Grab some snacks. Snuggle up on the couch with your family. Get ready for fun.
“TV Talking” is the ultimate hack for creative play when you’re feeling lazy, physically.
I know my family didn’t invent this concept. But somewhere in my childhood, “Talking” for the characters on TV (muted, of course) became our absolute favorite family activity. It’s now a sacred tradition.
In fact, when my parents, sister, and brother-in-love visit, we always make it a point to play “Talking.” ALWAYS.
The concept is simple.
Turn on a show. Mute the sound. Then, everyone picks a character and talks for them.
In full disclosure, this is something my husband and I still do for fun after the kids fall asleep. It’s honestly more fun to me than actually watching a show. We “talked” for Mega Shark Versus Mecha Shark the other night, and I had tears rolling down my cheeks.
Actually, one of the first moments I knew I had feelings for my husband involved “TV Talking.” We were on a tour bus together, traveling for a musical revue show. I suggested to the cast and crew that we all play.
Steve’s a pretty quiet guy and was on the road with us to do tech, so I wasn’t expecting him to be as in to it as us performers. Little did I know, he had a silly, playful heart and fully committed to the game. “Wow,” I thought, as he burst into a ridiculous, spontaneous monologue. “I think I love him.”
Trust me, this is the most fun way to “watch” TV as a family.
It’s a win-win. You get to relax, and you all get some “screen time.” AND, best of all, you’re connecting with each other. Bonding through laughter, imagination, and creativity.
Sometimes it takes a little practice for kiddos to get comfortable jumping in. Once they are, I promise they’ll be begging to play “TV Talking!”
Here are some tips for playing “TV Talking” that have worked well for us:
1. Picking A Show
This can be the hardest part. Some of our personal favorites have included:
- Telenovelas
- The more cheesy and dramatic, the better (just be monitoring for inappropriate material)
- Family-Friendly Sitcoms
- Golden Girls, Fresh Prince, Alf, Friends, Boy Meets World, Reba
- Disney Channel Original Series
- Plenty to choose from on Disney Plus! Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, anyone?
- Random, Cheesy Movies on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Etc.
- The worse the movie, the better. Think Sharknado — just make sure it’s appropriate for your kiddo’s age.
OTHER HELPFUL TIPS:
- Be Clueless: It helps if the show is something none of you have watched. The less preconceived notions you have about the characters/plot, the more freedom in fun you have when making stuff up!
- Keep It Simple: The best shows for “TV Talking” don’t have too many characters to keep track of. Sitcoms or low-budget films are great for this.
2. Jump In, Choosing Characters As You Go!
Once the show starts, dive right in and start talking for whoever you see.
Pay attention to the actor’s facial expressions and movements. Say anything that comes to your mind. Don’t worry about trying to figure out what the actors are actually saying. In fact, it’s much more funny if it’s something totally random and silly.
For example, one of my all-time favorite memories of playing this game came from my mom. We were talking for a soap opera.
Her character was a big, burly man. He stormed angrily into a bedroom, dramatically ripped off all the sheets, and fell to his knees crying. My mom didn’t miss a beat and cried, “Didn’t the Tooth Fairy leave me ANYTHING?” Brilliant.
3. Model For The Kids
At first, it can be a little intimidating for kids to jump in and play, but they will have a blast if you just go for it. Let them observe the grown-ups playing at first if they want. They can jump in whenever they’re ready.
If a kid character enters the scene, I might say, “Okay. You be that kid!” Or, “I’ll be that granny, you be that lady in the purple dress!” Sometimes a little encouragement helps the kids dive in and give it a go.
4. Listen To Each Other
This is the key to the “success” of “TV Talking.”
Let’s say my husband is talking and makes his character say, “Griselda, I’m just crazy about you! Will you marry me?”
If I’m the character he’s talking to, I’m not going to change the subject and say something completely unrelated like, “I’m so excited to go to the mall today.”
I’m going to listen carefully, go along with what he established, and add on to it.
So, I might say something like, “I don’t know, John. You’re cute and all. But your feet are just too stinky!”
This is a basic rule of improv, known as “Yes, And.”
Stay tuned for a deeper dive into how basic improv concepts help foster connection through creative play with kids.
BONUS IDEA:
- Fill the Silence: If there is a long silence, we make our characters “growl” to fill the space. It’s always hilarious, especially if it doesn’t make sense. See, I just started laughing out loud imagining it. So fun.
Does your family ever do this? What personal spin do you have on this silly activity?
Let us know in the comments!
Hi! I’m Mia.
Mom, stepmom, wife, songwriter, performer, and theater educator.
I love sharing ideas, tips, and templates for connecting with kids through low-to-no budget, waste-free, creative play.
[…] come to mind is the memory of belly laughs. For example, I’ll never forget the whole family “talking” for characters on a muted TV (we still do this). Drawing faces on our chins. Producing our own “cooking shows” and […]