How to Build Games for Teens
At any event where there will be a group of teens, it's a good idea to plan some games. While teens, especially older ones, enjoy unstructured time, they often get bored with too much of it. Well-planned games will keep any group of teens entertained.
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Instructions
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Choose your games. Consider the space you have to play in, the amount of time you have and how many teens attending. Team building games are popular with teens, as are competitive games like Capture the Flag. If you choose a traditional children's game (such as tag), teens will enjoy it more if you add a twist so it's more challenging (like Everybody's It Tag).
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Gather your materials. Many games can be played with no materials, but some require with a few quick props. Make sure you think through every step of your game to be sure you have all of the materials you need.
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Explain the rules of the game to the teens in an exciting way. Many teens will immediately become uninterested if you suggest playing a game--they associate games with little kids. Instead of introducing the idea of playing a game, gather the teens and divide them into teams, or give them the first part of the instructions. If you are enthusiastic and energetic, they'll get caught up in your excitement and start having fun before they realize they're playing a game. Practice explaining the game's rules to a friend before you explain them to a group to make sure your presentation is concise and clear.
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Watch for safety issues. Pay attention the space you're playing in as well as how the players are interacting with each other.
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Be flexible and adjust your game as necessary. If the teens don't seem to be having fun, change the rules to make the game more exciting or challenging. If the teens seem frustrated, then change the rules to the game to make it simpler.
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