Pretty much everyone has experienced an awkward conversation at least once in their life. It’s that moment when the conversation hits a lull and stalls, or worse, never gets off the ground, leaving you staring at each other in an uncomfortable, prolonged silence. It’s for these exact reasons that icebreakers exist.
Icebreakers are a handy tool that can be used in all kinds of scenarios at work, at home, and even in school. It comes down to recognising when an icebreaker is needed and how to tailor it to the age group and setting. To help you with that, we’ve got some tips that can be used by young children, teens, and even adults. Keep in mind that icebreakers aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution—they need to be personalised.
Young Children Can Benefit from Simple Tools and Techniques
As an adult reading this article, you may figure that young children have it the easiest of all because they aren’t yet old enough to be self-conscious or nervous in social situations. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. The desire to fit in, connect with others, and build solid friendships should be encouraged from a young age.
Young children may feel nervous in a new situation. A great example is kids heading off to school for the first time. They may not have prior experience being in a large group of peers their age. It can be overly stimulating, scary, and overwhelming.
Teachers tend to be well-prepared for these situations, but parents can also use icebreaker techniques to make their kids feel more comfortable when they’re together—like at a birthday party. Young kids tend to respond well to simple tools and techniques like word games and movement-based activities. Here are some examples:
- Musical chairs
- Team scavenger hunts
- Pictionary
- Two Truths and a Lie
- Memory card games
- Create “About Me” posters
- Minecraft (school version)
Helping Teens Thrive Through Team Bonding and Social Challenges
While young kids respond well to games and activities, teens need something a bit more engaging to break the ice. Experts often suggest team-building exercises and competitive activities. Whenever possible, opt for activities that can be done in groups or pairs. Solo activities will have the opposite effect, as they don’t encourage any interaction.
In terms of specific team-building activities, here are a few that can be very successful:
- Tug of war
- Obstacle course
- Relay race
- Don’t Drop the Egg
- Marshmallow challenge
- Escape room
- Laser tag
Another effective icebreaker to suggest is a social media challenge. Obviously, you want to be careful about which ones you encourage. They need to be safe and appropriate for the child’s age group. The idea is that they can work with others to complete the challenge and then keep it going by tagging people in their social media video.
Not all of these activities will suit every situation, so plan accordingly.
Adults Need to Read the Room Correctly
Finally, we’ve got icebreaker activities for adults. Generally speaking, these are most commonly used in the workplace. Employers are keen to create a sense of inclusiveness and belonging so that coworkers feel like a team. This encourages better and more open communication between departments, which in turn boosts productivity.
It’s all about reading the room correctly and knowing which icebreaker will work best in each situation. This can include discussing the best places to travel, the latest smartphones, or even the top choices of online casinos. Choosing a topic that is both light-hearted and widely relatable is a great way to encourage natural dialogue and ease into learning about one another.
If you want to try more structured icebreaker activities, many of the ones that work for teens are suitable. Here are a few you may want to consider:
- Charades
- Pictionary
- Karaoke
- Scavenger hunt
- Group trivia
- Blind drawing
- Paper aeroplane game
- This or That questions (salt or pepper, coffee or tea, summer or winter, etc.)
Before you know it, all the adults in the room will loosen up, laugh, and break down their emotional walls.
What If You Find Icebreakers Difficult to Use?
Now that we’ve gone over the different types of icebreakers that can be tailored to specific age groups and the scenarios to use them in, you may still have a valid concern. What happens if you still feel unsure, nervous, or anxious about using icebreakers? Having the tools and knowledge at your fingertips is helpful, but it’s going to take a little trial and error. You’ll also need to build your confidence.
The more you use icebreakers, the more comfortable you’ll become. They will start to feel like second nature, which helps the conversation flow. To get to that point, there’s nothing wrong with practising with friends and family. Try out your icebreaker lines or techniques and see how they respond. Their input can help you better shape your response in future situations when conversation stalls.
It’s also important to remind yourself that feeling nervous and anxious in new or stressful situations is normal. Others around you may be feeling the same way. That means they will be even more receptive to your attempts to break the ice and make them feel more comfortable.
Icebreakers Are a Fabulous Tool for All Ages
As we’ve covered, icebreakers can be used by any age group in a wide array of situations. It takes a little practice and reading the situation correctly, but before long, you’ll be an expert. Hopefully, these tools will help relieve social anxiety and shyness, too.