Game Description
Use this group building game to build community, teamwork, and trust within the group as members rely on the support of the group to prevent themselves from falling.

Game Materials
Blindfold (optional)

Game Preparation
This game requires a minimum of 8-10 persons to have an appropriate sized circle. Impress upon participants that this is not a time for joking around, but a time to be serious and inspire trust in each other. They need to be encouraging and affirming, helping to alleviate the fear associated with trusting someone else.

Game Play

1. Blindfold one volunteer or have them tightly shut their eyes.
2. The group of 8-12 people form a circle shoulder-to-shoulder around the blindfolded volunteer. Spacing is determined by crossing their arms across the chest, palms gripping opposite shoulders and facing toward the inside of the circle.
3. The blindfolded volunteer is to then to keep a stiff back and fall backward pivoting only on the heels of the feet to allow freedom of movement. The rest of the body should be kept straight.
4. Those in the circle carefully pass the volunteer around the circle using their hands as a willow gently flexing in the wind.
5. On occasion gently change the direction of the volunteer being passed around the circle. The volunteer is totally under the control of those in the circle.
6. Allow each member of the group to try being the volunteer.

Discussion Ideas

• Trust: How did it feel be forced to rely on someone else? What fears did you have? Did you trust they would prevent you from harm? How does this relate to trusting God with our lives?
• Support: In this game we have to support someone in the group. Do we as a group have an obligation to look out for each other? What are some of the ways we can support each other in our lives?
• Reliance: In this group, the person in the center had to rely on the group. What are some of the ways we have to rely on each other in the Christian life? Do we need each other?

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Game Description
In this relay race groups must blow and fan soap bubbles to a destination and back.

Game Materials

• Soap bubbles
• Soap wands (Bubble wands can be purchased or easily created from clothes hangers or just about any available wire.)
• Paper fans (optional)
• one pie tin or shallow pan for each group

Game Preparation
You can purchase bubble solution or make your own. To make your own you will need:

• A plastic mixing bucket
• 1 gallon distilled water. Tap water does not work too well and bubbles do last as long.
• 12 oz. of dish washing liquid (Non-Ultra Dawn Original Scent or Joy are recommended)

Here’s how:

1. Add the entire gallon of distilled water into your mixing bucket.
2. Stirring SLOWLY so as not to make lather, add in the 12 oz. of dish washing liquid
3. Gently stir in 3 tablespoons (1 oz) of glycerin
4. For longer lasting but smaller bubbles add 4 ounces more dish washing detergent 2-4 more tablespoons glycerin.

Various dish washing detergents will have different characteristics so experiment a little to get the best solution. Also, higher humidity days allow the bubbles to last longer so this is great for rainy days.

Game Play

1. Pour soap solution into 1 pie pan for each group.
2. Each team is given a soap bubble wand
3. In this relay the racer must blow a bubble and then blow or fan it across the room and back.
4. If any team’s soap bubble breaks before it can be fanned acoss the goal line, than a new bubble must be blown at the point where the last one broke.

Variations

• This can be done in pairs as well, with one person the designated bubble blower and the other responsible for fanning the bubble. In this case, the bubble blower should follow behind the person who is fanning the bubble.
• Add a stopwatch and you can have a competition to see which team’s bubble lasts the longest.
• Have a competition to see which team can blow the most unique bubble arrangement.
• Have a competition to see which team can blow the biggest bubble.

Potential Applications
This can be used as a discussion starter about the things in life that are temporary vs. eternal. Are you focused on things that will last? What things will last? (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:15-21)

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Introduction
Knowing they have a heavenly father can make children feel protected and cared for. Many children have known the loving care of earthly fathers and can easily comprehend God as a caring father. For other children, “father” isn’t a pleasant term. Some children may never see their fathers. Some fathers have mistreated their children. Use this lesson to introduce children to their loving, caring heavenly father-God. And redefine the term “father” for those children who haven’t had a good experience with their earthly fathers.

Game Description
Children will explore Fatherly qualities in God. The goal is to help children learn that God is a father who will never leave and who will always treat them with kindness and love.

Game Materials
You’ll need men’s dress-up clothes such as old shoes, jackets, shirts and ties.

Game Play

1. Invite kids to put on one or two items of the dress-up clothing that fathers wear. Give them several minutes of playtime to act like dads. Encourage responses by asking questions such as “How do fathers talk?” “What do fathers do?” “How do fathers walk?” and “What do fathers like?”
2. Have children sit in a circle.
3. Ask: Are dads always perfect?
4. Say: Our fathers are human, and sometimes they make mistakes just like we make mistakes sometimes. Today we’re going to talk about a special father who is perfect. We call God our heavenly father because he lives in heaven. God is perfect-he’ll always love us and take care of us.
5. Ask: What do you call your earthly father?
6. Say: Children in every country have special names for their fathers. You may call your father “Daddy.” A Japanese child might call his or her father “Chichi.” A German child might say “Papa.” In the Bible, Jesus called God “Abba.” Let’s sing a song to our heavenly father in all these languages. Lead children in singing “Father, I Adore You.” Each time you sing a new verse, insert the other-language words for “father”: daddy, chichi, papa and abba.

Closing Application
Close with this prayer: Father God, thank you for taking care of us. We know you are a perfect father. You love us and you’ll always take care of us. Amen.

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Game Description
Use this simulation game / structured experience to discuss the use of gifts in the church- the body of Christ.

Game Materials

• Blindfold
• Location with numerous obstacles

Game Play

1. Blindfold one participant who will be guided by the other groups through an obstacle course. This should involve climbing over/under tables, walking over a bridge (a row of chairs) or any aother creative obstacles that do not endanger anyone’s life! Of course there is a small element of risk, but that adds to the simulation.
2. Assign at least 7 other participants one of the seven spiritual gifts mentioned in Romans 12: 6-8: Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy.
3. Give each participant time to plan how they will be involved in guiding the blindfolded person based on their gift. Then let the group meet together and discuss how they will work together to get the person safely through the obstacle course. Help them decide the role of each person based on their gifts.

Discussion

1. How did your actions contribute to the successful completion of your task?
2. What effect would the absence of your “gift” had on the outcome of this simulation?
3. What comparisons can we draw between this exercize and the use of gifts in the church- the body of Christ?

Some possible Applications

• Prophecy warns of danger if a wrong turn is taken
• Service physically guides the person
• Teaching helps provide instructions to the person guiding the blindfolded
• Exhortation provides encouragement to the group and blind-folded persons
• Leadership directs the group to get the task accomplished
• Giving provides a map or other resources
• Mercy looks potential danger and helps protect the person from a fall

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Game Description
In this relay race, participants pass a marshmallow to the end of the line using toothpicks.

Game Materials

• A large marshmallow for each team
• Toothpicks for each person

Game Play

1. The first player puts the marshmallow on his or her toothpick and then holds the toothpick with his or her teeth.
2. Players must pass the marshmallow from player to player by sticking his/her toothpick into the marshmallow and leaving it in as they pass it along.
3. Participants are not allowed to use their hands.
4. As the marshmallow is passed it accumulates one more toothpick from each player so that its difficult to insert your toothpick without getting stuck by the ones already there.
5. When the relay is finished the marshmallow is sure to remind you of a porcupine.

Optional Discussion

• What are some of the tricky situations we face in life?
• How do we handle such situations without getting hurt?
• What are some of the potential hurts when we pass the gospel on to others?
• Are the risks worth it?

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Game Description
Use this group building game to build community, teamwork, and trust within the group.

Game Materials

• a board at least 6 inches wide and of a length of three feet that is strong enough to be used for a platform on which a student may stand.
• two bricks, cinder blocks, or solid wooded blocks that the board can be placed upon so that someone can place there hands beneath the board to raise it.
• Blindfold

Game Play

1. Place the board on a couple of bricks or something that raises up the ends so that two leaders can place their hands beneath the board and raise it.
2. Blindfold a volunteer and have them step on the platform.
3. A third leader must stand in front of the volunteer so that the volunteer can place their hands on the shoulders of this leader to keep their balance.
4. Tell the volunteer that you will raise them up no higher than waist level and then they will be asked to jump from the platform using the leader as a spotter to maintain their balance. (In actuality, the board only leaves the ground a few inches.)
5. The leader in front of the volunteer slowly squats making the volunteer believe they are being raised whereas in actuality they haven’t.
6. Tell the volunteer to jump, assuring them that they will not be hurt. They will be jumping only a few inches but expect to fall a few feet.
7. The feeling is eerie, and they are quite surprised. They will, of course, be falling into the waiting arms of the group.

Debrief

• What were you feeling before you jumped?
• What were your fears?
• How much did you trust the leaders / the group to protect you from harm?
• How is this activity like trusting God?
• Do you feel you can trust our group or not?
• What are some ways we can learn to trust each other?
• What responsibilities do we have to each other for support and encouragement?

Closing Application
Be someone others can trust and go to for encouragement and support.

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Game Description
Each person is an angel to someone else in the youth group. Their goal is to anonymously bring blessings to a mortal (other student) by doing nice things for him/ her, by notes of encouragement, by small gifts, etc. Works great for camps and retreats as well.

Game Materials
List of Rules

Game Preparation
Gove each person a mortal. There are many ways to do this. You can match people or the easiest way is to simply drop everyone’s name in a bowl and draw one out for each participant.

Game Play

1. Make sure everyone is included
2. Set the rules
3. Set the time frame
4. At the end of the time frame, mortals try to guess the identity of their angel.

Sample Rules

• Angels are not to let anyone know the identity of their mortals. Angels may use fellow angels to help them bless a mortal.
• If a mortal believes he / she has discovered an angel’s identity it must not be revealed. This includes other student’s angels as well.
• Mortals should not degrade or bad-mouth their angels, nor should they degrade the gifts or notes they have received.
• Angels are not to spend more than $10 on a mortal
• Angels must not whine about the Mortal they have received

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

About Simulation Games
A simulation game is used to introduce youth to real life in “simulated” activites (much like an airline pilot gets to fly a simulator before the give him/her the real thing to mess up). A simulation game is a structured activity that approximates, but does not exactly reproduce, situations in every day life. They create a controlled environment in which issues can be realistically examined through personal experience. The key to simulation games is the “de-briefing” at the end, when the implications are discussed. At times the experience may be staged to look like a real event. At other times the youth are aware they are participating in a simulation.

Game Description
You can use this simulation game to lead participants into a discussion about variety of issues:

• How to better listen to God
• Trusting other people
• The effects of various influences in our lives
• Learning how to discern the love of God in a world where people deceive you.

Game Objective
The objective is for the blind folded person to walk from one side of the room to the other without touching one of the sheets of paper randomly scattered across the floor.

Game Materials
A stack of letter-size paper…about 30-50 sheets. (cool colors if you have them). One blind fold. You can also write various issues youth may face on the pieces of paper. Some examples are: premarital sex, lying, drinking, smoking, dating a non-Christian, cheating, respecting parents, speeding, stealing, peer pressure, hatred, revenge, unwillingness to forgive, making fun of others, Speaking words of discouragement, ridicule, refusing to talk to someone, drugs, pornography, lewd jokes, gossip, lust, envy, greed, addictions, anorexia, bulimia, overeating, not doing your best, etc.

Game Duration
It will take 5-10 minutes per person to do the simulation. Debrief can be adjusted depending on your requirements.

Game Preparation

1. Write one issue on each piece of paper (Optional)
2. Randomly distribute the sheets of paper across the floor.

Game Play

1. You might want to have more than one person play the game so that you can have more perspectives for the debrief. Have those awaiting their turn wait in another room with a leader so that they do not catch on to what is happening. Call them into the room one by one.
2. Before the participant enters the room, choose one youth to be the voice of the Holy Spirit. The blind folded person can not know who this person is going to be. As variations, use people they trust in some of the scenarios, and people they don’t know well in others.
3. Blindfold the participant and tell them that their goal is to reach the other side of “life” without touching the sheets of paper.
4. Line the rest of the group up along the two side walls of the room – They cannot come next to the blindfolded person, and cannot touch them. Neither can they move from their starting positions. Only the person playing the “Holy Spirit” can move along the walls.
5. The rest of your group tries to get the blind-folded person to step on the squares of paper. They can only do this by providing verbal directions to try to influence the blindfolded participant.
6. The challenge for the blindfolded person is to listen to the voices and try to discern who to follow and trust. Most of the time they will fail and listen to the wrong person.

Optional Activity
If you have written various issues on the sheets of paper, distribute them to the youth. You may want to have youth list the various influences that affect our decisions on these issues. What is God’s standard on this issue? What is the correct response when confronted with this issue?

Debrief
You can focus on a variety of issues:

• How to better listen to God: How do we recognise the voice of God in our lives? How do we know when it is God speaking, and not our own thoughts? How do we know we can trust the voice of God for guidance? What influences are strongest in your life? Why? How can we learn to better recognise God’s voice?
• Trusting other people: How do you know who to trust? Can those we trust mistakenly mislead us at times? Do we sometimes betray the trust of others accidentally or even intentionally? How can you be a positive influence in the lives of those around you?
• The effects of various influences in our lives: What are the greatest influences in your life? How much does peer pressure affect you? How can we influence our sensitivity to the influence of God’s Spirit in our lives?
• Learning how to discern the love of God in a world where people deceive you.: Why does God allow us to go through trials and struggles? Does God tempt us? How can a loving God allow such evil in the world?

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Game Description
Use your senses to identify common foods and snacks.

Game Materials
Jars of Baby food, Dark Construction Paper, adhesive Tape, Disposable Spoons (1 per participant per jar), Paper, Pens

WARNING
Be sure to check participants for any food allergies before doing this game.

Game Preparation

1. Purchase 8-10 jars of baby food, each with a different flavor.
2. Tape a piece of dark construction paper over the label of the jar so that the labels cannot be seen.
3. Number the jars.
4. Give each participant a piece of paper and pen and a spoon for each jar.

Game Play: Taste

1. Each participant will do a taste test from each baby food jar. For each jar of baby food, participants should use a clean spoon. They are only allowed a single taste from each jar.
2. Participants take a small spoonful from each jar as a sample and try to identify the food.
3. They must record their answers on paper that has been numbered to correspond with the numbers on the jars.
4. After everyone has tasted the food from the jars and recorded their answers, reveal each jar’s label.
5. The participant who correctly guessing the contens of the greatest number of jars is the winner.

Game Variation

• Taste and Touch – use small finger foods (i.e. olives, cooked (cold) spaghetti, piece of candy, cracker, barbecue potato chip, cashew nuts, breakfast cereals, croutons, grapes and other fruits, raisins, dates, dried fruits, and other small snacks) Blindfold all the participants so that they cannot see before passing around the finger foods. Answers are wispered to the leaders.

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Game Description
This group of games are a great introduction for a discussion for growth and maturing in your relationship with Christ. They also make a great introduction for a lesson on Hebrews 5:12-6:3. They could also be used for a baby shower.

Game Materials

• A large towel and diaper pins for each team
• a baby bottle filled with water for each team
• a paper towel to be tucked in a shirt as a bib for each team
• chairs

Game Play

Baby Talk: When I was a child, I spoke as a child and acted as a child. Most of us have heard stories about words we mixed up as children just learning to talk. Have youth write a word on a small slip of paper that they mispronounced or used incorrectly as a child. If they don’t know of one then have them write one they have heard. I know a friend that mistakenly called “masking tape” “masculine tape.” Alternatively, have youth tell of something they did as a child. Have youth attempt to guess the words and what they were supposed to be and to guess the identity of the person who wrote it.

Diaper Relay: A person from each team must put on the diaper, tuck the bib in the shirt, place their thumb in their mouth, and waddle to the other end of the room (or if outside, a designated place) where they will get on their hands and knees (like a crawling baby) and have a fellow team member squirt a bit of water from the baby bottle into the mouth of the baby. The baby then returns and the next person repeats the same tasks. First team to have all members go through the tasks wins.

Pacifier Suck: Buy some of the candy rings – (look like a pacifier) or lolipops for everyone. First team to finish all the pacifiers wins.

Mother’s Revenge: Start by saying, “If you have ever seen a mother trying to feed a baby you will appreciate this game. Babies usually throw, spit, spill, or drool most of their food over dear mom. So now we have MOTHER’S REVENGE….” Each team should choose two volunteers. Wrap towels around the neck of one volunteer and blindfold the other. Then give the blindfolded member a jar of baby food and a spoon. The first blindfolded team member to feed the babyfood to their partner wins.

Baby Belch Relay: Each team should choose a girl to be the mother and a boy to be the baby. Have a baby bottle filled with coke or pepsi for each team. At the signal, mothers will feed the baby the contents of the bottle. When the bottle is empty, the baby boy is leaned over the shoulder while the mothers pat their backs until they produce a loud belch. First team to produce the belch wins

Make Me Laugh: Prepare the group by saying something along the lines: “It is amazing what people will do to try and entertain a baby. Even the most reserved people will make a total fool of themselves. Tough guys will ‘Goo’ and ‘Coo’ just to get a baby to smile. that’s the object of our game now.” Place the group in a circle… two persons are in the center. Together they must make someone sitting in the circle laugh. The person who laughs and the person to that persons right then end up in the center.

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!