2. Contents
INTRODUCTION 2
RULES OF THE GAME 6
GAME TIPS 8
READY, GET SET… 10
GETTING TO KNOW YOU 16
Mix n Match 17
TicTacToe 18
TicTacToeToo 20
Bingo! 22
1,001 Questions? 24
GETTING TO KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU 26
Secret Pal 27
He Said, She Said 29
DATING GAMES 31
Speed Dating 32
Blind Date 34
GAMES FOR ALL OCCASIONS 36
Charades 37
Director’s Chair 39
Blind Voice Recognition 40
Land Mine 41
The Amputator 43
LAST WORD 44
Disclaimer: The masculine pronoun is conveniently used throughout the book to avoid
cumbersome language use. No discrimination or bias is intended.
3. Why Mix N Match
The results from one of SDU’s surveys reinforce what we all knew
instinctively as children: when it comes to socialising, individuals
look for an informal setting, and singles prefer to interact with the
opposite sex through the familiar. More than 85% of singles say
that the ideal way to find a partner is to have friends and family
introduce the dates to them. Additionally, half of those surveyed see
the workplace as one of the best places to meet a suitable match.
So, what’s the score? Singles prefer the familiar, and informal, when
it comes to dating, and playing games definitely provides one of the
most informal settings for couples to get to know one another.
Introduction
Most of us played games when we were young, during recess time,
Where do you fit in? You are someone who enjoys games. Better
yet, you are someone who enjoys organising games for the enjoyment
of others. It doesn’t matter whom you are doing it for, be it a social
community club or group, or a company; what’s important is that
or at home with neighbours of the same age. From hopscotch, to you believe in the power of games. You are in charge of, or are
hide-and-seek and police-and-thief, those sessions helped us to interested in, arranging activities that let singles meet in a friendly
make friends and get along with the opposite sex. Well, some things and relaxed setting. This fun book will help you break the ice between
don’t change and, today even as adults, we still play games. Be it men and women and help them get to know each other in an
tennis, Scrabble, or a day at the beach, these activities help us informal and fun environment. It has games and tips that stimulate
unwind, relax, and yes, widen our social circle, meet people and get and promote different degrees of interaction. It also has tips for
to know a potential partner. It is therefore not uncommon for a anyone who wants to help individuals meet on a one-on-one basis.
couple to end up dating after they get to know each other through
a few sessions of rollerblading, for example. For sure, this book is not designed for you to help singles get hitched.
It is to show you how to organise games that let singles interact and
make more friends. And, in the process of playing the games, they
may end up meeting their match – and finding their life partner. So,
as they say in the Olympics – let the games begin.
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4. How to use this guide
This guide maps the typical stages of social interaction: from strangers
to friends to, hopefully, soul mates. However, there is no particular
order to using this book, so feel free to jump to different sections
Getting
according to your needs.
‘Getting To Know You’ This is the section for you if you want
games and activities to break the ice between groups of people
To
meeting for the first time.
Know
All
About You
Getting ‘Getting To Know All About You’ This section is what you
need to develop relationships between couples or groups of
people familiar with each other.
To Every game has its rules so check out the objectives and method for
each activity when in doubt. These are spelt out clearly in each
section, along with suggestions on how to vary the activity. We
encourage you to experiment and adapt the rules according to your
Know particular situation and setting, and to look for ways to improve the
interaction among participants. And there’s absolutely nothing to
stop you from coming up with other ingenious ways to add some
spice to these games.
You
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5. Rules of
the Game
Exude Exuberance,
Encourage, Don’t Force
At the start of every session, encourage everybody
to be sporting and to have fun but always stress
that nobody needs to feel that he’s being forced
Energy and Excitement to do something he doesn’t like. This is a good
A dour face inspires nobody and as the organiser, way to set the tone right, so that an individual
you just have to keep up the smiles, the fun, and would not feel ostracised or out of place if he were
the excitement – no matter how many times you reticent or resistant to participation. After a session,
have done it, or how tired you may be. In short, you may wish to have a chat with those who didn’t
you’ve got to have enough for everyone, even want to participate. NEVER EVER put down an
when you are running on empty! This is because individual in front of the entire group. This could
you have a group of strangers on your hands. They damage his self-esteem, lead to undesirable
may feel awkward and uneasy about being put in repercussions, and put him off such sessions
a strange situation. Because these qualities are permanently.
infectious, it’s essential that you exude a positive
attitude – even if it means having to fake it on your Go A Step Further
off day! After all, if you don’t warm up their social Be extra-perceptive of the group or individual body
engines, who will? language and the overall sentiment among
participants. For ‘Getting To Know All About You’
Be Mercurial games, such insight will be useful in pairing
Observe the social temperature of the group. Are acquiescent minds together.
they generally warm, boisterous or aloof? Make a
judgement call on the group’s personality, and Have Fun, Fun, Fun
deploy games and activities accordingly. ‘Getting This is the best “rule” to bear in mind. Don’t be
To Know You’ is not merely an icebreaker or too focused on pairing up couples, or too hung-
introductory activity. It can also be used as a band- up about matchmaking. Just help your participants
aid of sorts, a quick-fix for situations where tensions relax and have fun. This will go a long way in
run high. Getting everyone to warm up, and warm setting the right tone for everything else.
up to each other, requires you to have a good feel
of the group’s temperature.
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6. Game Tips
A novice organiser may find it daunting to arrange
activities for a group and be an informal sort of
matchmaker. Here are some tips for you if you are
relatively inexperienced at playing Cupid’s assistant
1 Discretion Be discreet. If an individual asks you
for help to get to know another, you may first want
to check out how the other party feels, before you
2
Tact Don’t be in-your-face in your eagerness to
matchmake. Exercise tact in asking the right questions
and knowing when to ask those questions. A mark
of a good matchmaker is the ability to adjust the
expectations of the person seeking a spouse in a
tactful and unobtrusive fashion. If you come across
as a Mr Know-it-all, you can be sure that all the singles
decide on a direct or subtle approach. Alternatively,
if you observe that the chemistry is right but not quite
there because of reasons like shyness, then you can
deliberately pair the two up in games and activities
Secret Pal
as a start.
which to start.
is an excellent platform from
Also, unlike days of yore when matchmakers asked
pointedly about a single’s love life, being a good
matchmaker today means you must learn the art of
discretion. Not everyone wants the whole world to
3
will avoid you like the plague. Don’t preach or talk
down on anyone.
Network It’s not easy to introduce friends or
colleagues to potential partners if your network of
friends and acquaintances numbers fewer than ten.
Having an extensive network of like-minded friends
definitely helps you in offering better choices to your
single friends. Nobody is saying that you need to
know all the singles in your company, but what is
8
know he is actively looking for a mate. Similarly, a
good matchmaker would look around for suitable
candidates in a discreet and subtle manner, without
being too intrusive.
4
needed is a critical mass to get the game going.
Passion This is one quality that will win the day
for you. If you have the passion and interest in a
person’s well-being, and are sincere, then half the
battle is won. This x-factor cuts both ways and works
not just on the person you are trying to matchmake,
but on the person you approach as well.
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7. Group size
Ready, Get Set... The role of the organiser or facilitator also depends on the size of
the group. Different group sizes require different management skills.
Before you organise any activity, do bear in mind For small groups (about 10 people), it is easier to break the ice and
the following you can give each participant personal attention. Group members
will also generally find it easier to get to know one another faster.
PARTICIPANTS As a rough gauge, there should be one facilitator present for a
group of not more than 10 people. In any case, you may like to
Target group have a back-up so that the group is not left alone when you have
Firstly, think about whom to go for quick errands, such as waiting for the caterer.
you are doing it for, i.e.
your target group. Are they If the group is of medium size (15 to 25), you should have between
a group of strangers? Or are two to three organisers/co-ordinators at hand. This is actually the
they co-workers? Have you met optimum group size as there is a large enough number of participants
them before so that you can assess the to mingle yet small
needs of the group, or are you as much a stranger to them as they enough for them to get
are to one another? Different groups require different planning and the opportunity to know
interaction formats. everyone in the group.
Group composition If the group is big (50 or more), you
need to be able to mingle and get
Is the group generally uniform? What are their religious and cultural everyone to do the same. You also need to
concerns? What about the age range of the participants? Bear in be prepared to make public speeches to
mind that mature participants resent being treated like children, and welcome them or to give instructions. It
if the wrong game is chosen, you risk alienating them. For young would be good if there are more than four
people, usually below the age of 25, it is alright to try out the more organisers/co-ordinators in such cases, as
exciting games that require physical contact and exertion, such as the games may get out of hand. As an
Landmine . But if your group also consists of a few older people, organiser, you have to be in control and
do avoid playing ‘juvenile’ games like those that involve yelling and there is nothing more exasperating than
play-acting. Of course, if you know that these participants are game not being able to manage the group.
enough, then by all means, play on!
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8. VENUE Seating Arrangement
How do you choose the venue? There are many to The seating arrangement can make or break an activity but this is
choose from, for example, a restaurant, a bar, a hotel often overlooked. So put a little more thought into this.
seminar room, a park, or some other unusual location that matches
Some of the pitfalls you should avoid are:
your group’s interest and creates the right mood for the activity
at hand. Never have two separate free seating areas. Naturally, all the
guys will be seated in a cluster and the girls in the other. This
Restaurants or Hotels is especially bad if there is a chasm between the two areas. You
In a public restaurant or formal place, can expect the group to remain polarised.
gregarious games are best avoided, as
Try not to have free seating. This is sometimes the bane of
participants would not want to draw
organisers because no matter where you try to direct your
unwanted attention to themselves and we
participants, they will naturally gravitate towards someone they
should be considerate to other diners or
know, or to those of the same gender.
patrons of the business. If it’s not possible
to book the whole restaurant, get a private If you are having a sit-down meal, seating should be assigned prior
room. Some hotels do serve lunch or dinner in their seminar rooms to the function. Make sure the table can seat an even number of
and this is acceptable as long as the ambience is cosy. participants. The best arrangement for maximum interaction is the
diagonal seating, where a girl sits between two guys and across
Pubs or Bars
another one. An example is shown below.
This is a good venue if you are attracting a younger crowd. However,
some might be turned off if smoking is allowed and if it’s held too
late at night. The noise, too, might make it difficult to get the group
to mingle well. Unless you can secure a private room for icebreakers
before proceeding to the function, it is advisable not to hold functions
with groups of total strangers in a pub or a bar.
Parks
This is a good place for you to organise outdoor games or games
Dining Table
which require a lot of space to move around. It’ll also be fun to have
the games followed by a nice picnic. Of course in Singapore, there
is always the chance that it’ll either be raining or too hot to be
outdoors, so you have to make sure that there is a wet-weather
plan and sufficient shelter.
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9. To ensure that participants sit where they are supposed to, you can REFRESHMENTS
allocate seats by having name cards on the tables. You can put in
So you have the participants, the venue and the games. What about
that extra effort of playing Cupid’s assistant by trying to figure out
the food? Or is there a need to provide food in the first place?
who will be best suited to whom, so that you can assign the
appropriate partners to be seated across each other.
As a rule of thumb, drinks should be provided. Cold packet drinks
will do nicely for a short session, although light refreshments could
If you are organising a function in an informal place where there
also be provided if the budget allows for it.
are seats placed all around in small clusters, it is crucial to ‘manipulate’
the seating arrangement. For example, if there are tables for four,
For some activities for singles, the main intention of the
make sure that you get two guys and two girls to sit at a table.
participants is not to eat, so having light refreshments
like finger food is enough.
So how do you do this without it looking contrived? Here are some
suggestions:
Be careful when choosing the menu. For instance, chicken
Explain to the participants that you have planned games where drumsticks are delicious but are a hassle to eat. And make sure
you need an equal number of girls and guys sitting at each table. to ask for bite-sized pieces as some participants, especially the
women, wouldn’t want to risk looking uncouth during the break.
You can tie balloons on 2 of the chairs and
inform the ladies to sit on the chairs with It is also prudent to be sensitive to participants of different religions
balloons. Or put a stalk of flower on the with dietary restrictions. If you are not certain of your participants’
girls’ seats. religious beliefs, the simplest way is to avoid catering anything with
pork and beef so that the Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims, will not
If you have different door gifts for each
feel uncomfortable.
gender, then you may want to place them
according to where the guys and girls should Do keep in mind that the younger your target group is, the less
be sitting. likely they are able to afford an expensive meal. So make sure you
get your priorities right when organising an activity: It’s the content
There are many variations to these suggestions, and all you need is
and the company that matter more.
to integrate them into the activities. Just remember that participants
are generally shy about mingling and approaching people of the Well, we hope that these pointers are useful to you as you
opposite sex, so chances are that they will thank you for your efforts. help direct Cupid’s arrows through the games you organise.
Be careful not to let any stray arrows kill a person’s interest
But what if all else fails and you find the group still in small clusters
to know the opposite sex through a group setting. One last
of guys and girls? You can start with having icebreakers where the
piece of advice: Don’t be over-ambitious. Start with the warm-
clusters will have to stand up and participate, like Mix n Match .
up games before you proceed to something more serious. So
Once you have the couples standing, you can then ask them to sit
what are you waiting for? Get cracking on mixing and matching
at different tables.
your participants now!
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10. Mix n Match Game Gear
Getting To This is a solid icebreaker for large groups
because it maximises contact among
individuals as they intersperse and mingle
• Indoor/Outdoor venue
• 2 bowls or
containers (optional)
• Paper or cards
• Prizes
Know You
All of us know how daunting the dating game can be sometimes
in search of their respective partners in the game.
How To Play
– the awkwardness, the expectations and demands. An unsuccessful Introduce a pair of corresponding words. They can be about
date may also dent a person’s self-confidence for good and put him objects, animals, famous couples, etc. Pick pairs of words or
off such activities in future. The following games are aptly named names that are universal or very familiar to your group, for
example, Cinderella & Prince Charming, King & Queen, Romeo
as they act as warm-ups to help break the ice in all first-encounter
& Juliet, Ebony & Ivory, Tom & Jerry, Clark Kent & Louis Lane,
meetings, and develop contact and name-retention among individuals.
Batman & Robin, Front & Back, Entrance & Exit, etc. Mix and
Such warm-ups are especially good if you, as the organiser, are match according to any theme you fancy
unsure about what will get the group going and need a bit of time Write each word or name on a piece of paper or card. To illustrate,
to gauge group dynamics. ‘Cinderella’ will be written on one card and ‘Prince Charming’ on
another
MixnMatch Separate the pairs into two separate bowls or containers and mix
them up (or in the absence of these, split the pairs into two piles
and shuffle face down)
The girls can then pick a card at random from one bowl/pile while
the guys from the other
The participants will then go around the group in search of their
respective partner. No shouting, please
The first couple to find each other wins
Game Variations
How you group participants is limited only by your imagination. If
you do not have a group with good gender mix, instead of introducing
pairs, you may introduce trios (like the 3 stooges) or groups (eg.
members of the Beatles, or names of the 7 dwarves). This can also
be used if you want participants to regroup themselves. To make
things simpler in such cases, you could reveal to the participants the
theme they should be looking for, but it won’t be half as fun!
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11. How To Play
TicTacToe Determine the categories (on the opposite page) to fill up the
9 squares. Think of interesting and unusual categories
Participants fill in the necessary details of each stipulated category
that is spelt out in the squares of a typical TicTacToe grid. This game Participants are then told to mingle and ask others for their
attributes that will be listed in the appropriate box. The name of
can be quite a drawn out affair – getting participants’ details and
the respondents should also be included. For example, under
matching them accordingly – but it’s an exercise that melts shyness
‘Hobbies’, the participant may write ‘Shopping’ and the name of
and guarantees lots of fun and interaction.
the person who likes to shop
Set a time limit to the game. A tip for participants would be to
get as many names as possible under one category to increase
their chances of a ‘hit’ later on
Game Gear
• Sheets of paper with The organiser then reads out random attributes, e.g. ‘Shopping’
TicTacToe grid and and those who have this listed as one of the attributes under
categories spelt out within ‘Hobbies’ will cross that box out. A tip for the organiser would
• Writing materials be to call out an attribute that is less common or unique, to lessen
• Prizes (optional) the chances of a ‘hit’
The first one who has crossed out 3 boxes, either horizontally,
vertically or diagonally (as in TicTacToe) will be called upon to
identify the respondents from the list he has. For example, if Paul
has crossed out Lucy’s name, for ‘Shopping’ under ‘Hobbies’, he
Sleep Favourite
Favourite
will be asked to identify her. This is to make sure that participants
patterns Foods
make an effort to get to know each other and at least recognise
Movies each other on a first name basis
The one who can identify all the persons named in the boxes will
Hobbie Pet be the winner
s Hero
Peeves Game Variations
You can make it a rule that participants can only select those who
are not of the same gender. This will ensure better interaction.
Life Life Star Sign To inject more fun, you can also choose a few winners during the
t
Momen Goals first round. There will be more excitement when they are asked to
identify the other partners they have listed down.
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12. TicTacToeToo
Based on the rules of TicTacToe, participants cross out the names on
their cards as they go along and win when they have 3-in-a-row.
A quick introductory game to get people warmed up by remembering
names.
How To Play
Pre-determine random names to fill up the 9 squares
Participants gather and meet each other
They will then be handed the TicTacToe sheet containing the
names
Participants start to cross out names as they go round meeting
other participants. No shouting, please
The one who crosses out three names in a row, either horizontally,
vertically or diagonally, is declared the winner
Game Variations
Inject more challenge into the game by getting the winner to come
forward to identify and say something about the individuals whose
names he has crossed out in his TicTacToe squares.
The participants can also be divided into 2 groups – girls and guys
– so that they will have to mingle with participants of the opposite
sex. You can then have 2 separate TicTacToe sheets with names of
guys in one and girls in the other. The sheets with the guys’ names
will be given to the girls and vice versa.
Game Gear
• Indoor/Outdoor Venue You can add spice by adding forfeits. Those who are not able to
• Sheets of paper with identify or answer simple questions about a participant will be asked
TicTacToe grid with some
to do a forfeit.
participants’ names written on
• Writing materials
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13. Game Gear
• Indoor/Outdoor venue Game Variations
• Bingo score sheets
(you can make some or duplicate
the ones shown here)
• Writing materials
Bingo! If you’d rather not use numbers on scorecards, you can substitute
these items with common objects like articles of clothing, physical
The gambler instinct in some of us will traits, personal items, etc. – morphing the game into a kind of Bingo-
• Prizes
definitely find this game appealing! Scavenger hunt! Here’s how:
The sense of chance and risk may stoke some
hidden romantic embers. It is Bingo with a little
twist: instead of the individual winning with a set of matching
numbers, the winner is declared when
Treasure Hunt Bingo! Way
2 22 68 85 This is a team event. Team members are required to collect the items
the first couple with the same set of
26 42 53 73 88 (either vertical, horizontal or diagonal – three in a row) and bring
matching numbers finds each other.
them to the organiser. First three teams to come up with the
8 19 27 37 43 58
completed list of items win attractive prizes!
1 10 32 40 59 71
11 24 52 78 One cash Two pairs of
register receipt Four belts
sunglasses
How To Play 16 25 57 60 83
One pair of One lottery
One watch ticket
ear-rings without hands
Individuals are grouped based on
4 33 41 55 74 Two sweets
their gender and each is given Three bunches One credit card
5 18 34 44 59 of keys
a Bingo score sheet. A sample is
available on this page 6 20 38 47 79
One watch with One shampoo
The organiser then informs leather strap One lipstick bottle
21 43 56 75
participants of the number of
One phone card Five different One packet
matches they need to have to shout 7 10 28 46 80 name cards of tissue
Bingo! For example, if the 8 14 22 48 65 88 One
handkerchief One bottle cap One $1.00 coin
organiser says 3 (corresponding in the year 1995
numbers), the participant must 11 12 30 54 61
then find another who has any 2 47 66 89 Six one-cent
corresponding 3 numbers in his/her One key chain One coins
9 29 32 52 72 90 membership card
Bingo sheet. No shouting, please One strand
Two name tags
One safety pin of long hair
Once the 2 participants have found 13 23 62 84 One black
each other, they have to shout wallet One hair pin Five movie
3 17 49 59 64 ticket stubs
Bingo! and they win
6 20 27 33 77 87
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14. 1,001 Questions?
Game Gear
• Open venue preferred
• Prizes (optional)
• A rich imagination
How To Play
A person (preferably the organiser) who has been chosen to start
the game will introduce himself by prefixing his name with a
character trait that starts with the same letter as his name. For
example, Angelic Anna or Meticulous Mike
The one sitting next to ‘Angelic Anna’ will ask her why the
character trait is chosen
There is no winner to this game but as the organiser, you might
want to give out prizes for the most imaginative names. Also, a
small gift can be given to the most sporting participant, i.e. one
Probably the simplest game used to warm up a group of strangers. who answers all questions readily. For penalties, try to get a
Each participant introduces himself to the group. The group is then couple, so that they can either sing or dance together
expected to ask a thousand and one questions of the person. Of
course, the number of questions is an exaggeration, but the name Game Variations
of the game is really to get participants to ask as many questions
It’s up to you to decide how the participants can describe themselves.
as possible. To make it more interesting, the introduction must
To make it more interesting, you can even ask the participants to
include peculiar traits of the participant. Participants are motivated
use animal sounds or actions to describe themselves.
to learn more about each other if this game adopts a system of
rewards and penalties. The game ends after every participant has
introduced himself.
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15. Secret Pal
Think Cluedo – but no one’s looking for a murderer here. Instead,
Secret Pal challenges participants to engage one another in an
anonymous dialogue, if you like, and the cover of anonymity adds
to the sense of mystery and excitement. This game is similar to
Cluedo insofar as the identities of individuals are kept secret for as
long as possible. So, Michael may think that he is writing and
communicating with Patricia, who may think that she’s “talking” to
George! In reality, Michael could be writing to Anna, and Patricia’s
actually communicating with Tim! The game ends when participants,
through hints and clues culled from various forms of correspondence
– long letters, little secret notes, body language – successfully identify
their secret pal.
Getting To Know
All About You
The games and activities in this section are more intricate and
progressive than those of the previous section. If the first section is
for beginners, then this section is definitely meant for intermediate
or even advanced participants! They require the participants to know
each other and to be comfortable with one another.
Some overnight games may engage individuals at a more personal
and physical level and, in some cases, may be on the provocative
side of things. As the organiser, you should exercise care and caution
to maintain civility and ensure that no one feels awkward or
uncomfortable in any way.
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16. Game Gear
Secret Pal is best played over
a period of time, say on a holiday
or at a camp when the organiser
• Paper pads and pens
for letter writing He Said, She Said
What’s your name again? Players of this game may find themselves
pre-assigns secret pals to everyone
(note: secret pals need not necessarily be asking this question very often, even as they trip their tongues in
mutually exclusive – Jon could be a secret pal to Jane but Jane could their struggle to pronounce a string of colourful names. The name
be Mark’s secret pal as well). The game ends when the holiday ends. of the game is to have participants remember one another’s names
The clandestine nature of the game adds to the suspense and thrill. and the creative adjectives attached to each. The game may be a
Besides, the anonymous nature of the game may just encourage lot of fun but can get a little rowdy and raunchy as participants may
some latent Romeos to express their feelings in an unbridled fashion! mix up those colourful prefixes. Keep a sharp lookout and prevent
the game from crossing the boundaries of good taste.
How To Play
This game is best played at the start of a getaway trip (for singles).
Organisers assign each participant a secret pal, preferably of the Game Gear
opposite sex • Indoor/Outdoor venue
(with lots of space)
Organisers should find out about each participant in the group • Ball
so as to try and match secret pals according to an individual’s • Good memory
personality. Better yet, if early signals are evident between a • Nimble tongues
couple, Secret Pal is an excellent platform to stoke those
embers (Wow!)
The pair of secret pals can give tokens or write short notes to
each other, preferably one each day, the contents of which are
left to their own discretion. Secret pals can also carry out secret
favours for their partners. Creative liberty encourages boldness
and gives rise to better things (hopefully)
At the end of the holiday, the organiser will conclude the game.
Here the organiser can easily reveal the identities of the secret
pals, or make the participants guess if he wants to lengthen the
suspense
One rule though: all participants must be reminded to observe
rules of civility in content and use of language
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17. Dating Games
This section is definitely for individuals looking for a life partner, as
How To Play
the games featured here are aimed at getting a couple closer to
Sit in a circle. The bigger the circle, the merrier. The organiser each other in a short period of time and at a more intense level.
first introduces himself, “Hi, I’m Funny Fred…”
As the facilitator, you have to be mindful that some participants may
The introductions go round and everyone introduces himself not be as open or enthusiastic when it comes to dating games.
with an adjective of his choice. The adjective will help name Therefore, it is important to ensure that the game is played in an
recall and retention appropriate setting. For example, if you are doing it for colleagues,
Once the introductions are done, the organiser literally starts you can organise it in an informal setting. In any case, ensure that
the ball rolling, “Hi, I’m Funny Fred and I’m going to pass the venue is not distracting and is private enough to put participants
the ball to Joker Jon.” He then rolls or throws the tennis at ease and encourage them to open up.
ball/beach ball to Joker Jon, who then says, “Thanks Funny
Fred. Hi, I’m Joker Jon and I’m going to pass the ball to Silly
Sally…”
The person that forgets a name or adjective will have to
perform a forfeit
Game Variations
It gets a lot more interesting as the adjectives get more colourful,
and penalties more creative. To make things more fun, the
organiser can have the names sequentially compounded – Silly
Sally will have to say, “Thanks Joker Jon who got the ball from
Funny Fred, I’m going to pass the ball to Bouncy Betty.” And
she would have to add, “Thanks Silly Sally who got the ball
from Joker Jon who got the ball from Funny Fred, I’m going
to pass the ball to…” Well, you get the idea…
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18. Game Gear
Speed • A cosy indoor venue
• A bell (or some other similar
device) to inform participants
How To Play
Split the entire group into two groups based on gender
Dating
Play this game if you want
of the timing
• Chairs
Each participant is assigned a number
Participants are seated at tables for two. If you don’t have tables,
• Tables (optional)
participants to get to know just two seats facing each other will do nicely
everybody else within the shortest
time possible. The guys and gals are paired off according to the numbers they
are each assigned and seated, for example, Guy 1 sits in front of
Girl 1
The facilitator then announces the start of the game and the pair
starts talking
After a certain period, between a minimum of 7 minutes and
maximum of 15 minutes (depending on group size and time
constraints), the facilitator rings a bell and the guys will move to
the next seat. For example, Guy 1 now gets to chat with Girl 2,
and Guy 2 dates Girl 3, and so forth
Game Variations
This game can still be played even if the two groups are not evenly
distributed based on gender. It simply means that some participants
may have to wait out certain rounds, as they do not have a partner.
There is no hard and fast rule about the timing. You may give 7
minutes each round if you want a short game or 15 minutes if there
are fewer people.
You might also want to suggest that participants exchange contact
numbers as they go around – you could be opening doors for those
who are shy to ask for numbers.
You can even turn this into a game where the pair who can answer
the most correct questions about each other wins. There are many
variations you might want to try…. just use your imagination!
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19. Blind Date
This is best played in the dark. The game is so called because
participants are not allowed to see each other during the first few
minutes of the meeting. Indeed the name of the game here is the
thrill and excitement induced by a sense of mystery and the unknown.
How To Play
The facilitator will have to arrange the seating arrangement before
the event (see page 13 for suggested seating)
The ladies and men are separated into 2 groups and brought to
a holding area. Like soon-to-be-wed couples, they are not supposed
to see each other before the actual date
All participants will be blindfolded as they wait their turn to be
brought into a dark room with little or no light
Facilitators are to bring the participants individually into the room,
which may be lit dimly only by candlelight
When participants are seated, the blindfolds will be taken off
As the event progresses, the lights will be turned up gradually,
so that at the end of the event, participants will be able to see
each other clearly
Game Variations
Game Gear
You can conduct Blind Date in an exclusive restaurant where
• A cosy restaurant, preferably
participants are able to see more of their partners – and what they
with a romantic ambience
are eating – as the meal progresses. However, Blind Date need
• Blindfolds
not necessarily be held in a restaurant. But it is advisable to conduct
• Candles
the game in a place where you can control the lighting, and where
it’s enclosed. Although this game might seem strange at first, don’t
be surprised when you find participants talking more when the lights
are dim. It seems that in darkness, tongues begin to loosen up as
there is less superficial judgement and discrimination.
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21. Director’s Chair
This is a game that hones communication skills. One player has to
use only words to guide another to draw a picture that the latter
cannot see. The end result can be a masterpiece in more ways
than one!
How To Play
Players are divided into two groups, preferably with an equal
number of guys and gals in each
Each team alternately fields a couple (one guy and one gal) to
play each round
One of the pair (the artist) faces the drawing board and stays
that way, while the other (the director) looks at a picture that the
organiser has drawn. The picture could be of an object or an
abstract drawing
Within a time limit, the director has to guide the artist to replicate
the drawing with clear verbal instructions, and only that. No
reference may be made to the name of the object and no hand
gestures may be used. Questions can be asked. After all, effective
communication involves lots of listening and asking questions for
clarification
The team that comes up with a drawing that best resembles the
original wins the game
As with any game, it is good to
Game Gear give incentives to invoke the
• Big pieces of paper competitive spirit
(preferably mounted for
other players to see)
• Drawing materials
• Prizes (optional)
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22. Blind Voice Land Mine
This is the human version of “Battleship” played with “human-
Recognition pieces” and a life-sized board.
A couple is blindfolded and randomly positioned in a large area,
surrounded by the other team members. Team members try to guide
How To Play
the sightless pair to find each other by shouting out instructions on This is a game Game Gear
general location and direction. Opposing team members are free to where one tries A drawn out map/grid with
landmines clearly stipulated for the
interfere in this process using mis-information or mis-direction to to locate and map organiser to refer to. Ensure that the
further blind the couple with confusion. out the position grid markings tally to facilitate easy
of mines on a cross-reference between the
organiser’s copy and the actual grid
grid to destroy them
(either drawn out on the ground or
A grid is either on a sheet)
Game Gear drawn on the
• A large open area,
ground or on a sheet to
preferably outdoors represent the minefield
• 2 blindfolds Players have to navigate through the grid one square at a time.
• A loudhailer may prove Players take turns making a move each within 3-5 seconds
useful to cut through
the din! The organiser will place ‘invisible mines’ on the grid and players
get ‘killed’ or ‘eliminated’ if they step on a mine
How To Play This game tests players’ ability to remember the locations of the
deadly squares on which other less fortunate souls have stepped
Divide the individuals into evenly numbered
– and died! The ‘dead’ player is out of the game. The winner(s)
groups, with a balanced representation of
may have the privilege to suggest the ‘penalty’
both sexes if possible. During each turn, both
groups respectively field a male and female each. The individual or group who crosses the land mine first wins
The pair will be separated and blindfolded
Game Variations
Using only their voices, the team members try to guide the
blindfolded couple back to each other The entire group can play as a whole to determine a winner.
Alternatively, if space and resources permit, you can have a race
The opposing team will attempt to mislead the couple by giving
between 2 or more teams to determine who can cross the minefield
wrong directions or simply yelling to add confusion and stress to
fastest.
the situation
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23. hand
The Amputator
elb ow This is a spin on the old twister game. Instead of a mat with coloured
The Amputator
circles, simply calls for open space, and physical
agility on the part of the participants. Organisers also need to keep
a watchful eye to ensure that the modesty of participants is not
compromised in any way.
How To Play
The organiser calls for the first “volunteer”
Game Gear Subsequent participants will be called upon for their particular
• Big open space, preferably body parts to be ‘stuck’ to another participant’s, all at the organiser’s
a field or basketball court discretion. For example, “John’s right elbow to Jane’s knee; Jane’s
• Gamesmanship right toe to Mark’s left thumb; Mark’s chest to…”
• Deodorant
chin The participants will have to prove their physical flexibility and
shed their inhibitions to really have fun
shoulder
Game Variations
To increase the range of possibilities and “human-permutations”,
articles of clothing may be called upon to be stuck as well!
no se ear
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24. LAST WORD
We hope you will benefit from the games in this book. Only you
will know which games are most appropriate for the singles in your
charge, your organization or group. In short, the success of these
games rests on you. Be imaginative and think of new ways to make
the games more fun.
However, if you feel that you need further information or help in
planning and organising the games, or if you think that you would
rather have the singles under your charge benefit from other
structured activities with other singles throughout the island, then
you can refer them to either of the following:
For graduate singles, contact
Social Development Unit (SDU)
SDU House
8 Stevens Road Singapore 257819
Tel: 6838 9348 • Fax: 6838 9387
Email: mcds_sdu@mcds.gov.sg
www.LoveByte.org.sg
For non-graduate singles, contact
Social Development Service (SDS)
StarDuS Clubhouse
277 River Valley Road Singapore 238318
Tel: 6311 9200 • Fax: 6440 8303
Email: sds@pa.gov.sg
www.sds.gov.sg
You can also get singles to sign up for a SDU or SDS membership
to benefit from a whole array of dating activities and matchmaking
services. Or you can go ahead and purchase a Corporate Membership
for your company so that your staff can get the best deals for less.
So what are you waiting for? Let the games begin – and set the
wheels of romance in motion! Remember, you have to get the
singles to mix – before they meet their match!
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