Team Building Activity

Just wondering if I can get my action learning set to build a spaghetti tower as a team activity next week – I’ve never seen it done but I’d like to see it. I’ll let you know how we get on! In the mean-time check out our amazing DIY team building activities – great for trainers, schools, youth groups etc or for a bit of fun and for even more fabulous fun and games check out the ice-breaker-ideas web-site

Briefing the Ice Breaker Game

Ice breaker games are fantastic for getting people to talk and befriend each other quickly. They bring people together that otherwise may not have the opportunity to talk.  Having a bit of fun together breaks down barriers quickly and helps people relax.   Icebreakers speed up the getting to know you process and make it easier to take a group forward. They are a trainer’s dream tool but can be used in many more meeting situations than people do!

When should you use an Ice Breaker Game?

Ice breaker games have so many uses both at work and away from work. They can be used for all ages too! You can use them to start your training sessions, sales meetings and corporate events but you can also use them to integrate your school pupils at the start of the new school year, for youth groups, club meetings etc. Virtually any group gathering could make use of ice breaker games to ensure an event gets off to a good start. I used to use them at the start of every PTA meeting.

To get your meetings off to an excellent start you should learn how to to lead an icebreaker really well. Get to know your chosen ice breaker game very well and then practise on your friends!

Ice Breaker Games

First, give an overview of the game and then step by step instructions. Start with easy  ice breaker games when you’re first starting out and then learn something a bit more challenging for established groups. Ask around colleagues and friends for their favourite ice breaker games and try those. With some great care and attention you will grow in confidence and your meetings and events will have a real buzz about them.

Ice breaker games can be quite noisy and busy affairs – that’s what they’re supposed to be! if you need to amke yourself heard you might think about investing in a whistle, bell or some attention getting device.

Try this easy ice breaker game:

Changing places

• Have everyone seated in a circle. You stand in the centre. You say
• “Everyone wearing blue change places and greet your neighbours on both sides”
• So everyone wearing blue changes places and you try and slip into one of the vacant seats. Allow a few seconds for people to greet their new neighbours
• The new person in the centre issues another command such as:
• “Everyone who drove here today change places and greet your new neighbours”
• The person in the centre slips into a vacant seat, everyone greets their new neighbours and on it goes until everyone has met lots of people and had enough!!
• Above all, have fun with this energetic ice breaker game suitable for all kinds of groups.

Sharon Naylor is passionate about ice breaker games for work, play, parties, meetings, groups and clubs. In fact anywhere people are connecting to others whether it be for the first time or even when familiar with each other. If you would like to find some great icebreaker ideas for your next training or event visit the ice breaker ideas web-site for hundreds of amazing games and fun icebreakers.

If your delegates are seated in rows its tricky to do an ice breaker or some kind of break out session to get people involved, keep them engaged and stop then falling asleep.

Ready for Pass the Parcel?

So what about the traditional Christmas party game of “Pass the Parcel”?

In advance you will need to make up loads of pretty, wrapped and exciting looking parcels with lots of layers.

When the music starts (yes you will need piped music of some sort) feed the presents in at the start of row A and get them to pass along the row. When they get to the end they pass it onto the person behind them on the next row and they pass it down their row and so on until it reaches the end of the rows. When the parcel gets to the end of all the rows have some one on hand to take it back to the start of row A and feed it in again.

At random times begin to feed more parcels in at the start so you might have 20 parcels being passed around the rows at a time. Of course the exciting bit is when the music stops and the lucky people holding the parcel get take off a layer. At this point it could be a layer of wrapping or it could include some small gift, a corporate message or a daft item to wear eg. paper hat, plastic glasses etc. Be careful not to make this too ridiculous or to set out to embarrass people – the spirit of Christmas should always be kept in mind.

The most exciting bit is when the final layer is taken off the present and the person who does that gets to keep the present.

As there are lots of parcels on the way round and with different number of layers – keep going until the last present is opened. This could be an extra special parcel – the last parcel to be opened with more layers of wrapping than the others could be the best!

Good luck – you are sure to have fun with this festive Christmas conference game

For shed loads more brilliant ice breaker games and ideas for Christmas, conferences and team building, check out the ice breaker ideas web-site NOW! If you like this game please press the LIKE button. If you think you can use this conference ice breaker leave me a comment!

CHRISTMAS TREE

A great game  for children at Christmas time is to trim the Christmas tree when blindfolded. Put a small tree at one end of the room, ready to be decorate. Have all the ornaments on a table nearby, ready to be put on the tree.

This was the first time I had ever come across such a concept, but since then, I have used ice breaker games to great effect in a myriad of jobs, places, meetings, training sessions, conferences, parties and corporate and social gatherings.

Ice breaker games are brilliant for breaking down barriers quickly and for helping people feel at ease with each other. Used correctly they can rapidly create an atmosphere of fun and expectation.

At the adventure centre, kids would often turn up to programs not knowing many people and some not knowing any at all. They could be anxious and excited; but some were also reluctant and detached. Our job was to ease them into the programme, allowing a sense of fun, trust and anticipation to build. We did this through the use of ice breaker games.

We started the evening seated in a circle and the instructors would always join in as equals. First we would start with a simple name game: “Hello my name is Sharon and I like tennis” and on it would go around the circle with everyone trying their best to remember people’s names. The ice breaker was simple and non-threatening and even the most reluctant could join in.

The next game might involve working in pairs spending a few minutes getting to know each other and then introducing each other to the group.

Gradually the group began to feel more at ease with each other, and began to trust us, the leaders.  From this point on, and sensing the mood in the group, we could start to include more physical and ambitious games.

The key is to start with simple, non-threatening ice breaker games and gradually build up the complexity or outrageousness as the group allows. Once the ice is broken the group will look forward readily to the main topic of the day.

There are literally thousands of ice breaker games and ideas that can help you get your next event off to a flying start; whether you are looking for a quick ice breaker to inject a bit of fun into a meeting before the more serious business begins or you are looking for a party ice breaker to transform your event into the next sizzling sizzling show stopper!

Check-out the ice breaker ideas web-site for more fun than you can handle!

Why not try our Halloween Howler?

Hopefully it will scare the pants off your friends!

This is a night walk with a difference and works best with a small group or team if you’re doing this at work. It can be as short or as long as you want but you will need a flash light per person. You will also need to prepare map sections and a “coffin” or treasure box filled with goodies in advance.

• Draw up a map of your local grounds or search area – this could be the grounds of a park or big garden – suggest you keep to a small, safe area. Draw a route on the map using red ink (blood) clearly marking the START and COFFIN at the end. Cut the map into about 5 or 6 sections. Each section should also have an x marked on it where the group will find the next section of the map. Make the X in an obvious spot like the foot of a tree or gate. Laminate each section of the map. There needs to be enough detail on the map for people to follow and you should be willing to give clues if your map is not up to the job!!
• Prepare the nightwalk by putting the map sections out into their places eg. under the tree, by the gate etc. Make sure they cannot blow away or be picked –up by anyone if in a public area. You could staple the map sections to trees, gateposts etc. but make sure you pick them up afterwards. Suggest you also number the map sections to avoid confusion if other map sections are found by mistake.
• Place the “coffin” at the end. This takes the place of the traditional treasure box. This could be a large box with a cross marked on it. Inside the box you could place lots of horrible things like plastic skulls, spiders, rats etc. as well as a few prizes – chocolates etc. Make sure the box is well hidden to avoid finding it before the final section.
•  Take your team to the start and give them the first section of the map. Tell them their challenge is to find the “COFFIN” by following the red trail.
•  I would suggest you accompany the group to avoid them getting lost. To make things a bit more fun you could hang a white sheet in a tree for a ghost effect or place a few challenges along the way and reward success with the portion of the map.

For more scarily fantastic Halloween Games and Ideas ready to instantly download check-out out the ice breaker ideas web-site. Set your Halloween party on fire!

Ice Breakers

You will need 2 ropes or tape or something to make 2 parallel lines on the floor. The gap between the lines should be wide enough to have all the group stand inside the middle section of the 2 lines.

Make a list of pairs for example:

• beach or mountain
• active or relaxed
• wine or beer
• meat or vegetables
• rock or pop
• hot or cold
• travel or stay at home
• gold or silver
• smart or casual
• coffee or tea
• quiet or lively

New school? New term? New Students?

Balloon Game

Depending on their age the classic game with the balloons is an absolute favourite with younger kids;  it’s fun, inexpensive and physical and helps reduce anxieties. Have enough balloons on strings for every child to have 2 balloons. Tie each balloon to children’s ankles. Make sure the area is safe – lawn or grass is best in case they fall over their strings. Each child has to try and burst another child’s ballooon whilst protecting their own. The last child with a balloon remaining is the winner!

Yarn Game

This game is suitable for adults as well as children – just change the questions.

You will need a large ball of yarn and have the class sitting in a circle. Hold onto the end of the yarn and throw the ball to a student. You then ask them a getting to know you question like; where do you live or what is your favourite color, animal, toy, movie etc.  They answer the question and then hold the yarn and then throw the ball to another student and asks them a question. Make sure everyone hold onto the yarn and does not let go. At the end you will have a giant web of yarn that connects the whole class. Explain that whilst we are all individuals we are still connected in some way to each other.

Niceties

This is a great ice breaker for groups who know each other.

Tape a  piece of flip chart paper onto each person’s back. Each person writes something they like about the person who’s paper they are writing on. Even if they don’t know each other very well, they can find something nice to write on the paper…ie, nice hair, great smile, warm and friendly etc. When they read the nice comments they will be ecstatic and it teaches the importance of small niceties and how good it feels to give and receive compliments.

Ice breaker games have been continually used by professional trainers, teachers and group leaders for many years. They are one of the best and most fun ways of “breaking the ice”, opening up groups and preparing the group for the main part of any event. Sharon Naylor has been a proponent of ice breaker games for all her career; ever since she took part in an ice breaker! For more fantastic ice breaker ideas to speed up that getting to know you stage for back-to-school classes and any other groups check-out her ice breaker ideas web-site NOW

1.Make 2 circles – an inner and an outer circle where they are facing each other. Have students introduce themselves and say one thing they like to do. After these introductions rotate the inner circle by moving one seat to the left. The outer circle stays as it is. Repeat the process but this time have the outer circle move the opposite way .

2.Get each person to write down one thing that is true about themselves and 2 things that are false. Find a partner and swap facts. Each have to guess the true fact. After a few minutes swap partners.

Examples could be:

• I rode an ostrich
• I have a pet duck called Binky
• I have never been on an aeroplane

Make back to school days fun and exciting this year!  Don’t be boring this new school year – get your pupils hyped, excited and firing on all cylinders!  More fantastic back to school ice breakers, games and ideas can be found in our Ice Breaker Youth Collection – ready to go NOW!

Starting a new school year is probably the most important 

time of the school year. It’s when you meet new classes

and establish a firm relationship for the rest of the

school year. Start as you mean to go on; establish new

relationships quickly and get kids looking forward to the

rest of what’s on offer!

Here’s a simple back to school ice breaker:

 It’s a snowball fight! On the first day of school everyone writes three

facts about themselves on a piece of paper. Make sure they don’t write their

names and make sure every one is wearing a name tag! Crumple the paper into

balls and throw them around. Everyone grabs one. Each person reads one out

and guesses who wrote it. It’s fun and you get to know a bit more about each

other.

Find more fantastic Back to School Ice Breakers, games and ideas in our

Youth Ice Breakers Collection. With more than 30 years of working with youth groups

you’re bound to find new and novel ways to get your kids inspired and

excited and eager to hear what you have to say next!

Take a look at our youth ice breaker collection and web-site Now!