Group Size: Any Time Needed: 5 minutes (discussion times vary) Goal: To create an experience of unrealistic expectations Audience: Couples, Parents, Teens, Singles Special Considerations: Not appropriate for children as they may not get the “role” you are playing. This exercise may bring up some challenging issues for some participants around self-esteem. Resources Needed: Small […]
Group Size: 1 to 50+ Time Needed: 10 to 15 minutes Goal: To illustrate the need for two-way communication and to illustrate that people have different perceptions Audience: Couples, Parents, Singles, Teens, Children Special Considerations: None Resources Needed: One piece of paper for each participant Step-by-Step Instructions The facilitator gives each participant a sheet of […]
Group Size: Any Time Needed: 10 to 20 minutes Goal: Help participants understand attachment, bonding and how it occurs Audience: Couples, Parents, Teens, Children, Singles Special Considerations: Very powerful, could bring up painful memories. Do not use this activity in your class unless you have had formal training in counseling or a similar field. Resources […]
Group Size: 1 to 50 (8 to 15 participants per train) Time Needed: 10 to 15 minutes Goal: To give participants an opportunity to experience different perceptions in communication Audience: Children, Teens, Couples, Parents, Singles Special Considerations: This activity can also be done with more than one row of people and made into a competition […]
Group Size: 1 to 25 Time Needed: 15 minutes plus time for discussion Goal: To help participants learn to recognize and talk about feelings Audience: Parents, Couples, Children, Teens, Singles Special Considerations: Some adults may find this challenging. Facilitators should act out a feeling or two to make sure participants understand the directions and most […]
Group Size: 10 people or smaller (larger groups can be broken down, or some may participate and some may observe) Time Needed: 10 to 15 minutes Goal: Leads to discussion on communication, problem solving and power Audience: Couples, Parents, Teens, Children, Singles Special Considerations: Requires high level of trust among participants. Because some participants will […]
Group Size: Any Time Needed: 15 to 20 minutes Goal: To build group cohesion by sharing common hopes and dreams in relation to children or marriage and help participants focus on what they really want in the long term Audience: Couples, Parents, Teens Special Considerations: This completed exercise can be referred to frequently throughout the […]
Group Size: Any (no more than 15 volunteers) Time Needed: 20 minutes Goal: To create awareness of how labels affect people, to understand self-fulfilling prophecy, and to grasp how self esteem is built and destroyed Audience: Couples, Parents, Singles, Teens, Children Special Considerations: Wait until the group has met several times before you complete this […]
Group Size: 1 to 50+ Time Needed: 15 minutes or more depending on length of discussion Goal: To find balance and promote self care as well to illustrate the importance of asking for help Audience: Parents, Couples, Teens, Children, Singles Special Considerations: Consider the physical capabilities of the volunteer you pick. Resources Needed: Index cards […]
Group Size: Any Time Needed: 10 to 20 minutes Goal: To help participants understand that relationships can improve with work and to help them to distinguish between what can and cannot be changed. Audience: Couples, Parents Special Considerations: Participants’ views of the positive things they are able to bring into relationships may not be readily […]