If you are looking for a way to unite a mass of kids and pump them up, consider team building activities for kids. Two fun yet educational games that can be played in any setting, from birthday parties to camps, are Dr. Knot and Two Truths, One Lie.
To play Dr. Knot (also known as Human Knot), you must first divide your larger set of kids to smaller groups of 6 to 8. From each group, designate one child to be the “doctor” and position him so that he/she cannot see the rest of his teammates.
The other children in the group must now join hands and twist themselves and their arms (not painfully) in order to form a giant knot. After each group has formed its knot, the doctors can turn around and begin instructing their “patients” on how to move to unwind the knot.
The doctors will direct children to move over, under, behind, or ahead of one another so the arms and bodies can be free again. If this is an icebreaker activity, the doctor must refer to each “patient” by name when giving instructions.
This activity promotes both leadership and teamwork. For equal opportunity and equal say of all individuals, this game can be played without a doctor, where all the teammates work together to unwind themselves. To add friendly competition, the group which finishes first wins.
Two Truths, One Lie can be played with or without divisions into small groups of children, based on the amount of time available. All the kids must arrange themselves in a large circle so that they can see one another.
Each child then takes a turn saying two truths and one lie about themselves, without identifying which are the truths and lie.
The rest of the group must come together as a team and determine which statement is the lie. This activity allows children to get to know one another, relate to each others’ past experiences, and display a little humor and personality.
Games are a fun way to unite a group of children and get them to interact and learn from each other. By encouraging them to communicate and collaborate, fun games like Dr. Knot and Two Truths, One Lie can not only teach children people skills needed for the future, but allow them to develop relationships and friendships now.
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