Hobbies And Interests
Getting To Know You
Have the children pair up with someone they don't know very well. They each have to tell their partner three things about themselves. After a few minutes of getting to know each other, each pair recites to the group the things they learned about their partner. This will help all the children learn about the others in the group and find out what things they have in common.
Name Ball Toss
Have the children sit in a circle. A soft ball is ideal for this game. The first child with the ball says his name and passes it to the next child. The ball gets passed around the circle until everyone has said their name. Once everyone has held the ball, the children take turns tossing the ball to someone else and saying the name of the person they toss it to. It gives the children a chance to learn each other's names while having fun.
Bop the Balloons
Give each child a balloon. Have the children toss their balloons into the air at the same time. The object of the game is to keep the balloons from hitting the floor. The children can hit any balloon, not just theirs. The game can be played until all the balloons hit the floor or more balloons can be added to make it more challenging. This is an easy way to have the children start playing together.
Simon Says
"Simon Says" is a good icebreaker because it gives everyone a chance to be in charge. The first child says, "I am Simon." Everyone has to do what "Simon" says and does. The players who don't follow Simon's commands correctly, such as by doing the action without the child saying "Simon says" first, have to sit down. Allow each child to be Simon for a few minutes until everyone has had a chance to be the leader.