Action Words for Kids: That Make Learning Fun and Easy

Language development is one of the most magical stages in early childhood—and at the heart of this exciting journey are Action Words for Kids. These words, often called doing words or verbs, help children connect language with the real world. Whether they are hopping in the playground, drawing with crayons, or thinking quietly, using action words helps kids describe what they experience every day.

Understanding and using Action Words for Kids gives young learners the ability to express themselves clearly, build strong sentence structure, and grow confidence in speaking and writing. These words play a key role in improving vocabulary, enhancing social interaction, and laying the foundation for reading and storytelling.

When teachers and parents introduce Action Words for Kids through fun, movement-based activities, children grasp new concepts more quickly. It’s more than just learning words—it’s about giving kids the language tools they need to explore the world around them. With every action they take—whether it’s skipping, climbing, or whispering—they’re learning the power of language.

That’s why we’ve created this helpful guide focused on Action Words for Kids: to provide fun ideas, examples, and engaging learning methods that inspire children to speak, write, and play with confidence. Whether in the classroom or at home, learning Action Words for Kids can be a joyful and memorable experience.

So let’s dive in and discover the most effective and creative ways to introduce Action Words for Kids in everyday learning!

What Are Action Words?

Action words, also known as verbs or doing words, are the building blocks of expression. These words tell us what a person, animal, or thing is doing, whether it’s something you can see—like skipping, writing, or clapping—or something you feel or think, like wondering or remembering. They bring energy and meaning to every sentence.

For young learners, action words are essential for building early language skills. They help children describe what’s happening around them and what they are doing themselves. When a child says, “I run,” “She draws,” or “We play,” they’re using action words to connect language to their world.

Learning Action Words for Kids also supports sentence building, improves communication, and encourages creative thinking. Whether a child is acting out a story, reading a picture book, or talking with friends, understanding verbs helps them express thoughts clearly and confidently.

Examples:

• She runs fast.

• The baby laughs loudly.

By teaching action words for kids, we help them build strong sentences and express themselves clearly.

Why Are Action Words Important for Kids?

Mastering action words for kids comes with a wide range of benefits:

• Boosts Vocabulary – Introduces practical, real-life words

• Encourages Communication – Helps kids share thoughts and feelings

• Supports Reading and Writing – Foundation for literacy development

• Strengthens Grammar – Builds sentence structure

• Makes Learning Fun – Great for games, songs, and creative play

Types of Verbs Explained Simply

Kids may come across different kinds of verbs as they grow. Here’s a simplified breakdown:

Verb Type	What It Does	Example
Action Verbs	These verbs show something being done or an activity.	jump, run, read
Helping Verbs	These verbs come before the main verb to show time or mood.	is eating, has gone
Linking Verbs	These verbs connect the subject with information about it.	is tired, seems happy
Transitive Verbs	These verbs need something to receive the action.	She threw a stone.
Intransitive Verbs	These verbs do not act on any object.	He sleeps soundly.

Still, our focus here is on the most exciting and child-friendly kind—action words for kids!

Action Words for Young Learners (Preschool & Kindergarten)

Young children, especially preschoolers and kindergartners, absorb language best when it’s tied to fun, movement, and everyday life. At this stage, their brains are wired to learn through doing, not just listening. That’s why introducing verbs, or doing words, through interactive play and familiar routines works so well.

Simple actions like clap, sit, wash, or read are more than just motions—they’re key tools for learning. When kids say or hear these words during real activities, it strengthens their understanding of language and helps them form connections between words and actions.

By weaving Action Words for Kids into songs, games, and daily tasks—like brushing teeth or packing a bag—children develop strong communication habits and begin forming complete thoughts and sentences. It turns every moment into a learning opportunity, making language feel natural and exciting.

Everyday Action Words:

• Jump | Run | Sit | Sleep | Clap | Eat | Read

• Dance | Smile | Cry | Kick | Wave | Wash | Talk

• Hop | Throw | Catch | Walk

These action words for kids are ideal for use during songs, games, and storytime.

Creative Teaching Tips for Little Learners

Here are playful ways to teach action words for kids:

• Action Songs: Sing along with classics like “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

• Simon Says: Use commands with different verbs

• Picture Cards: Kids act out what they see

• Classroom Action Chart: Add students’ photos next to verbs they learn

✍️ Using Action Words in Sentences

As children begin to express more complex thoughts, they move beyond single words and start building complete sentences. This stage is a big leap in language development, and verbs play a central role in making that possible. By using doing words in sentences—like run, laugh, or draw—kids learn how to describe actions clearly and confidently.

Creating short, meaningful sentences helps strengthen a child’s grammar, improve vocabulary, and boost their ability to communicate ideas. Instead of just saying “dog,” they learn to say “The dog barks,” which gives their speech purpose and structure.

Practicing with Action Words for Kids encourages early writers and speakers to become storytellers. Whether they’re describing what they did at school or imagining a fun adventure, putting verbs into sentences makes their language more powerful and expressive.

Common Verbs for Early Writers:

• Kick | Read | Skip | Write | Draw | Ride

• Laugh | Shake | Cook | Paint | Talk | Push | Pull

Sample Sentences:

• She writes stories in her notebook.

• We ride our bikes after school.

• They laugh at the funny clown.

• I cook with my mom on Sundays.

Let children create their own mini stories using new action words for kids they’ve learned!

Advanced Action Words for Big Kids

Older children can handle more sophisticated verbs that support academic growth.

Smart Action Words for Kids:

• Compare | Predict | Describe | Summarize | Create

• Organize | Justify | Explore | Explain | Investigate

Example Sentences:

• He explained how magnets work.

• We predicted the ending of the story.

• They organized their ideas into categories.

These advanced action words for kids enhance essay writing, science presentations, and storytelling.

List of 100 Action Words for Kids

Let’s explore 100 commonly used action verbs. These are simple, easy to understand, and perfect for kids.

Movement Verbs	Daily Routine Verbs	✏️ Classroom Verbs	Animal & Body Sounds	Creative & Fun Verbs
Run	Wake	Write	Bark	Paint
Jump	Sleep	Draw	Meow	Build
Walk	Eat	Erase	Roar	Create
Skip	Drink	Count	Chirp	Pretend
Hop	Brush	Learn	Moo	Imagine
Climb	Bathe	Spell	Quack	Act
Crawl	Dress	Study	Hiss	Decorate
Slide	Wash	Color	Buzz	Design
Roll	Cook	Cut	Giggle	Sculpt
Dance	Clean	Paste	Whistle	Mix
Spin	Comb	Ask	Snore	Tie
Swim	Laugh	Answer	Shout	Cut
Fly	Cry	Raise	Sneeze	Fold
March	Yawn	Show	Cough	Catch
Kick	Talk	Share	Hum	Throw
Push	Sit	Point	Clap	Dig
Pull	Stand	Open	Sing	Plant
Bend	Listen	Close	Whisper	Swing
Shake	Watch	Repeat	Sniff	Blow
Stretch	Read	Think	Hiccup	Bounce

Thematic Grouping of Action Words

Group action words for kids by daily routines or topics to reinforce understanding:

Morning Routine: wake, brush, eat, dress
School Time: write, read, draw, listen
Play Time: jump, throw, catch, climb
Bedtime: yawn, bathe, hug, sleep

Categorizing verbs makes learning more organized and relatable.

Fun and Interactive Ways to Learn Action Words

Transform learning action words for kids into a game-filled experience:

• Charade Challenge – Kids act out verbs while others guess

• ️ Verb Treasure Hunt – Find verb cards hidden around the room

• Verb Dice Game – Roll to act out the verb shown

• Verb Drawing Game – Kids draw actions like skipping, climbing

• Story Starters – Begin tales with verbs like “I discovered…” or “She danced…”

These activities make action words for kids stick through fun repetition.

️ Use Pictures to Reinforce Learning

Images are a powerful tool in helping kids remember verbs. Show real-life photos or illustrations of children:

• jumping

• eating

• washing

• laughing

• paint

Visuals + action = better memory of action words for kids.

Use Role Play for Contextual Learning

Kids love pretending! Use scenarios to introduce action words for kids in context:

• Shopping: pick, buy, carry, pay

• ‍ Cooking: stir, pour, chop, taste

• Doctor Visit: check, cough, examine, feel

Role-play connects action words to real-life use.

️ Speaking Time: Use Verbs in Conversation

Encourage kids to talk daily using action words:

• “What did you do today?”

• “Can you show me how you jump?”

• “Tell me something you learned.”

The more kids speak, the more fluent they become in using action words for kids.

Let’s Have Fun with Irregular Action Words for Kids!

As kids grow, they’re ready to explore more tricky—but super fun—irregular action words for kids. These are special verbs that don’t follow the usual -ed rule when we talk about the past.

What are Irregular Verbs?

They’re action words that change completely in the past tense. You can’t just add “-ed”! But don’t worry—we can learn them with games and giggles!

Examples:

• go → went

• eat → ate

• run → ran

• fly → flew

• write → wrote