11 of 18 Image Credits: Amazon
Snack Switch
Carefully open the bottom of the bag of your child's favorite snack. Replace the contents with an equally favorite treat, then tape the bag closed. Wait until they open the bag and get confused.
12 of 18 Image Credits: The Decorated Cookie
Healthy Lollipops
Get creative in the kitchen and make faux treats from broccoli florets, tissue paper and candy sticks. Offer the lollipops as an afternoon snack and watch your kids' confused faces.
13 of 18 Image Credits: Morena's Corner
Buggy Lunch
Tuck plastic bugs and beetles in your child's lunch. Sneak them into sandwiches or reusable containers filled with fruit.
14 of 18 Image Credits: Nuts,com
Fake Choppers
Trick your kids into thinking you knocked your teeth out by placing gummy teeth over your real ones before "accidentally" bumping into something that makes them fall on the floor. You'll freak them out—for a few seconds, anyway.
15 of 18 Image Credits: Amazon
Backwards Dinner
Serve up a topsy-turvy dinner to throw your kids for a loop: Bake meatloaf in a 12-cup muffin tin and frost with mashed potatoes for a "cupcakes" dinner—bonus if you add food coloring to the spuds. Then toast strips of pound cake for a dessert of "French fries." Don't forget red-tinted frosting for ketchup!
16 of 18 Image Credits: Getty
DIY Daylight Saving Time
Set all the clocks in the house an hour or two early—then ease the blow of an early wake-up by making the kiddos something special for breakfast.
17 of 18 Image Credits: Everyday Kiss
Sweet Phone
Replace your teen's cell phone with a chocolate version. They'll wonder if they should dial it or eat it.
18 of 18 Image Credits: Clean and Scentsible
Breakfast Mix-Up
For breakfast, swap out your usual sunny side up egg for a bowl of yogurt with a canned peach half on top. Get bonus points for serving it with a tall glass of milk or mug of coffee that's been frozen solid.
