Games without winners or losers
Games without winners or losers are especially important to start a new group.
A question bears to be asked here: Does a game always have to be a competition as well? Meaning does there always have to be a winner and loser. It certainly does not. There are quite some games where there is no winner. That of course also means that there are no losers either. So, when are those games appropriated?
© www.games4youthgroups.com
There are many constellations and situations where it is necessary to organize a game without winners. For example, when groups just came together. To promote and strengthen the bond of the team members with one another, those are just some examples where games without winners and losers are the means of choice. Thus, the relationships in the group can develop independently and are not predetermined by who are winner or losers.
© www.games4youthgroups.com
Games are without a winner, are important to promote self-confidence in children and adolescents. Not everyone is physically and mentally capable of losing several times in a row. Games which have distinguished winners and losers might create unnecessary barriers between group members, which are often extremely hard to eliminate again. Also, there are several factors at play which cannot be directly influenced. Eg. the physical constitution of the individual participants.
Games without winners are primarily to bring enjoyment to the participants. They are particularly suitable for youth camps and outdoor fun in the summer when everyone is in good spirits and not willing to spoil the good mood. When selecting the suitable game, a few things should be considered. It is important to tailor the game always to the weakest participant so that he has a real chance to experience success. Of course, this team or participant does not need to be pointed out. It is sufficient if the group leader keeps track on it and makes the appropriate decisions by himself.
Stay firm
The members of team A now tries to make the members of team B laugh.
- Widest smile, most evil grin
Which member of the group can pull the widest smile?
Ghosts
The ghosts now try to stand behind a child for 10 seconds without being noticed.
- Opposites -Similarities
The group should split into pairs of opposites.
- The split second answer
Simple question must be answered within 2 seconds.
- The sculptor and his shapes
The sculptor must make shapes from the rest of the group members by putting them into position.
- Everything in slow motion
A scene is played in slow motion.
Evolution
In this game the aim is to develop through the stages of evolution from egg to chicken, dinosaur, monkey to human being.
The blind and the seeing
A player must sneak past two blind peoples.
- The ticking alarm clock
An alarm clock is hidden in the room, which the blindfolded player must locate.
- The hunt for understanding
The player is the middle tries to steal one of the free seats.
Frank, Johnny and Walter
A running game.
- Drawing phrases on the back
A picture is drawn on the back of the next person in the line (with the finger) who then draws it on the next person’s back.
Skipping rope
A rope is swung around in a circle and the others must jump other the rope.
- Frogs
The frogs in the middle now grab their ankles and both try to find the way out.
- Without direction
All players close their eyes and only make movements according to the instructions of the group leader.
- Blind Rope shapes
The blindfolded group must make the shapes which are called out.
- Pole ballet or the wandering stick
On the signal, everyone lets go of their stick to the right and catches the stick on the left.
- I have never done that before! But I have!
This is a funny game with brilliant claims.
- Hula hula
All of them dance at the same time and all of the hoops are moving.
Risk
If the balloon bursts, they must perform the task.
The group feeding
The neighbours feed each other.
Household servants and digitsA reaction game with a lot of fun
- Memory with a difference
The objective is that always two kids take on a certain pose. Who can identify those two kids?
- Mannequins – finding the difference
Three people pose like mannequins. However, each pose is slightly different. One chose kid is to find out what the differences are.
- Schnick - Schnack - Schnuck XXL
Schnick-Schnack-Schnuck only the Knight, Dragon or Princess.
- Detectives are on their way
Pretending to pass something on from person to person. The detective has to find out if there is truly something passed on.
- Human Memory
Always two kids imitate an animal. Who can find out which pairs belong together?
- The cube cat and mouse game
The well-known reaction game Spitz, pay attention.
- The egg timer bomb
This is a circle game. The child holding the egg time when it goes off, leaves the game
- Catching the Fox
This is a well-known catching game
- King for a few minutes
The King may issue commands and everybody has to obey.
- Warriors and Indians
Half of the group sits blindfolded in a circle. The rest tries to sneak up without being heard.
- Shepherd and sheep with little problems
All players are blindfolded and led around in the area. They have to find their stable by listening to the noises around them.
- Chaos in the room
Finding little notes with tasks written on them which have to be fulfilled.
Journey to Jerusalem with detoursIn a large area places are marked - always one less as there are players.
- Chained together
Two candidates are linked to each other. They have to come up with a trick to break free from each other.
- Evolution
Similar to the game Stone - Scissors - Paper you can play various games
- Give me a song
Finding a song to a certain letter and sing it out loud
- Hot chocolate
A piece of chocolate is wrapped up in several wrappings and has to be unpacked with knife and fork.
- Chestnut faces
Participants decorate chestnut like faces.
[ © www.games4youthgroups.com ]