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: 11 to 25 Time Needed: 20 minutes or more Goal: Gain understanding of individual differences and the unique challenges that each person faces in life. Audience: Couples, Teens, Parents, Children, Singles Special Considerations: May need to assist some participants inflate a balloon Resources Needed: One balloon per person, different sizes of balloons, masking […]
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: 11 to 25 Time Needed: 1 to 10 minutes Goal: Explore how it feels to handle problems on your own Audience: Couples, Teens, Parents, Children, Singles Special Considerations: May need to assist some participants inflate their balloons Resources Needed: One balloon per person Step-by-Step Instructions Ask participants to divide into pairs. Give each […]
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: 5 minutes (discussion times vary) Goal: To discuss the challenges of change and the advantages of both preparing for change and experiencing change at your own pace Audience: Couples, Parents, Teens, Children, Singles Special Considerations: Do this activity before you actually present it to your group to assure that the […]
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 […]
Group Size: 10 to 50+ (must have a minimum of 10) Time Needed: 15 minutes Goal: To increase trust and risk-taking within the group while having fun Audience: Couples, Parents, Singles, Teens, Children Special Considerations: This activity may not be appropriate for people who have experienced trauma as the blindfolds may frighten them. If anyone […]
Group Size: 10 to 20 Time Needed: 30 minutes or more Goal: To improve communication and trust Audience: Parents, Couples, Teens, Children, Singles Special Considerations: It is very important that a caring tone be set for this activity. Some people may not be comfortable being blindfolded; if so, they can sit this one out. If […]
Group Size: Any Time Needed: 11 to 20 minutes Goal: Discuss self-esteem and resiliency Audience: Couples, Teens, Parents, Children, Singles Special Considerations: None Resources Needed: One inflated beach ball (works well with a large ball) Step-by-Step Instructions Toss the ball and, as the participants take turns catching it, they should say one thing they like […]