Hobbies And Interests
Icebreakers
Have everyone sit in a circle. Give each person an index card and a pen. Tell everyone to write the name of two people in the circle and a question they want to ask each person about friendship. After each player finishes, go around the circle and have each person ask the questions to the other players. Examples questions include "Who is your best friend and why" and "What characteristics do you look for in a best friend?" For another idea, have the players write the questions without names and place all the cards face down in the middle of the circle. Each player must draw a card and answer the two questions about friendship. Award prizes to the best and most creative answers.
Memory Games
Print two pictures of everyone at the gathering and place them face down on a table to play a game of memory. A player must flip over two pictures. If they pictures match, he must say the name of the person in the pictures to earn the match. If he is correct, he goes again. If he does not have a match or guesses the name incorrectly, the play moves to the next player. The player with the most matches at the end of the game wins. For another idea, use a picture of the person and a name instead of two pictures. The player must know the name matches the picture in order to keep the match.
Trust Games
Divide the players into groups of four or five. One player will stand about 2 feet in front of his team, with his back facing them. He must fall backwards and allow his team to catch him. Keep doing this until each player on each team falls back into his team. For another trust game, make a small obstacle course using foam noodles, cones and large foam blocks. Each player must select a partner and put a blindfold on him. The partners have to guide their blindfolded partners through the obstacle course by verbal commands only. The team with the fastest time wins the game. This game will teach the players they must have trust in all friendships.
Bingo Game
Create a friendship bingo card by printing blank bingo cards. At the top of each row write, "Favorite Food," "Favorite TV Show," "Favorite Hobby," "Favorite School Subject" and "Favorite Pop Star." The players must fill in some of their favorite things in the squares. One at a time have a player call out one of her favorite things from her card and mark it with a bingo marker. Anyone else with the same favorite thing must say, "Me too," and mark her card. Everyone must call out one of their favorite items until someone has five in a row. The first player to have five in a row wins a prize. Other favorite categories include favorite friendship characteristics, favorite drink and favorite sport.