10+ Reasons Why Children Should Not Play ‘Truth or Dare?’ (with Alternatives…)

Last Updated on January 25, 2024 by Gamesver Team and JC Franco

Truth or Dare? can be quite fun and exciting; however, is it safe for children to play? Here are reasons why children should not play Truth or Dare?.

Unless rules are set and followed and with supervision, things can go out of hand. We’d also like to add that dares can be extreme and potentially dangerous, and even some questions posed may be embarrassing and cause squabbles amongst kids.

When children are involved, children should be closely monitored. In fact, we think because of the loads of trouble it can lead to, it is not the best game to introduce to children. 

We’ll discuss some of the reasons why we think Truth or Dare? is unsafe for kids, and alternate verbal party games they can play.

1. Inappropriate Questions

Most Truth or Dare? questions are geared towards older teens and adults and are not safe for children. There are conversations kids shouldn’t have and actions they shouldn’t do. Some of these prompts are unwholesome. Rather than build character and improve their skills, they encourage vices, for example, a dare to make a prank call.

2. Some Dares Can Cause Trouble

Even the questions that seem appropriate may be dangerous. A dare to chug a cup of water or juice, for example, may result in choking. This can lead to a series of lawsuits from the parents of the affected child. 

3. Certain Questions May Upset the Children

Some questions may be upsetting and remind the children of unfortunate incidents. “What is your pet’s name?”, for example, may generally seem ok, but not to a kid who just lost his pet. Some questions may cause some kids to cry.

4. Children Spill to their Parents

In Truth or Dare?, players are not supposed to tell anyone who wasn’t present about how the game went. It is against the rules. With children, this is not so. Kids usually tell their parents afterward how and what happened during play. 

5. Prank Calling

Most dares for kids involve prank calling, which is a practice that is fun only to them and bothers the people on the receiving end of the prank. Such habits should be discouraged in children, but games like Truth or Dare? promote it.

6. It Breeds Lies

While playing Truth or Dare?, children may resort to lying in a bid to make sure no one finds out secrets they have hidden. This not only defeats the purpose of the game, but also may give the younger player a bad lesson.

7. It Starts Squabbles

Children may not be able to take things lightly, especially when the dares or truth questions hit close to home. A light dispute may result in unnecessary quarrels and fights between friends. 

8. Monotony

While trying to keep the dares and truth questions safe for kids, you might end up taking the fun out of the game. Very soon, you end up repeating questions, and the game becomes monotonous. 

9. It Can Cause Betrayals and Heartbreaks

Truth or Dare? can lead to betrayals and cause friends to grow apart, even among children. Some questions may break their fragile hearts. This is a reason why games more catered to adults should be discouraged for children. 

10. Children May Keep Grudges

One thing about Truth or Dare? is that children may take offense at another player because of something said or done. They may carry the grudge and not let go for prolonged periods of time. This unhealthy habit should not be something that is encouraged; therefore, it is best to avoid letting your kids play Truth or Dare?. 

11. Children Pick ‘Truth’ Most of the Time

Truth or Dare? is fun when the dares and questions are balanced. However, to avoid doing dares, children usually go for the truth at almost every turn. This takes the fun out of the game for everyone. 

When it comes to the kind of games children engage in, it is crucial to keep it light and safe as much as it is fun. Several other verbal games are better suited to a younger audience than Truth or Dare?.  

5 Alternative Conversation Games that Kids can Play

Here, we’ve put together five alternatives to the Truth or Dare? game

1. Simon Says

This game is a perfect activity with appropriate commands for children. You don’t need special props or equipment to play, “Simon says”.

To start, choose a person to lead and call out the orders. Every other person has to obey the given prompts but only when the leader uses the phrase “Simon says”. When, for instance, the leader says, “Simon says, shake your heads”, everyone playing the game must shake their heads.

After some time, the leader has to call out an order without the phrase “Simon says”; for example, “Shake your heads.”. Anyone who shakes their head is out of the game and can’t join in until the next round.

Simon Says helps kids improve their literacy and communication skills. It helps them develop better control of impulses and emotional stability.

2. I Spy

This simple game can be played anywhere; indoors, outside, traveling, or anywhere. It also does not require any equipment or materials.

To begin, choose the first player by age, name in alphabetical order, or any other factor. The first player, “The Spy”, then mentally picks an object within the immediate environment that is within plain sight of everyone playing. The spy then goes, “I spy with my little eye…”, after which they give the first clue. The clue is typically the first letter of the object.

After the clue is given, other players must guess the object until the correct answer is gotten. The child who gets the answer correct becomes the next spy.

You can switch up this basic play by adding a few twists. You can allow the players to ask the spy two to three questions about the object before guessing the answer. This works well, especially for older kids and teens.

You can also give additional clues if no one gets the answer right on their first try.

3. Charades

Can you speak without talking? Well, with Charades, you have to. In this classic game, words are not allowed. You can only make hand gestures, movements, actions, and noises to the rest of your team, who then have to guess the correct concept of the word within a set period.

How you play the game depends on the age and skill set of the children. You can use more complex words and phrases for older children and young teens. You can use words related to themes like food, school, pet, daily activities, and items for younger children.

It would be best to have a timer, a list of words, and a coin or die to play. Explain the game to the interested children. Agree on the point system and time for each trial, and set the rules. 

Make sure to explain the rules in detail to the players before starting. Divide the players into two teams. Each team has to choose a representative. Toss or flip a coin to decide who goes first.

Each representative then takes turns acting the charade to their teams. Based on the agreed point system, award points for each correct guess made within the set time. At the end of the round, the team with the highest points wins; you can keep playing until everyone gets tired.

Charades boost children’s social and problem-solving skills. It also helps children improve their verbal and nonverbal communication skills and build character and confidence.

4. Tongue Twisters

How well do your kids know their words? How well can they say them? Try tongue twisters and find out. This activity involves repeatedly saying words or phrases that sound similar and as fast as possible.

Popular examples of this game include

1. I scream, they scream, we all scream for ice cream.

2. She sells seashells at the seashore

3. Red lorry. Yellow lorry.

4. Selfish. Shellfish.

5. Kitchen. Chicken.

Tongue twisters help improve children’s vocabulary, pronunciation skills, and speech patterns.

5. The A-Z Story Game

The goal of this game is to tell a story using sentences that start with each letter of the alphabet (from A to Z). The children take turns doing this on the spot. The round ends when the alphabet is complete. You don’t need special materials or props to play the A-Z story game.

This conversation game is a great way for kids to let their creative juices flow and stretch their imaginations. That way, they get ideas and come up with sentences on impulse. There are no eliminations, winners, or losers. Just kids making sentences and having fun while laughing and learning.

20 Clean Truth or Dare? Questions for Kids

Here are some questions that are ideal for children.

Truth Questions

1. What fruit do you like the most?

2. What would you like to be in the future?

3. What’s your favorite class in school?

4. Do you speak other languages?

5. If you could become an animal, which would you be and why?

6. Where in the world would you like to visit?

7. If you were a celebrity, which would you be and why?

8. What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever done?

9. What’s the one superpower you would like to have?

10. What is the best gift you’ve received so far?

11. Do you have a favorite TV show?

12. Which superhero would you like to be?

13. What is your best color?

14. What is your favorite video game?

15. If you met a genie, what would you ask for?

16. If you had a hundred dollars today, what would you buy?

17. What is the best thing you like about your neighborhood?

18. Do you think ghosts are real?

19. What food do you like the most?

20. What is your favorite sport?

Dare Questions

1. Act like your favorite teacher

2. Say the letters of the alphabet backward

3. Sing a song using a pirate’s voice

4. Pretend to be a cat

5. Roar like a lion

6. Dance like a chicken

7. Say the phrase “like a dream” at the end of every sentence (or any silly words you can make up).

8. Sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star…” in a robot’s voice.

9. Do 12 jumping jacks

10. Try to touch your nose with your tongue

11. Talk to the wall for 30 secs

12. Draw a picture of the person seated next to you.

13. Eat a cookie without using your hands.

14. Do a handstand

15. Sing a rhyme from school.

16. Moonwalk around the room

17. Begin every sentence with “Once upon a time”.

18. Write your name with a pen using your mouth.

19. Try to tap dance

20. Play the “air piano”.

In Closing

Children don’t have to play the Truth or Dare? game since it can lead to a lot of unideal questions. The alternatives discussed in this piece are also fun and are a good way for children to learn by playing games.