Circle Games | Fun Youth Group Games for Kids

The Big Boss Game (Everyone Wants to Be The Boss!)

Trevor Circle Games, Energizers, Indoor Group Games, Party Group Games, Youth Camp Games December 24, 2022February 28, 2023big boss game, circle game, energizers 0 Comment

Everyone wants to be the Boss! Looking for an awesome small group circle game? Then you make like to try the Big Boss game.

Big Boss is wonderful for teaching listening and speaking skills to participants. It requires intense concentration. Without focus it will be near impossible to win the game.

The aim of the game is to be the Big Boss and to stay the Big Boss for as long as possible.

The game best suits people 8 years to adult, however, a modified version of the game can be run for younger participants.

Allow 5 minutes to explain the game and another 5 minutes to practise with the participants (takes a bit to get their heads around the game) before playing. The game runs for 15 to 30 minutes.

Once participants have become proficient at the game, it can be used as an Energizer between lessons. The Big Boss game is perfect for youth groups, camps and family parties.

Video Demonstrating the Big Boss Game

How to Play Big Boss

Preparation

Set up chairs (one for each player) in a circle facing inwards. Have one chair that is bigger than all the others. You may like to have (not a necessity) props and job labels.

Players sit in a chair. Each is assigned a job title. The Big Boss gets to have the biggest chair!

Job titles are in an order of seniority. They go as follows: Big Boss, Managing Director, Accountant, Secretary, Tea Lady, Toilet Cleaner, Unemployed (have multiples of each for more players).

How to Play

Big Boss starts by calling another player on the phone (use hand as a pretend phone) “Big Boss calling …”
The player called, must answer with their job title then call someone else, eg: “Managing Director calling Toilet Cleaner”.
Continue the game until a player fumbles.
The player that fumbles is demoted to Unemployed (move to Unemployed’s seat).
All players that were below the player being demoted get a promotion. They all move up a level and move to the next seat.
Each round always begins with Big Boss calling.

Fumbles include the following:

Saying “Um”
Being too slow to answer
Hesitation
Stuttering
Calling the person who calls them back
Answering the phone when not meant too

Note: introduce the fumbles gradually as participants get better at the game.

Playing Big Boss with younger players

Younger players will be challenged with remembering the somewhat complicated job titles. If you were to use the job titles it would help if they each wore the title on a tag attached to their shirts or hats (perhaps a headband).

An alternative is to have simpler titles such as the hierarchy in the animal kingdom: Lion, Bear, Fox, Rabbit, Mouse, Flea.

The participants may like to choose the characters for the game themselves. Another idea is to use Disney characters: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Tweedy Bird, Road Runner, Goofy etc.

Props for the Big Boss Game

People love to dress up. To help participants get into character introduce some props. Keep them simple, like one or two for each character.

Big Boss needs to look cool! Give him/her a pair of sunglasses and an important hat or tie to wear.
Managing Director is also considered to be important. He/she could wear important attire.
Accountant could wear a pair of reading glasses.
Tea Lady wear an apron or hold a tea pot.
Toilet Cleaner holds a toilet scrubber (clean one of course!)
Unemployed wears a sign ‘I need a job’.

Step Up the Difficulty

I find the more you play the Big Boss game the better the participants get… to the point where no one gets out. This is when additional conditions need to be applied to make the game difficult.

Suggestions to increase the difficulty of the game include:

Create complicated or longer job titles.
Include additional job titles.
Play the game where all participants must speak with their tongues poking out. This impedes their speech and thus messes with their concentration, causing them to make errors. Playing the game with tongues out adds a little fun to the game!

Final Thoughts

I’ve played Big Boss with many groups over the years. It has always been a favorite game for the kids (and adults too!).

I find Big Boss works best with smaller groups of between six and twelve. With larger groups, the game can become difficult to manage.

Why not give the game a try and let us know how you go with it. If you have other suggestions or variations to the game, please let us know so we can share with our audience.

Check out www.wackiapp.com for 70+ awesome youth group games

2 Epic Circle Ice Breakers (Play These Games Today!)

Trevor Circle Games, Energizers, Indoor Group Games, Party Group Games December 23, 2022February 28, 2023Circle Games, energizers, ice breakers 0 Comment

I’ve selected 2 very simple circle ice breakers you can play with your class, youth group, or team today. Simply watch our short demonstration videos below and read the game rules.

I personally like these two games, as they encourage people to step out of their comfort zones.

These are great games to help people in your group to get to know one another, or use these games as powerful energizers to break up lessons. Perfect for youth group camps!

Circle Ice Breakers Game Introductions

Name Name

This game is very easy to run. It is a fun game that can be played indoors or outdoors. Suitable for all ages with group sizes from six to twenty.

Players require focus and quick reflexes.

I Am Here

A brilliant circle game that promotes self-confidence. Students push their comfort zone by being ‘loud and proud’.

This game really works well with large groups. People of all ages can play with everyone being involved all at the same time. Beware though, the game does get a little crazy!

‘Name Name’ Circle Ice Breakers Demonstration Video

‘Name Name’ Game Rules

Aim: to tag a player before the player can call their own name and the Tagger’s name.

Form a circle with a player as ‘It’ in the middle.
‘It’ calls a name and races to tag that player before he/she can say their own name and the Tagger’s name.
If ‘It’ gets to the player before they can say the names, he/she becomes the new ‘It’.

3 Ways To Amp It Up:

‘It’ calls a player’s name and a times table question (eg Tom 3X6). The player must give the answer to 3X6 before ‘It’ tags them.
Use full names instead of just first names.
‘It’ passes a ball to the player. Player must catch the ball and then say his/her name and the name if the player who is ‘It’.

‘I Am Here’ Circle Ice Breakers Demonstration Video

‘I Am Here’ Game Rules

Aim: Players to engage in the game and step out of their comfort zones. There are no winners or losers, just participation.

Players form a circle around a chair (or mat).
One player is chosen. He/she strides out to the chair or mat and stands on it.
This player calls out loudly, “I am here”.
Then he/she calls another player’s name, pointing at them.
This new player walks out and repeats.
The game continues until everyone has had a turn.

Take the game to the next level

Encourage players to be creative with the way they announce their name. They can use weird voices, sing their name, use actions or do a little jig.

The final step with the game is to play ‘all in’.

Rather than each individual taking a turn in the circle, everyone becomes involved.

A player begins, but rather than just calling another person, they are to call two new people.
These two new people enter the circle (first player returns to the outer circle).
Both these players announce, “I am here!”.
Then both these players call two players each (then they return to the outer circle again).
The game goes on until everyone is shouting out their name in the circle and no one is left in the outer circle.

Note: the game needn’t be loud. Players could whisper names!

Final Thoughts

Circle Ice Breakers are often used as energizers. Energizers are games or activities used in group situations to raise the energy of the group. They help participants to be more alert and get to know one another, and they build confidence. There are many different energizers of varying complexity, exertion and length.

Please leave us a comment to tell us how you go with playing these games with your youth group.

For many more circle games download Wacki.

Exciting Indoor Youth Group Games (See 4 Unique Games)

Trevor Circle Games, Energizers, Indoor Group Games, Party Group Games, Team Building Games, Youth Camp Games December 31, 2020March 1, 2023Human Pinball, I Love You Honey, indoor youth group games, Poisonous Stump, Silent Tic Tac Toe 2 Comments

As a teenager, I belonged to a youth group. I took a leadership role with the younger youth in the group. Each week we met and my role was to run fun engaging group games with them. Here are some of the kid’s favourite indoor youth group games that I ran. These games make awesome energizers!

Human Pinball

A physical group game played with a ball.

Form a circle with feet touching the player’s feet next to you. One hand behind the back and the other hand is your bat. Feet spread apart are the goals. Each player has a goal. A ball is tossed in. Players bat the ball trying to shoot it between another player’s feet (their goal). If successful, that player is out! Players can also get out if the ball passes between two players, then both these players are both out. Players who get out can try and catch a stray ball on the full. If they manage to do so they can re-enter the game. Keep the game going until only two players remain.

Poisonous Stump

A fun energetic indoor youth group game. Anyone who touches the poisonous stump is out!

Form up a circle around a pile of cushions (the stump). Player all hold the wrists of the players either side of them. Game starts and players try and force another player to touch the poisonous stump, without touching it themselves. Any player who touches the stump is out and the circle reforms around the stump. Repeat the process until only one player remains!

I Love You Honey

A hilarious circle group game where players are not allowed to smile!

Players form a circle with a chosen person to start in the middle. This player holds a bunch of flowers. The player with the flowers approaches another player and presents their bunch of flowers then, using a romantic voice, says “I love you”. The player being presented the flowers must maintain a serious face and reply, “I love you too, but I’m not allowed to smile”. If this player smiles, then he/she is out. This player then takes the place of the player doing the serenading.

Silent Tic Tac Toe

Just like the pen and paper game, Naughts and Crosses, except this one is played with people (Girls vs Boys).

Set up nine chairs or nine mats with 3 rows of 3. Girls form one line and boys another. A player (say someone from the girl’s team) starts by selecting then sitting on a chair (or mat). Then a boy sits in a chair. Next a girl. Then a boy. Keep going until either the girls or the boys forms a row of three (3 boys or 3 girls). That team that forms a row of three wins the round. Repeat until one team wins five rounds to win the game. The game is called ‘Silent’ Tic Tac Toe, because players are not to speak or give any hints to team mates during the game.

Looking for more indoor youth group game ideas. Check out these Circle Games!

Plenty more fun indoor youth group games found on our Wacki App. Check out Wacki App HERE.

Dirty Santa- An Awesome Christmas Party Group Game!

Trevor Circle Games, Indoor Group Games, Party Group Games, Uncategorized November 29, 2020March 1, 2023Christmas Party Group Games, Dirty Santa, Dirty Santa Christmas Party Game 0 Comment

Christmas parties are always great fun! How about livening up your party this Christmas with a game of Dirty Santa! As the title suggests, this Christmas group game has a dirty twist to it which will have everyone in fits of laughter. It is important that players don’t take it too seriously.

The game is suitable for kids and adults and can be played at family Christmas parties, work/company parties and Christmas parties for kids.

I play Dirty Santa every Christmas with the students in my class. They love it!

The Aim of the Game

Everyone to have hilarious fun stealing gifts from one another… and each player to receive a little gift!

Before the Christmas Party

It is important to let guests know beforehand what to expect with playing a Christmas group game, so that they can come prepared. On your Christmas invites, let people know that you’ll be playing Dirty Santa. Give them the game rules and the expectations with the gift they are to bring- cost, theme and how to wrap it.

Type of Gift to Bring to the Game

With a group of about fifteen people it will take an hour to play. With more people, they game will need to be hastened (see tip below), otherwise it takes too long. Everyone who plays brings along a wrapped gift and places it secretly under the Christmas tree. Keep the gifts to an agreed low cost. It can be fun when people make them. The gifts can be serious or funny (or with adults a little rude!). For company Christmas parties you may like to have a theme for the gifts. With kids I keep the cost to about $10.

The gifts must be wrapped well and creatively to disguise what’s enclosed. Giving multiple layers of wrapping is fun, or have a small gift in a large wrapped box will fool those with ‘big eyes’. Try adding a scent to the wrapping, such as perfume.

Getting Started with Playing Dirty Santa

The host must explain the Dirty Santa game rules to the group so that everyone knows what’s expected. Keep it light-hearted.

Have everyone’s name go into a hat (alternatively everyone has a table number that corresponds with a matching number in the hat). A name/number is drawn and that person gets to select a gift from under the Christmas tree. The player opens it and keeps it visible for others to see in front of them.

The hat is passed around and another name/number is drawn. This person has a choice, either select a present from under the tree, or steal the first persons unwrapped present. If they take the present from the first player, then this player selects a new present from under the tree.

Now there are two players, each with an unwrapped present in front of them.

The hat is passed and another name/number is drawn. Once again, this player can either select a present from under the tree or steal from one of the two players with opened presents in front of them. If someone’s unwrapped gift is stolen, then that person can either steal from another player, or go fetch a new present.

The game continues until all the presents have been taken from under the Christmas tree.

Keeping the Flow

With large groups, Dirty Santa can drag on for too long. To keep it short and moving along, have all players firstly select a gift from under the Christmas tree. Once everyone has a gift, then allow for the stealing to take place. This will be manic as people rush about taking one another’s gifts! With large groups, it is important to set a time limit using a timer. Say five minutes.

An alternative, is to restrict the number of times a gift can be stolen from a player to just three times. Once the player has been stolen from three times, that player is out of the game and they place their gift out of view. This is the gift they get to keep!

With smaller groups, there is no need to hold off the stealing until the end. Allow more time for stealing. This can take place throughout the game, rather than at the end. It is still a good idea to set a limit to the number of times a player can be stolen from to three.

Steal-backs

When a player is stolen from, they are not permitted to steal the same gift back again. They need to wait for another opportunity to steal back a ‘favourite’ gift.

Now You’re Dirty Santa Christmas Party Game is All Set to Go!

Christmas time is a fun occasion for everyone! Dirty Santa is an awesome addition to Christmas parties! Combined with good food, bon-bons, festive music, dance and other Christmas party games, this upcoming Christmas will be one to remember!

Checkout some of our Wacki Indoor Group Games, Circle Group Games and Energizers for more awesome Christmas Party Group Games to liven up your Christmas!

Awesome Circle Games for Kids (With Quick Demo Videos)

Trevor Circle Games, Energizers, Indoor Group Games, Youth Camp Games November 18, 2020March 1, 2023Circle Games, Circle Group Games, Small Group Circle Games 0 Comment

Circle games for kids are fantastic for team building. They are usually smaller indoor group games requiring little or no equipment, can be set up super quick and are great fun!

As a classroom teacher, I like to use circle games to energize students between lessons. A teacher who fosters relationships with his/her students will have better engaged students. Remember, ‘kids don’t care what you think unless you care’. Small group circle games are an excellent tool for developing strong bonds between students and between students and their teacher.

Here Are My Top Five Circle Games for Kids

Karate Chop

Aim to be the last left in the game.

Players stand in a tight circle and take up a Karate stance, then freeze. A player starts and must chop the arm of a player either side of them.

The player being chopped must try and move their hand away to avoid being chopped. Hands freeze as soon as the move has been completed.

The next person in the circle now tries to do the same. This continues around the circle. If a player has an arm chopped, their arm is then out of the game. Lose both arms and the player is out!

This fun group game requires concentration and quick reflexes.

Bunny Bunny

Aim to be the last left in the game.

A ‘Bunny’ is chosen. He/she puts up their hands as bunny ears. The players either side put up one hand (next to Bunny) to represent one ear.

To start, the Bunny calls another player’s name by saying, “Bunny, bunny Tom”.

Tom becomes the new Bunny. He puts up his two ears, with players either side putting up one ear.

Now Tom calls the next Bunny. This continues. Players get out if they mess things up or they are too slow.

This is a great energizer game that can be played between lessons!

Bang!

Aim to be the last left in the game.

A player starts by calling another player’s name. That player must duck to the ground as fast as they can. The players either side of him/her must shoot at each other calling, “Bang!” If the player who ducked is too slow, he/she is out. If he/she did duck quickly, then the player who was slowest to shoot and call “bang” is out.

Now the player who did the ducking calls the next name.

Another fun indoor circle game that requires concentration and quick reflexes. Could also use the game for teaching times tables, instead of players shooting and calling “bang”, they call out the answer to a times table.

Jockeys Up

Aim to be the last pair left in the game.

Players form pairs, then form an inner circle and an outer circle with one player from the pair in each of the circles.

Players in the inner circle are the horses whilst the players in the outer circle are the jockeys.

The team leader calls, “Horses go”. The horses stay in their circle and gallop in a clockwise direction.

Next the leader calls, “Jockeys go”. Jockeys stay in their circle and jog in an anti-clockwise direction.

Team leader may call, “Reverse” and horses and Jockeys change direction.

Then team leader calls, “Jockeys Up!”

Quickly jockeys must find their horse partner and jump on their back. The slowest pair are out. Keep the group game going until only one pair remains.

Screaming Toes

Everyone gets out!

Team leader calls, “toes”. All players must look down and focus on another player’s toes.

Team leader counts, “1, 2, 3”. Players look up and must look straight at the person whose toes they were focussing on. If that player is looking right back at them, they must both scream as loud as they can. They are then out of the game.

Team leader calls “toes” again and the game repeats until everyone is out! This is a goofy game!

Looking for more Circle Games? Here is a selection of indoor youth group games that make great energizer games.

Wackiapp has all these circle group games, and many more! Short engaging instructional videos for you and your kids to watch, learn and play! Click HERE to check out the app.