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Youth Group Games
Here are some of my favorite youth group games. These are easy to do and always a hit with the kids. Of course there are not my original ideas. They are just games I've used and had fun with. I'm also including links to sources I have used for hundreds of other youth group games.
It's great when you plan an activity that goes with your Sunday school lesson. Some of my Sunday school lessons have suggested Bible games with them. The activity can help the kids recall the lesson for a long time. Sometimes, however, they just want to have fun. Youth group games and icebreakers build group relationships.
Of course you never know the mood your kids will be in when they arrive so it's smart to have several games and activities ready to go. Select a game that best suits the kids who have shown up and how they're feeling.
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Balloon Games: Always keep a good stock of balloons. You can pull these out anytime.
One of the kids favorites is the "Balloon Stuff".
Buy two of the biggest long underwear shirts from your local sporting goods outlet (or use the link on the left). Have the kids blow up fifty to one hundred balloons. [Use the first kids to arrive to help with this chore or make it part of the game] Separate the kids into two groups (boys against the girls is usually fun). Suggest they put the smallest kid on each team in one of the massive shirts. Give the kids a set amount of time to stuff as many balloons into the shirt as possible. Count the balloons using a thumb-tack to pop them. Takes lots of pictures.
Another easy balloon game: Blow up a balloon for each kid. Tie the balloon to their ankle with about a foot of string. Start stomping. The last kid with balloon intact wins. Give prizes to the winning team.
Watery Balloon game: On one hot summer day I arrived at class with six buckets of water balloons. The kids could each throw one at me from a preset distance. Ya, they really wanted to do that. The hitch was that they had to line up perpendicular behind me to wait their turn. I got hit a few times but the kids waiting behind me got really wet. What a racket. Tons of fun.
The Top 12 Resources Youth Workers Want is a great resource for Christian youth group games. Besides listing tried and true games the author gives a lot of practical advice on how to lead a game and what not to do. For an excerpt from his book, "Seven Deadly Sins Of Game Leading click here. Click thru the link on the left to buy the book from Amazon.com so I get a small commission
Here is a link to The Source For Youth Ministry website. Tons of free games, lesson plans and advice. 
Get some fresh glazed donuts from your local bakery or grocery store. Tie a three foot piece of string to each one. Have the kids divide up into groups of two. One kid lays on the floor. The other stands at their feet dangling the donut over the mouth of the kids on the floor. The standing kid must stay toe-to-toe with the kid laying down and swing the donut into place. The goal is for the kids on the floor to eat the donut the fastest. Play the game twice so each kid gets a chance to eat the donut. Have some wet-wipes handy to clean up sticky faces. Have a nice prize for both winners.
Wii games are extremely popular with the kids. Here's a great website for Wii games, software, music, and accessories
Click here
Baby Food Barf:
Buy four to six tiny bottles of baby food (make sure they're all the same size bottles). Choose fairly good flavors like Banana, except for one. Add a real gagger flavor like Tapioca/meat. Put all the gars in a paper grocery sack and set in the middle of the group. Have an assistant play music while the kids pass a hat (or another object). When the music stops the kids holding the hat has to reach in the bag (without looking) and select a jar. With a clean spoon they must take a big swallow. Play for as long as they want. Play with the kids so you're taking the same risk they are.
Duct Tape Stickup:
Separate kids into two teams. Hand each team a roll of duct tape and have them tape a kid to a table in a set amount of time. Stand the tables up to see if the kids stay stuck. Prop the kids in a corner and pretend to start the lesson time. Oh, the whining.
I read that NASA has stolen this idea to keep the astronauts in line if they flip out in space.
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Uncommon Games & Icebreakers--Book and CD-ROM By Jim Burns Youth workers can turn their youth groups into dynamic, exciting events that kids will actually look forward to with the great ideas found in Uncommon Games and Icebreakers. In this practical resources, leaders will find dozens of innovative, group-tested ideas for fun games and original icebreakers. To make prep time easier, along with full instructions, each activity has margin icons that give vital information, such as number of people needed, in/outdoor activity, time required etc. These fun activities can be used in any high school and junior high setting, including church groups, retreats, special events, etc., and they complement Burns' Uncommon high school and junior high school study resources. |
Bingo:
This inexpensive game proved to be a hit during a family Christmas party. Families played as a group
and cool prizes were given. The kids were excited to play because the prizes were attractively gift-wrapped and they had come to trust that the prizes I gave were always great.
Prizes: Give good prizes. If you say there's a prize for the winners, actually have a prize to give them. Prizes don't have to cost a lot but do require a bit of forethought. Excellent candy bars, silicone bracelets with a Christian saying (shown below), even cash, just something that says special is all you need. Do not disappoint the kids by offering a prize and then not having one. They may not show their disappointment directly but they'll become less enthusiastic about playing with you and that effects the overall moral of the group in a big way.
Lasso Golf is one of those great games you can bring for a fun activity before class:
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Groupbuilder Games and Activities for Youth Ministry By Group Publishing Inc Building unity among teenagers is as easy as Ready...Set...Go with this must-have resource packed with cool youth games and activities with a purpose. Unique and loads of fun, these games and activities will help tear down walls and build community in any group of teenagers. Unlike other game books on the market, it emphasizes teamwork to build a stronger group and to shape self-confidence in teenagers. |
Another Water Balloon game: The Water Balloon Shave
Break into teams of 3 kids, giving each team a water balloon covered in shaving cream and a single-edge safety razor. One team-member (the victim) sits in a chair. The second team member (the holder) holds the balloon above the seated team-member's head, while the third team-member gets to be "the shaver." The goal, of course, is to be the first team to completely shave the balloon.
This is a messy activity, so be prepared! When a balloon breaks, and it will, you will have water and shaving cream everywhere.
For extra fun, make sure to add a little nick to each razor's edge before hand. It's a guaranteed blast!
Egad! Ideas.com
