23 Icebreaker Games And Activities For Teens

Teenagers meet a lot of new people. And sometimes, it can be awkward or downright stressful for them to meet someone for the first time. That's when icebreaker games for teens can come to their rescue.

Whether it is the first day of school or the first day of summer camp, teens can overcome awkwardness and nervousness by partaking in some icebreaker activities. The activities can help them bond, boost their confidence, and help build lifelong friendships. So, without further ado, introduce these games that can help break the ice and bring awkward teens together.

The icebreaker activities for teens provide momentum for small group discussion by:

  • Helping the new members integrate into a group and connect with each other in a group environment
  • Helping the group get to know each other
  • Helping young people get comfortable with each other
  • Encouraging working together and listening to others
  • Helping young people break out of their cliques
  • Building a rapport with the leaders
  • Creating a healthy atmosphere for participation and learning

23 Icebreaker Games And Activities For Teens

Here are some interesting icebreaker games for teens that help them to warm up and relax.

1. Balloon War:

You Will Need:

  • Balloons
  • Toothpick

How To:

  1. Divide the teens into two equal teams and give each other a packet of balloons. Make sure each package contains the same number and same color of the balloons.
  1. Each team will get 10 minutes to blow up as many balloons as possible.
  1. Each team now has to select one or more Popper, who'll get a set amount of time to destroy the balloons that belong to other teams.
  2. The team that has the maximum number of balloons will win the match.

2. Three In Our Crowd:

You Will Need:

  • Nothing

How To:

  1. Divide the teens into three teams. Each team has to find three things in common like the favorite season of the year, movie, favorite holiday and so on.
  1. One player will then introduce the group and share the three things that they have in common.
  1. You can even make the game a bit silly by asking the playing giving the introduction by using a voice like a show host.

3. People Pictionary:

You Will Need:

  • Pens
  • Cards

How To:

  1. Divide the teens into two teams, team A and team B.
  1. Tell the teens to sit down and write down a few things about themselves like what they like or what they desire, which they can use as clues in Pictionary.
  1. The leader of the game has to call up one player from each team and draw one of the cards of the opposite team.
  1. The player will go back to the team and try to draw the clues on a piece of paper. His team members have to guess who it is.
  1. When the team has guessed correctly, another player will run up to the leader of the group and draw another card and will repeat the same.
  1. It's important for cards to have a name so that the drawers know if their team's guess is correct or not.

4. Appointments:

You Will Need:

  • Cards with three names on separate lines and 3 to 4 sharing questions on the reverse of the card

How To:

  1. Give each player an appointment card and tell him that he has to make an appointment with someone else in the group. The appointments have to be with each other.
  1. Give around 30 seconds for taking the appointment and then tell everybody to sit down.
  1. Now that everyone has settled down, 'It's time for your first appointment'.
  1. Every player has to go to his or her respective partners and ask each other the questions written on the card.
  2. Give three to four minutes for each appointment and then finish the activity by asking the experience of talking to each other.

5. Time Bomb:

You Will Need:

  • Small foam or a tennis ball

How To:

  1. Tell the teens to sit in a circle, facing inwards and select one person to start the game.
  1. The player has to call out the name of one of the participants and throw the 'bomb' (the ball or foam) to him.
  1. That player has two seconds to say someone else's name and throw the ball to him. If the player takes too long to pass the ball, then he will be out of the game.
  1. Note- the players cannot take someone's name before throwing the 'bomb'. For more fun, try the game with two bombs. This is one of the funniest icebreaker games for teenagers.

6. Object Stories:

You Will Need:

  • Canvas bag
  • Everyday items like mobile phone, key ring, pencil, a holiday photograph and so on

How To:

  1. Gather the teens in a circle and select onE child as the leader.
  1. Collect a number of everyday items and place in a canvas bag.
  1. Pass the bag around the group and invite each person to dip their hand into the bag and pull out one of the objects, but without looking.
  1. The leader has to begin a story that includes his object. After 20 seconds of narration, the next player has to take up the story and add another 20 seconds, incorporating the item that they are holding.
  1. Continue the game until everyone has contributed to the tale.

7. Fact Or Fiction:

You Will Need:

  • Pen
  • Slips of paper

How To:

  1. Ask the teens to write three things about themselves on slips of paper, two true and one false. The things that they write about themselves must not be known to the others in the group.
  1. When everyone has written, tell the teens to take turns at reading out the three facts about themselves.
  1. The rest of the team has to guess which ones are real and which one is false.
  1. This is one of the simple icebreaker activities for teenagers which will help the them to know a bit better about each other.

8. Fongo Bingo:

You Will Need:

  • Pen
  • Paper

How To:

  1. Give each player a piece of pen and paper. Each player should be given 5 minutes to go around the room and ask the names of six people in the room whom they don't know so well.
  1. They even have to find out three things about each person, like their name, pet, family and so on.
  1. When all the players have collected the names and information on the six people, they'll play Bingo.
  1. Collect the list from all the players.
  1. To play bingo, you have to read out the name of the sheet in a random order.
  1. The player to tick off all the six names and yell 'Bingo' will be the winner of the round.
  1. The winner has to introduce the six people on the sheet and say what they found about them.

9. Frown King Or Queen:

You Will Need:

  • Nothing

How To:

  1. Divide the teens into pairs and tell them to stand back-to-back.
  1. On the count of three, everyone has to face their partner, look into each other eyes and try to frown, but without speaking.
  1. The first who tries to smile or laugh must sit down.
  1. The standing players will pair with each other, and the activity will continue until just two people remain.
  1. If two players are excellent at keeping a straight face, then you can divide them into teams. The opposite team will heckle to break down the opposing team's player.
  2. The last one standing will be crowned Frown Queen or Frown King

10. Human Knot:

You Will Need:

  • Nothing

How To:

  1. This game is best played with 6 to 10 players. If you have a large group of teens, then divide them into groups of 6 to 10 people.
  1. Each group has to form a tight circle while facing each other.
  1. Everyone has to extend their hands in the circle and have to interlock their arms and hands with the other members of the group. Make sure that the two hands they are holding do not belong to the same person.
  1. The goal of the group is to untie the knot. They can climb under, over and even through each other's arms to untie the knots.

11. Chair Basketball:

You Will Need:

  • Masking tape
  • Four baskets
  • Four basketballs
  • Chairs

How To:

  1. Divide the teens into two equal teams.
  1. Place the masking tape on the floor to divide the room into two equal sides. Arrange the chairs into three equally spaced rows. Place a basket on the corner of each side.
  1. Select one volunteer from each team to be the 'runner'. The runner can get up from his chair and pass the ball to his teammate, but he cannot pass to the opponent's side. The runners cannot even shoot the ball.
  1. When you say 'go,' each team will try to toss the ball into the basket.
  1. The basket made from the first row will get the team one point, the basket made from the second row will get the team two points, and the basket made from the third row will get the team three points.
  1. The team that earns the most points after 20 minutes of the game will be the winner.

12. Russian Roulette Balloon Pop:

You Will Need:

  • Balloons
  • Blindfold
  • Shaving cream

How To:

  1. Pick five volunteers to sit in front of the group.
  1. Blindfold each one of them and give them an inflated balloon.
  1. Before the game, the leader will put shaving cream inside one of the inflated balloons.
  1. The leader has to select one of the five volunteers to pick a balloon and explain that they are to sit on the balloon and pop it when the leader says 'go.'
  1. If you want, you can repeat the game with all the remaining teens until just one is left, who will be the winner.
  1. Note- do not fill the balloons to full. Keep a few extra-inflated balloons handy in case you need them.

13. Teeth:

You Will Need:

  • Nothing

How To:

  1. Make the teens sit in a circle and ask each of them to select a fruit or vegetable.
  1. The fun part of the game is that they have to say the name of the fruit or vegetable, but without showing the teeth. They have to speak with the lips over their teeth.
  1. The first player has to say their chosen fruit or vegetable two times, and another player's fruit or vegetable twice. For example, if the player has chosen Apple and they want to pass the game to someone who chose potato, then he would say, 'apple apple, potato, potato.' The second player has to say 'potato potato, celery, celery.'
  2. If a player shows his teeth, then they player who spots it has to tell the group by screaming 'teeth, teeth', but without showing the teeth in the process.

14. Take The Treasure:

You Will Need:

  • Chair
  • Rolled up newspaper
  • A set of keys

How To:

  1. Instruct the participants to sit in a large circle and place a chair in the middle. Place the 'treasure' (the set of keys) on the chair.
  1. Select a volunteer to guard the treasure from the thieves. You have to give him a rolled up newspaper to guard the treasure. But the guard has to protect the treasure while being blindfolded.
  1. Now select a thief from the circle. The thief has to attempt to sneak up to the chair and snatch the treasure, but without alerting the guard.
  1. The guard has to listen attentively for the thief and swat with a newspaper if he suspects foul play.
  1. If the thief is hit, then he has to return to the circle. And if he succeeds in stealing the treasure, then he gets to become the new guard. The old guard has to go back to the circle.

15. Crossword Names:

You Will Need:

  • Pen
  • Paper

How To:

  1. This game is best played in larger groups during summer camps or anywhere where people are meeting for the first time.
  1. Give pen and paper to each player in the group and ask them to write their first names in the middle of the paper but in capitals.
  1. Each player now has to move around, inviting others, including the leaders to attach their name in the place where the first letter matches a letter on the paper.
  1. The player who connects the most names at a given time will be the winner.

16. Trust Walk:

You Will Need:

  • Chairs
  • Two blindfolds

How To:

  1. Arrange the chairs in the room to create an obstacle path. Split the tens into equal teams.
  1. Blindfold two players, spin them two to three times and start the game.
  1. The objective of the game is to lead the team member to the end of the room using just the voice. One member of the team can even walk alongside the blindfolded player. The opposing team has to trick the blindfolded partner by giving wrong directions.
  1. The player that reaches the end of the room fastest will win a point for his team. If the player hits or touches a chair, he will be out for the round.
  1. Once the round is over, ask for another player from each team to go next. The game will continue until a team wins five points for his team.

17. Duct Tape Game:

You Will Need:

  • Ten rolls of heavy duty duct tape
  • Chair
  • Timer or watch

How To:

  1. Divide the teens into teams of 7 and evenly distribute the rolls of duct tape.
  1. Tell the groups to select one player from their team to be taped to the tree or wall. The volunteer has to stand on a chair against a wall or tree.
  1. Give each team five minutes for sticking their teammate to the tree or wall.
  2. Now remove the chairs and see if they can remain on the tree or wall for a minute. If the player manages to do it successfully, he'll be the winner.

18. Flag:

You Will Need:

  • Sheets of paper
  • Markers
  • Crayons
  • Paints

How To:

  1. Ask each teen to draw a flag that contains pictures or symbols describing who they are, what is most important to them and what they enjoy.
  1. Divide the flat into 4 to 6 segments. Each section will contain a picture depicting their favorite food, hobby, emotion, skill, and faith.
  1. Give each child 20 minutes to draw the flag. After every child has drawn the flag, explain the meanings of their flags.

19. Mask:

You Will Need:

  • Crayons
  • Scissors
  • Markers
  • Paints
  • White cards

How To:

  1. Give each player a white card and ask him or her to draw and cut out a life-sized shape of the face. They can even cut out the mouth and eyes if they want.
  1. Now tell the children to decorate the face of the card. One side will represent what he knows, sees and believes and the other side will express what they feel about themselves, what many do not know or see.
  1. This game is best played when the teens are comfortable with each other.

20. The Human Chair:

You Will Need:

  • Chairs

How To:

  1. Invite the teens to stand in a circle, from shoulder to shoulder.
  1. Each player has to turn to the right, to face the back of the person in front of him or her. The players then have to place their hands on the shoulder of the person in front.
  1. On the count of three, the players have to try to sit down on the lap of the person behind them.
  1. Everyone would be supporting the weight of someone else while helping the person in front of him or her to sit.
  1. It may take a few attempts to complete the challenge.

21. Lollipop Groups:

You Will Need:

  • Lollipops
  • Chairs
  • Pen
  • Paper

How To:

  1. The game will get the teens talking to each other.
  1. Gather a few different types of wrapped lollipops and tape under the chairs before the teens get to the room. The amount of lollipops you use should be evenly numbered.
  1. Create a list of questions that teens have to ask each other.
  1. Now explain the game to the teens. Everyone has to look underneath the seat, grab the lollipop and then find the other player in the room with the same lollypop.
  1. Once the team members have found their respective groups, they have to eat the lollipop, turn the wrapper into team badges and answer the questions written on the card.

22. Amoeba Race:

You Will Need:

  • Things to create obstacle like chairs, stools

How To:

  1. Divide the teens into teams of 5 or more players. The larger the team, the harder the game will get.
  1. Tie the rope around the entire team at the waist level. The rope should be tight, but should not hurt the students.
  1. Now get the team in the obstacle course and let them loose. Assign a time limit to complete the race. Or let a couple of teams race each other. The key here is to work together as a team to accomplish a goal.
  1. Note- you can play the game either outside or inside, just ensure that the course is safe and clearly defined.

23. Basketball Chinese Fire Drill:

You Will Need:

  • Basketballs

How To:

  1. This game is best played on a full-sized basketball court or with a gym that has two baskets.
  1. Divide the teens into a number of teams. The number of teams should be one more than the number of baskets you have.
  1. The extra team will get the basketball, and the other teams will get a basket to defend.
  1. When the game begins, the team with the ball has to attack one of the defended baskets. If the attacking team scores a basket, then they will take the ball with them and attack the next basket that is located counterclockwise in the court.
  1. If the defending team gets the ball before the attacking team scores, then the defending team will become the attacking team and will move to the next basket. The team that loses the ball will get to stay near the basket and protect it from the next attack. Repeat the pattern until the time ups.

For children to know each other and get comfortable in a group, you need to create a healthy environment. So, to get over the initial hesitation and be more warm and friendly, introduce icebreaker games for teens. You may choose from the list of games provided here. Games such as balloon war, people Pictionary, or time bombs do not require much planning. So, explore the entertaining games and choose the suitable games for your group of teenagers.

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Manjiri is a freelance writer with experience in writing on a wide range of topics, including travel, education, yoga, and children's activities, fun and learning. She is passionate about creative writing and loves to put her thoughts into words. Manjiri excels in breaking down complex information, ideas and aspects of life into simpler elements for an easy read.