One of the best ways to develop friendships with people is to play games. This is widely recognised as a truth, hence why so many companies pack their employees off to do team-building activities or paint-balling once a year. However, the difference between youth groups and businesses is that children are almost always much more willing to let people into their world, and much less willing to prejudge people.
This means that when youth groups play friendship-building games, they are much more likely to have a pronounced effect on group dynamics, and ultimately that they will indeed increase the number of positive relationships in the group. Here, then, are some good games and activities with which youth groups can build friendships.
Trust GamesEveryone has probably gone through the trust game where one has to fall backwards into the arms of one's peers. The idea of this is to instil a sense of trust by showing that the people around you will take care of you and lift you up when you need to be supported. Although the premise of the game is good, and the reactions of participants tend to be quite strong, this particular game has become slightly clichéd. Thankfully, though, there are other trust-based games which are effective in encouraging friendship.
One such game is the Control Tower game which sees one member of the group blindfolded and their partner guiding them through an obstacle course. When they have successfully reached the end of the course, roles are swapped and the course changed. This is very good for establishing communication and friendship, as well as creating a fun and competitive atmosphere.
Another more difficult trust-based game is the Body Lift. This involves teams of eight to ten people, and should only be played with a mature and trustworthy group. Each group chooses one person at a time and lifts him or her up over the heads of the group. The person should be held there for however long you deem appropriate, and then lowered back to the ground very carefully. The person in question should relax and close his or her eyes.
It is helpful for the leader to command each group to do everything at the same time, as otherwise communication can break down, and this can lead to dangerous situations. After each person is lowered to the ground, it can be interesting to ask them questions about their experience and how their opinions of their peers may have changed, though this should only be done if you are an excellent judge of the atmosphere and the honesty of your youth group's members.
This means that when youth groups play friendship-building games, they are much more likely to have a pronounced effect on group dynamics, and ultimately that they will indeed increase the number of positive relationships in the group. Here, then, are some good games and activities with which youth groups can build friendships.
Trust GamesEveryone has probably gone through the trust game where one has to fall backwards into the arms of one's peers. The idea of this is to instil a sense of trust by showing that the people around you will take care of you and lift you up when you need to be supported. Although the premise of the game is good, and the reactions of participants tend to be quite strong, this particular game has become slightly clichéd. Thankfully, though, there are other trust-based games which are effective in encouraging friendship.
One such game is the Control Tower game which sees one member of the group blindfolded and their partner guiding them through an obstacle course. When they have successfully reached the end of the course, roles are swapped and the course changed. This is very good for establishing communication and friendship, as well as creating a fun and competitive atmosphere.
Another more difficult trust-based game is the Body Lift. This involves teams of eight to ten people, and should only be played with a mature and trustworthy group. Each group chooses one person at a time and lifts him or her up over the heads of the group. The person should be held there for however long you deem appropriate, and then lowered back to the ground very carefully. The person in question should relax and close his or her eyes.
It is helpful for the leader to command each group to do everything at the same time, as otherwise communication can break down, and this can lead to dangerous situations. After each person is lowered to the ground, it can be interesting to ask them questions about their experience and how their opinions of their peers may have changed, though this should only be done if you are an excellent judge of the atmosphere and the honesty of your youth group's members.