Using icebreakers successfully is similar to being able to tell a good story: you need to know your audience, delivery is everything, and good stories build up intensity as they go along. And props never hurt if you have them.

1. Youth Icebreakers - Steering Your
Icebreaker: Successful Ice-Breakers
Using icebreakers successfully is
similar to being able to tell a good
story.
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1. Make Course Corrections (Be
Flexible)
As with most games, you can
change the rules to suit the group.
Icebreakers may start off well but
may degrade into a stale activity
quicker than we anticipate. Always
be ready to change your routine and
learn a new game to become
enthusiastic about. Generally, with
youth you can move pretty quickly
into highly active, or silly games that
get everyone laughing. For “too-
cool” teens or “very serious” adults,
you need to proceed very slowly.
You can always tell how things are
going by the level of conversation
and laughter.

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2. Iceberg Ahead! (Obstacles to
Avoid)
Anything that causes
embarrassment to individuals:
“my most embarrassing
moment” speeches might be
entertaining for the instructor,
but they don’t do anything to
foster a conversation.

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Also watch out for icebreakers
that involve:
• uncomfortable or forced
communication
• fun and games that detract
from course content
• time consuming activities
• competition
• assignments that highlight
differences
• cultural bias
• activities in which success
requires prior knowledge or
experience

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3. Let’s Try a New Heading
(Variation)
Use fun props. Buy rubber chickens,
silly rubber faces, fun stuffed
animals, or other objects that create
laughter or interest by themselves.
Whenever possible, use these props
in place of tennis balls, or whatever
standard objects you might use. If
you don’t have any, don’t worry, the
activities are fun enough, fun props
are just a bonus! You don’t always
have to use the same icebreaker the
same way. Feel free to experiment
with a different variation or add a
new twist to an old, familiar
icebreaker to spice things up a bit.

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4. Put Your Backs Into It!
(Enthusiasm)
Participate enthusiastically. The
whole point of name games and
icebreakers is to help participants
break down barriers, learn
something about the others in the
group, and most of all… have fun.

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Encourage everyone to participate,
but it is not advisable to force
someone to participate and risk
bringing the whole group down.
An extremely introverted person
may not immediately be
comfortable participating in
icebreakers, along with youth with
below average physical abilities.
You will find that when given the
option to decide on their own,
most people will choose to
participate.

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Be sure to play an active role in
the game, as it is important that
the participants learn something
about you as well. This is equally
true for youth or corporate
groups, too. Always encourage
your participants to play full out,
200% – that includes you! Be a
good example of enthusiasm.

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This EBook not only provides 52 of the
world’s most popular group icebreaker
activities, but also includes lesson ideas and
questions to smoothly transition into
discussions about issues common to most
groups.
Click here to find out more!
Icebreakers Ahead: Take it to the next Level