How to Use Games for an Icebreaker

Icebreakers are an excellent tool to use among a large group of new co-workers.

Games can be a very useful tool that can be used to break the ice among a group of people who don't know each other well or at all. Getting strangers to get to know each other can be a challenge because a lot of people find it hard to open up to those they do not know. Games help participants have fun and let their guard down while learning something about one another. This is particularly useful when group members have to work together in the future as a team.

Things You'll Need

• Bag of candy
• Blank sheets of paper
• Pens
• Fine-point permanent marker
• Beach ball

Instructions

Candy

1. 

   Leaving a bowl of different colored, small candies, is good because people usually take a handful.

   Leave a bowl of candy out for the group and tell each person to take some before sitting down.

2. Inform participants, once they are seated, that they are not allow to eat the candy yet.

3. Inform the group, once everyone is seated, that they must share one fact about themselves for each piece of candy that they have taken.

Beach Ball

1. 

   Playing the beach ball icebreaker game can be fun and interesting.

   Cover the ball in icebreaker questions using the fine-point permanent marker. The questions can vary in seriousness depending on the group and the occasion, but it is best to get creative.

2. Throw the beach ball to one person in the group. The person who catches the ball must answer the question his right thumb is touching.

3. Have the participant throw the ball to someone else once he is finishing answering the question.

Two Truths and a Lie

1. 

   Two Truths and a Lie is a fun game because it questions the assumptions we make about people.

   Give participants a blank sheet of paper and ask them to write down two things that are true about themselves and one thing that is a lie.

2. Go around the room and have each person read out her list, one by one, once the group is finished writing their lists.

3. Ask individuals in the group to raise their hand for the statement they believe is the lie.

4. Ask the individual to reveal which statement was the real lie, once everyone is done voting.

References

• Resident Assistant: Ice Breakers and Team Builders