Last Updated on May 31, 2025 by Editorial Team
Action words are very important for young kids. These words belong to the category of verbs and describe different actions.
Words like play, jump, and eat may seem simple, but they are essential for kids to learn. A child’s first encounter with action words happens when they hear adults speaking to them.
Later, when children start kindergarten, they begin learning to read and write these basic action words. As they grow, you can introduce more action words as they progress to grades 1 and above.
Having a list of action words can help ensure that you teach your child all the important words. So, here we’ve created a list of 120 action words that are commonly used in everyday conversations and with kids.
And guess what? At the end of this article, you’ll find a bonus PDF with flashcards of these action words. Keep reading to download it for free!
Why is it important to teach action words to little kids?
Whenever we talk, we’re constantly using one or another action word to describe ourselves. So, imagine how hard it can be for kids to express themselves if they don’t know these words.
Therefore, along with concentrating on other skills to learn, it becomes necessary to teach kids simple and frequently used action words so they can convey their thoughts, ideas, and feelings with ease. Having the knowledge of action words –
- Builds a child’s vocabulary.
- Helps them speak with clarity.
- Allows kids to describe what they or others are doing.
- Enables them to speak and later write better sentences.
- Helps them correlate activities with actual words.
- Creates a foundation for early reading and writing skills.
- Helps children understand and follow instructions at home and school.
- Makes it easier for adults to understand what the child wants to convey.
Supports their social skills by allowing them to interact with confidence during social skills activities and other occasions.
Glimpse into the pool of action words
| Play | Learn | Create | Listen | Share | Help | Scoop | Draw | Run | Write |
| Smile | Sleep | Wash | Touch | Fight | Cook | Talk | Climb | Shake | Dance |
| Fall | Jump | Hug | Taste | Read | Walk | Sing | Eat | Cry | Bathe |
| Brush | Carry | Skip | Swim | Laugh | Stand | Ride | Think | Drink | Paint |
| Call | Give | Find | Look | Crawl | Kick | Throw | Study | Watch | Clap |
| Pull | Push | Cut | Yawn | Shout | Swing | Stop | Slide | Sweep | Wipe |
| Count | Lift | Fold | Squeeze | Lick | Race | Fly | Bend | Wait | Sit |
| Hide | Build | Show | Kneel | Hold | Drive | Spin | Blink | Exercise | Cough |
| Blow | Plant | Kiss | Hop | Pour | Bounce | Catch | Peel | Pop | Grab |
| Stamp | Tickle | Wave | Sneeze | Rub | Roll | Sprinkle | Mix | Peek | Lock |
| Knock | Giggle | Take | Pick | Tie | Nod | Pass | Open | Close | Skate |
| Hang | Drop | Spill | Whisper | Press | Communicate | Type | Dress | Mop | Tear |
How to practice these words?
Practicing these words involves incorporating them into your daily vocabulary and mindset. Here are some tips on how to do that:
- Read: Reading books, articles, and other materials that use these words in context can help kids understand their meanings and usage. It can also help you get familiar with different ways of using these words in sentences.
- Listen: Toddlers should listen to cartoons, animated movies, and other media like reading-out-loud apps where these words are used, and try to identify how they are being used in context. This can help them improve their comprehension and usage of these words.
- Write: Practice using these words while carrying out writing exercises in class. Educators can use a writing lesson plan to carefully introduce and acquaint kids with these words. Also, writing prompts can be used to help little learners to learn to write. This can help them become more comfortable using these words and reinforce their meanings in a child’s mind.
- Speak: Kids should practice using these words in conversation with others, whether it’s in school or home settings. This can help them become more confident in using these words and help them communicate more effectively.
Action Words Flashcards
Action word flashcards can be a fun addition to support a child’s daily word practice. These cards are perfect for kids of all ability levels.
The vivid pictures and clear text on flashcards help kids learn new words and give them an idea of how these words appear as text and look in action. Parents can print our ready-made flashcards or make DIY flashcards at home.
You can start with a few cards at a time and introduce them all gradually. Later, they can play games using their action word flashcards to reinforce their learning.
Here are some game ideas for you:
1. Action Words Scavenger Hunt: Hide flashcards in different places in your house and let your child find them. They can then identify the action word depicted in each flashcard and win rewards for getting it right.
2. Pick the Right Card: Spread a few flashcards on the floor. Say an action word out loud. The child must run and pick up the correct flashcard to score a point.
3. Right or Wrong: This game can be played with one or more kids. Show a card and say an action word. The words you say may or may not be the same as depicted in the image.
Give kids a buzzer tool to decide who answers first. Let the child say if you were right or wrong. A correct answer gives them one point, whereas a wrong answer gives none. The child with the most points wins the game.
4. Cross the River: Arrange flashcards to make two sides of a pretend river. Have the child stand on one side. Now, say an action word kept on the other side of the river. The child must jump on the correct flashcard to be able to cross the river. For every right jump across the river, they can collect a reward or else stay on the same side and try again.
Click the buttons below to download the flashcards completely FREE!
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 20 action words for children presented in this discussion are all valuable in helping children develop important skills and values for their personal and academic growth.
Just like sight words help develop an understanding of the concept, these action words too can help children develop their communication skills, since action words help children better express themselves and describe what they see or experience.
Additionally, Some action words involve movement, helping children develop their gross and fine motor skills.
I am Shweta Sharma. I am a final year Masters student of Clinical Psychology and have been working closely in the field of psycho-education and child development. I have served in various organisations and NGOs with the purpose of helping children with disabilities learn and adapt better to both, academic and social challenges. I am keen on writing about learning difficulties, the science behind them and potential strategies to deal with them. My areas of expertise include putting forward the cognitive and behavioural aspects of disabilities for better awareness, as well as efficient intervention. Follow me on LinkedIn