Starting a new school year can be an exciting time, but it can also be a bit daunting for kids who don’t know each other very well. Whether you’re a teacher looking to break the ice in your classroom or a parent trying to help your child make new friends, it’s important to find ways to get kids to open up and connect with one another. That’s where ice breaker games and activities come in! Icebreaker games for kids can help kids get to know each other, build trust, and feel comfortable in their new surroundings. So, let’s explore good ice breaker games for kids that you can use to help your kids get the ball rolling!
You can always adjust these get know you games depending on the children’s abilities and ages to make them more difficult or easier.
Musical Chairs
The game involves having all the kids walk or dance around a circle of chairs while music is playing. When the music stops, the children have to find one chair to sit on. However, there is always one less chair than the number of children, so one child is left standing and out of the game. This game continues until there is only one person left, who is the winner.
Two Truths and a Lie
This classic ice breaker game is a great way to help children get to know one another. In this game, each child takes turns sharing three statements about themselves, two of which are true and one of which is a lie. The other children then have to guess which statement is the lie. This game is a great way to encourage children to share information about themselves and learn more about their peers.
Human Knot
This fun game is a physical challenge that requires teamwork and communication. In this game, all the children stand in a circle and each person grabs the hand of someone across from them. Then, without letting go of hands, they have to work together to untangle themselves and form a circle again. This game can be a lot of fun and encourages teamwork and communication skills. Small groups will have an easier time and figure it out quicker but you can also make sure it is not too complicated.
Name Game
The name game is a simple and effective icebreaker game. In this game, you can have the children sit in a circle and then each child takes turns saying their name and an adjective that starts with the same first letter as their name. For example, if a child’s name is Sarah, they could say “Silly Sarah.” This game is a great way for children to learn each other’s names and to start a conversation.
What’s in the Bag?
This is a good game to encourage children to use their senses and work together. In this game, you fill a bag with random objects, and the children take turns reaching into the bag and feeling the objects without looking. Then, they have to guess what the object is. This game is a great way to encourage critical thinking and teamwork.
Telephone
Telephone is a classic game that has been played for generations. The game begins when one kid whispers a message into the ear of the child next to them, and the message is passed down the line until it reaches the final person. The last child then says the message out loud, and everyone can see how it has changed along the way. This game is a lot of fun and encourages children to listen and communicate clearly.
Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are one of the best team building activities and are a fun way to get kids moving and interacting with one another in large groups. Divide all the players into teams and give them a list of items to find or tasks to complete. The first team to finish wins! It’s a great game for team building as they have to work together to try to win.
Bingo
This is one of the ice breaker activities that is great for conversation starters. Create a bingo sheet with different characteristics or interesting facts about the kids in your class or group, such as “has a pet,” “loves chocolate ice cream,” or “has a sibling.” Kids have to walk around and find someone who matches each characteristic to fill in their bingo card and get a bingo. It gives the kids a conversation starter and they get to know each other and find similarities.
Group Drawing
Have the kids sit in a circle and give each child a piece of paper and a pen. Then the kids draw a simple picture, such as a tree or a house, and then pass the paper to the person next to them. That person adds something to the picture, and then passes it to the next person. Continue until everyone has had a turn, then share the drawings with the group.
Charades
Charades is a classic game and one of the best icebreakers that can be adapted for kids of all ages. Divide the group of children into two teams and have them take turns acting out different words or phrases while the other kids on their team guess what they’re trying to convey. You can let the small teams choose the words for the other team or prepare some words and write them onto small pieces of paper and have them pick one randomly out of a bowl.
Would You Rather?
This game is a fun way to get a large group of kids talking and sharing their opinions. Ask them to choose between two options, such as “Would you rather be a bird or a fish?” or “Would you rather eat pizza or ice cream for the rest of your life?”. In a group they can answer or raise their hands. You could also ask follow up questions to learn more about why they chose one or the other.
Line Up Game
In this game, the kids of the entire class have to line up in a particular order. You can choose to do it with or without talking. You can give them different categories to line up in, such as height, age, birth month, how many siblings they have, or alphabetical order by their first name.
Name And Toss
Have the kids stand or sit in a circle and choose a ball or another throwable object, such as a stuffed animal or beach ball. The first person with the ball says their name and a fun fact about themselves and tosses the ball to another kid. The child who catches the ball repeats the name of the kid before and then states their own name and fact. This goes on and on until everyone had a turn.
Balloon Race
Divide the kids into pairs and give each pair a balloon. The pairs have to race from one end of the room to the other while keeping the balloon in the air. If the balloon touches the ground, the pair has to start over. The first kids to reach the finish line made their team the winner.
Overall, fun icebreaker games for kids are a great way to get younger kids laughing, engaged, excited, and make kids feel comfortable with one another. Whether you’re a teacher, summer camp counselor, or parent, these icebreaker activities can help break the ice and encourage children to interact with one another. Try out some of these kids icebreaker games at your next event and see how much fun they can be!
