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I N T H I S I S S U E
Relational Games You Can Use
Games for Small Facilities
We’re glad to provide you with effective resources, programs, games, events, discussions, and ideas! Whether you are a volunteer, a youth leader, a youth pastor, or the Pope, you can use these practical tools to help your ministry.
You know that Jonathan’s Resources exists to provide resources to youth workers! As I always say, “let’s not waste time . . . everyone needs good resources- here’s one.”
Relational Games You Can Use
Average youth group size in America is 12 and run by a volunteer. This one’s for you- these games work for up to about 25 to 30 kids. Great “get to know you games.” I Have Never This game is much like Identity Circle, or Fruit Basket Upset. Have everyone sit in a circle except one person. When everyone is seated the person in the middle says something that they have never done(ie. I have never drank. or I have never worn a dress). All the people who have never done that have to get up and find an empty seat (from someone else who just got up). The person stuck without a seat is now in the middle.
This game has no time limit and at our youth group is wanted to be played on a weekly basis.
Added by Mark Lussier Fruit Basket Upset: Have group sit in a circle. Make sure each seat is clearly marked– use chairs or mark places with tape. “Number” people off, but instead of saying, “one, two, three, four, five” say “apple, banana, orange, kiwi, peach” or whatever fruit you like. The more people you have, the more groups you may want. The last person is “It” and stands in the center of the circle.
“It” yells out a fruit name. Everyone with that name must exchange seats with someone else with that name. “It” tries to take one of the empty chairs before they are all taken. Whoever is left without a chair is “It”.
Rather than yelling a fruit name, “It” may yell “Fruit Basket Upset.” Everyone must change seats.
Variation: “It” may yell more than one fruit at a time. This gets more people up and moving.
Identity Circle (Fruit Basket Upset): This game is just like the Fruit Basket upset- but this is when you don’t feel like buying a bunch of stinking fruit! (This is the one I always play) You just have the person in the middle yell out certain characteristics that they have (hair color, color of clothes, gender, etc.) instead of a fruit, and people with those characteristics must get up and move. Have the person in the middle yell out “I am” or “I have” then the characteristic (I am blonde, I have a blue shirt on, I play on the soccer team, etc.)
Games for Small Facilities
Got a small facility? Don’t worry- there are plenty of great games that you can play- check ?em out!
https://thesource4ym.com/games/smallfacility.html
