Perfect for encouraging children to express themselves more creatively, this game can be played as an icebreaker in any new social setting.
1. Start a quick discussion
Ask the group: "What do you say when someone asks, "How are you?"
When they say "fine", "good", or "okay", gasp and say, "Isn't that a bit boring!?"
2. Ban the boring words
Next, tell the children that those ordinary words are now banned. Instead, they must think of exciting, expressive alternatives!
3. Pretend to throw out the boring words
Ask the group to pretend to physically throw out the words "fine", "good", "nice", "OK" and "alright" from their mouths and far away.
4. Build a word cake (or soup!)
Together, imagine baking a word cake, mixing magical new words into the bowl, such as "amazing", "brilliant", "mysterious", "marvellous", "sparkly" and then pretend to eat it!
5. Try out the new responses
Next, go around the room asking the children, "How are you?"
Each child must answer with a brilliant new word and remember to ask you back!
6. Keep it imaginative
You can repeat the cake-making or soup-stirring whenever the group needs a fresh batch of wonderful words.
Children light up when asked to be expressive and imaginative. This game is brilliant for boosting social confidence and encouraging creativity from the moment they walk into a room.
Lucy Quick, Principal of Perform.
