Say words from (J-Z) without moving your lips!

What can we use if we don't have paper, a pen, or a small bowl/hat?

Instead of paper and your pen and a small bowl or hat you can write words on sticky notes or index cards, type them into a phone notes app and draw one at a time, and use an empty cup or jar to hold the folded slips.

My child keeps moving their lips or the words are too quiet—how can we fix that?

If lips move or sounds are too quiet, repeat the warm-up step (press your lips together and hum or make soft throat sounds for 10 seconds), choose shorter words from the slips, have the speaker place a hand on their throat to feel vibrations, and have the guesser lean in to listen closely.

How can we adapt the game for different age groups?

For younger kids, replace the instruction to write one word for each letter from J to Z with picture cards or fewer big-print letters (J–M), while older kids can use longer words, add a timer for each turn, and keep score when you switch roles.

How can we extend or personalize the guessing game after we've played?

Decorate and theme your folded slips, award points for correct guesses for a prize, record short rounds to share your finished guessing game experience on DIY.org, or create a 'challenge' pile of extra-hard J–Z words to swap into the bowl.