Youth Lock-In Games & Activities

Alphabet Games

• Divide the youth players into teams. Give each team a box of alphabet cereal. When you say "Go," the teams must use the alphabet cereal to create as many words as they can. After three minutes, the team with the most words wins a prize. For a variation, have the teams find as many three-letter or four-letter words as they can. You can also limit them to categories, such as colors or shapes.

Messy Banana Activity

• For a messy activity, give each player a knee-high pantyhose stocking. Tell them to place the stocking over their heads and faces, like bank robbers. Give each player a banana. The players must race to see who can eat the banana through the pantyhose the fastest. This is a messy yet funny activity, so be sure to have a camera or video camera handy.

Office Chair Relay Race

• Mark a starting line and a finish line 25 feet apart. You need two office chairs that roll and a hard surface to play on. Divide the players into two teams and have them line up at the starting line. The first player in each team line is the official "pusher." The second player in line sits in the chair. When you say "Race," the pushers must push the chair to the finish line and back. The pusher must then push each additional teammate to the finish line and back. The first team to finish the relay wins the game.

Baby Food Activity

• Place several jars of baby food, without labels, on a table. Write down the names of the baby food so you can keep track of correct answers. Blindfold each player and give them each a small bite of each baby food; they must then guess what kind it is. The player with the most correct answers wins the game. If you have a large group, divide the players into teams. Blindfold each team member and feed them a bite of baby food. If they get it correct, award the team a point. The team with the most points wins the game.