Community building games help groups connect, communicate, and care for one another. Through laughter and shared goals, participants learn trust, empathy, and inclusion.
Cooperative Games
for Building Community
The Name Game
This game provides a great way to introduce people in a group is to stand in a circle. A ball is tossed from player to player. When someone catches the ball, he says his own name as well as the name of the person who threw the ball to him.
You can add some more sharing to the game by having each player give a one-word summary of how they’re feeling today and repeating same from the person before them. For example, When Mary throws the ball to Tristan, Tristan repeats Mary’s name and how she feels as well as adds his info, e.g., “That was Mary and she’s feeling busy today. I’m Tristan and I’m feeling content.”
30-Second Handshake
This is a great game where 20 or more people who don’t know one another are gathered for an event. When the facilitator says “Go”, participants mingle about the room. To each person they meet, they stop and do three things in order, then go on their way. The three things are:
With a wave, a participant says: “Hi”
With a fist bump says: “How are you?” and
With another wave, says: “Gotta Go”
All players move about, waving and fist bumping with everyone they meet. The game is completed when everyone has had at least one greeting with everyone else in the room.
Suzanne’s notes: This is a very fun and quick way to build camaraderie in a group of people who have never met. It is key that all players move quickly and don’t say or do anything besides wave hello, fist (or elbow) bump, and wave good-bye.
Group Juggling
This game works well for groups of 15 to 30. It is best played outside in a grassy area, or in a large, open space indoors. You will need several soft balls/tennis balls, or even better, funny, soft stuffed animals or rubber chickens. Ask the group to form a large circle, with everyone facing the center. Start by tossing the ball across the circle to another person. As you toss, say the name of the person to whom you are tossing. This lets them know the ball is coming to them and lets everyone hear their name. Once that person catches the ball, they pick someone else, shout their name and toss them the ball. Play continues with the one ball until it makes it to everyone in the group. Once someone has received the ball, they cannot get it again. Last person in the group throws it back to the group leader. Practice the pattern a few times, always tossing to and receiving from the same person in the group. Once your group has the pattern down, start adding additional balls/objects, this is where the mayhem really begins. Keep going, try to get at least five objects going at once. Feel free to try again with a new pattern and mix it up or go faster to make it more challenging.
Suzanne’s notes: Here is a pro tip: tell players to focus just on waiting to hear their name when the ball or stuffed animals are all in flight. It can be hard to know what to pay attention to, but if you listen for your name, you will likely catch the object when it’s thrown to you.
Group Lap Sit
This game work well for ten or more players. Players stand in a circle, arranging themselves so that someone about the same size as them is on both sides of them. Everyone then turns to the right ninety degrees. Players step in closer to the center and put their hands on the waist of the person in front of them. Facilitator says something like: “focus on the person in front of you and make sure they are sitting comfortably on your knees. Trust that the person behind you is doing the same for you.” First do a practice run: On the count of 3, the group bends down and sits lightly on the knees of the person behind them and comes right back up. Ready? 1,2,3, Go. Now players adjust their spacing to make sure everyone is standing close enough to be secure. When ready, the Facilitator says Okay, Sit. If it’s a sturdy circle Yay! and Everyone Clap their hands. Okay back in the circle with hands in front. Carefully, come up to standing apart.
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