Victorian children played parlour charades using gestures, props, and mimed actions to convey words or phrases. Teams guessed meanings, fostering imagination, teamwork, and interpretive skills. Rules could be elaborate, with scoring for speed, accuracy, or humor. Indoor space, including furniture and household items, became part of the set. Children practiced storytelling, improvisation, and social observation. Families often participated, making it a multigenerational game. Charades developed performance skills alongside social bonding and mental agility.
Parlour charades improved creativity, communication, and observation.
It shows how indoor games cultivated social and cognitive skills.
Did you know Victorian children sometimes spent hours designing props and costumes for charades using household items?
[History Extra, historyextra.com]