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Ice Breaker Games for Young People in Small Groups

A strategy to encourage strangers meeting for the first time to talk and interact, ice breaker games ease social tension and create a relaxed environment. Play ice breaker games on first days of school and during business or work meetings to assist in team-building. When played in small groups, ice breaker games will reveal aspects of everyone's personalities as well as interests and life experiences. Choose ice breaker games that allow creativity and are entertaining when playing with young people.

The Lie Detector
- Hand out a note card to each group member and instruct them to write down three facts about themselves and one lie, instructs the University of Texas at Dallas website. Examples of facts include your birthplace, hobbies, number of siblings or favorite travel destination. Do not make the lie too implausible, otherwise your group members will easily detect it. One at a time, each person reads their four statements to the group who will then vote on the one they think is a lie. After revealing the lie, the person should provide further information on the facts about themselves.
M&M Game
- Pass out 10 M&Ms to each person in the group. One person starts the game by stating something he has never done that he thinks is unique, suggests to the Honolulu Community College website. For example, he might say, "Never have I traveled in a plane," or "Never have I seen snow." After the statement, everyone in the group who has done what was said passes one of their M&Ms to the speaker. The speaker also gives one M&M to every person who has never done what he said. After everyone has a turn, count your M&Ms and the person with the most wins.
Build a Story
- Provide each group with a piece of paper and have one person write a sentence that begins with "Once upon a time" to begin the story. Every person then takes turns adding a sentence that builds on the previous ones. Sentences should make sense but also try and have fun by creating a unique and entertaining story, states the Johns Hopkins University website. Once everyone has had a few turns to write a sentence, have one group member read out the complete story.
Stranded
- Tell the groups to pretend they are stranded on a deserted island with only essentials such as food and water. Each individual in the group should write a list of 10 items they would want to have with them. Then as a group, decide on the top five items, explains the University of Texas at Dallas website. Another version of this game is to tell the group members that their houses are on fire and they only have one minute to run through and collect five items. Have each member explain to the group which items they choose to save and why. This game will teach you what the members of your group value most in their lives.

Party Games