I make the face, you make the sound
A quick and silly connection game where one person makes a funny face and the other has to match it with a sound. It’s easy, ridiculous, and perfect for sparking connection anytime, anywhere.
I help parents turn chaos into connection and laughter through play.
Sometimes the simplest games are the most effective at bringing everyone together. In this playful activity, you and your child take turns - one person makes a face, the other makes the sound they think goes with it. A scrunched-up angry face might come with a growl, a wide-eyed surprised face could spark a “whoa!”, and a squishy silly face might inspire nonsense noises.
It’s a brilliant game for releasing tension, practising emotional expression, and sharing laughter. Because there are no rules or props, you can play it anywhere - at home, in the car, or waiting in line. A quick way to reset, connect, and invite giggles into your day.
Play
Step 1:
Sit face-to-face so you can clearly see each other’s expressions.
Step 2:
Make a face - happy, sad, silly, angry, surprised, or totally made up.
Step 3:
Invite your child to match it with a sound they think fits.
Step 4:
Swap roles - now they make a face, and you provide the sound.
Step 5:
Keep going until you both dissolve into giggles!
Tip:
- Some people prefer to play where the first player makes a face silently and then repeats it, at which point the second player makes the sound. We prefer to play where the second player tries to make the sound in real time! Less thinking, more diving right in!
- It helps if the facial expression has some movement to it!
Extend
Read my mind: A fun variation is “Read My Mind,” where one person makes a frozen facial expression and the other person makes up the “inner thought” to match it.
Emotion Practice: Try faces that show different feelings, helping kids learn to label emotions.
Group Play: Involve the whole family; one person makes a face, everyone else takes turns with their version of the sound.
Meet the playmaker
I help parents turn chaos into connection and laughter through play.