Fun Activities for Kids to Get to Know Each Other
Getting to know new people can be challenging for anyone -- especially children. Yet luckily for kids, there are many fun activities to help them make friends and feel comfortable with new people. Lots of these games are simple and require little more than a group of children willing to share facts about themselves.
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The Signature Game
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This game, suggested by Awesome Kid Birthday Parties, is a non-competitive activity that will get the entire room moving and socializing. Start by making a list of interesting talents, qualities or experiences of participating children. Write these facts as short statements, such as "plays an instrument" or "once ate squid," leaving space near each one for a signature. Give a copy of the list, as well as a pencil, to each youngster. Then ask the children to figure out who fits which category by talking to others in the room. When they do find the right people, have them sign next to their traits.
Sit Down If ...
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This sit-down game is another non-competitive activity for youngsters that helps them to get to know each other while having some fun. Start by creating a list of questions that will pertain to the children, such as "Have you ever been to the zoo?" "Your favorite color is blue," or "You have a big sister." Gather all the children in a group with enough room for them to bounce around a bit. Read each statement, staring with "sit down if you ___." The children who have done it must then sit down. Youngsters will be able to easily follow along, get to know their peers, and have a good time moving up and down between standing and sitting with each question.
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The Theme Name Game
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Gather the children in a circle for this sit-down game. Pick a theme, such as countries, flowers, birds or colors. Then ask the children to think of something in that theme that starts with the same letter as their own names, and announce it when it's their turn. For example, if you chose a color theme, a child might say "Peggy Pink" or "Benny Blue." This game will get the youngsters' creative juice flowing while also helping them learn each others' names.
Web Game
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Invite the children to sit in a circle. Give one youngster a ball of yarn and ask her to tell everyone something about herself. This can be anything from her favorite ice cream to where she was born. After she shares her fact, ask her to roll the yarn to another child across the circle while still holding her end of it. The next child should then tell something about himself, and while still holding on to his part of the yarn, roll the yarn ball to another youth. If each child holds on to his piece of yarn, they will soon create a giant web inside the circle -- and get to know interesting things about each other, too.
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References
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