Fun & Simple Youth Activities in Church

Alphabet Soup Spelling Game

• Divide students into groups and give each student a can of alphabet soup plus a tray or pan. Instruct a student from each group to pour the soup onto the tray and have the students spell out words and phrases with the soup such as "Jesus", "I love my mommy/daddy," "I love school," the ministry leader's name and animal names. Assign points to specific words and phrases and add each team's points up at the end of the game to determine the winner.

Pass the Parcel

• Prepare for this icebreaker game by wrapping a few small items in 10 layers, or desired number and tie or tape each layer. Instruct the children to sit in a circle and pass the parcel around the circle while music plays. When the music stops whoever is holding the parcel must unwrap a layer. The parcel keeps getting passed and unwrapped until the final layer is unwrapped. The player that unwraps the final layer wins the game.

Newspaper Race

• Give the competitors (two at a time) two sheets of newspaper. The children must use the newspaper as stepping stones as they race across the room or designated outdoor area by lying the pieces of newspaper on the floor, stepping on them, then picking them up and using them again as stepping stones. If anyone steps off the newspaper they must return to the starting point and begin the race all over again. This is another icebreaker game.

Proverbs

• For another ice breaker game, send a player out of the room while the other players decide on a proverb. When the player that has left the room returns he or she must ask each of the other players a question in the hopes of guessing the proverb. The first answer must contain the first word of the proverb, the second answer the second word of the proverb, and so on. The players begin again with the first word when all the words of the proverb have been used.