Top ten get to know you games
Similar to ice breaker games, "get to know you games" are games that help kids mingle and find out a little bit about each other. It might be a game that simply introduces names, or it might go deeper.
These games are great for breaking the ice and helping new kids feel welcomed.
Some of the criteria I've looked at for choosing the best "get to know you" games include: how well the game facilities players to learn about each other whether that's simply names or something more, how well the game provides a springboard for conversation after the game is over, how well it works for groups that mostly already know each other as well as groups that have never met before, how fun it is to play and how much is involved in setting up the game.
10. Penny For Your Thoughts
An interesting game involving coins and facts. Might take a little bit of setup time (collecting the right coins) but with the right bunch of kids it could work really well.
9. Mingle Mingle Mingle
If you're up for some chaos with your group then this is another great "get to know you" game for you. Players need to continually repeat an answer to a question about themselves and find other people who are answering the same thing. It's positivie is how chaotic it can get! It's negative is how chaotic it can get!
8. Shoe Talk
A funny one to play with a fairly confident group of people as it involves taking off a shoe, picking up another shoe and finding the owner. It also might be wise to choose to play this one when the weather is cooler to avoid stinky shoe situations! A favourite of mine as it is a great way to randomly mix up the people playing the game.
7. Get To Know You Hey!
"Bang!" encourages kids to react quickly and this is a modification of the classic game which helps kids get to know everyone's names really well. It is good because there's pressure on everyone to remember names, not just the new kids. The kids that have been hanging around for years still might find themselves forgetting names under the pressure.
6. Never Have I Ever
A good get to know you game that is quick to explain and quick to play. Helps get kids moving and mingling as well. Might also be a good way to get kids into random groups or pairs at the end of the game, as they'll be moving to different seats and sitting next to different people during the game.
5. Mix & Meet
Chocolate is always a great way to break the ice and help people bond. This game uses M&M chocolates to get the players to interact with each other about their different "favourites". Doesn't put too much pressure on anyone, can be really funny and it has CHOCOLATE! Highly recommended for a small group situation.
4. Speed Dating With a Twist
If you want a straight forward talking game without any bells and whistles added, then this is the get to know you youth group game for you. Pair the kids up, give them some questions or discussion topics to talk about, give them a minute and then rotate. Simple and effective!
3. Team Architect
Maybe a bit of a wildcard entry in this category, but I think it works really well. The game involves getting teams of kids to work together to build something. It's a fantastic team building game, but I think is also a really good get to know you game as it provides opportunities for people to interact while working together to achieve something. It gives people an opportunity to showcase their personality and their gifts in a way that other youth group games don't.
2. Two Truths And A Tale
This has got to be my all time favourite small group get to know you game. I've played this on countless camps as the first get to know you activity for my small group. I find it really gives the group a good insight into how each member thinks, what's important to them and what they like to talk about. And as a leader, with the amount of times I've played it, I don't even need to think that hard to come up with my own truths and a lie. I highly recommend this get to know you icebreaker game.
1. Name Bingo
A good get to know you game that is quick to explain and quick to play. Helps get kids moving and mingling as well. Might also be a good way to get kids into random groups or pairs at the end of the game, as they'll be moving to different seats and sitting next to different people during the game.
