- Contact Sales
- Inspire & Impact Collection |
- 45 team building games to improve commu ...
45 team building games to improve communication and camaraderie
Team building games bring everyone together without the added pressure of work. Here, we’ve listed 45 of the top team building activities broken down by icebreaker, problem solving, indoor, and outdoor games.
As Ashley Frabasilio, Employee Engagement Manager at Asana puts it, “Creating a shared experience for teams to build relationships is one of the best ways to increase trust and encourage collaboration."
Whether you’re looking for indoor or outdoor activities, quick icebreaker games, or activities to bond with your remote team members, we compiled a list of over 45 team building games that you’ll actually enjoy.
How to make team building inclusive
Teams with an inclusive culture tend to be more transparent, supportive, and happy because everyone feels accepted. It’s essential to make any team activity feel productive and enjoyable for the entire group, regardless of personalities or skill sets. Whether you’re working on building an inclusive remote culture or want in-person teams to feel more comfortable together, consider the following for an inclusive team building experience:
Inclusive team building means including everyone. Depending on the type of team building activity, you may benefit from hiring an outside expert to facilitate a team building event that everyone can participate in. Plus, the activity may feel more authentic because a professional is guiding you.
If you have introverts on the team, they may not be as excited about an exercise that involves lots of social interaction and do better in small groups.
Teammates with speech, sight, or hearing impairments may feel left out during a game that involves blindfolding players and communicating without looking at each other.
Physically active games could exclude physically impaired teammates.
Before choosing one of the team building games from this list, take stock of everyone's abilities. Find an activity that everyone on your team can participate in. Maybe even send out an anonymous poll to see what kinds of activities your team would be willing to partake in. Ultimately, the best team building activity will be the one that everyone can enjoy.
Team icebreaker games
Icebreaker questions and activities are the perfect “getting to know you” games but they’re also fun to play with teammates you’ve known for a long time. You can play them to get everyone up to speed for a meeting (especially on those 8am calls) or use them to introduce new team members.
1. Two truths, one lie
Team size : 3+ people
Time : 2–3 minutes per person
How to play : Ask everyone in the group to come up with two facts about themselves and one lie. The more memorable the facts (e.g., I went skydiving in Costa Rica) and the more believable the lies (e.g., I have two dogs), the more fun the game will be! Then, ask each team member to present their three statements and have the group vote on which one they think is the lie.
Why this exercise is great : This game is perfect for groups who don’t know each other well yet. The details you share can be used as building blocks for late conversations (“What else did you do in Costa Rica?”) to give you a better idea of who you’re working with.
2. Penny for your thoughts
Team size : 5+ people
How to play : You’ll need a box full of pennies (or other coins) with years only as old as your youngest team member (not the time to brag about your 1937 collector’s penny). Ask every team member to draw a coin from the box and share a story, memory, or otherwise significant thing that happened to them that year. This can be anything from learning how to ride a bike to landing your first job.
Why this exercise is great : This is a fun twist on a stress-free and simple icebreaker that gives everyone the chance to share a personal story with their team. You can play multiple rounds if the stories are on the shorter side or let team members elaborate on their stories to gain deeper insight into their lives.
3. Mood pictures
How to play : Prepare a variety of images before you play. You can collect newspaper clippings, magazine cutouts, postcards, and posters or print out different images from the internet (Pinterest is a great spot). The images should show landscapes, cities, people, shapes, or animals in a variety of colors and perspectives.
Lay all the images out and ask team members to each pick one that resonates with their current mood. Once everyone has picked an image, ask them to share what they resonated with, how it makes them feel, and why they picked it.
Why this exercise is great : This exercise is a great way to get a meeting or a workshop started because it allows you to get a feel of the room in a creative and unexpected way. You don’t always have to ask your team to pick an image that reflects their mood—it can also be their expectations for a workshop, their feelings about a current project, or how they hope to feel at the end of the day. As they say, a picture’s worth a thousand words, so this exercise makes talking about feelings easier for a lot of people.
4. One word exercise
Time : 5–10 minutes
How to play : Pick a phrase related to the meeting topic and ask everyone to write down one word that comes to mind on a post-it. Then, gather these words on a whiteboard or put them in a presentation. For example, if you’re hosting a meeting about your annual holiday event. Everyone would take a moment to respond with the first word that comes in their head. If the team is responding with words like stress or exhaustion, you might want to rethink your process.
Why this exercise is great : This is a way to collect opinions, thoughts, or feelings about a meeting that’s well within most people’s comfort zone. You’ll have the chance to read the room before diving into the topic and may uncover some concerns or questions to focus on, which will make the meeting more beneficial to everyone.
5. Back-to-back drawing
Team siz e: 4+ people
Time : 5–10 minutes
How to play : Split your team into groups of two and make them sit back to back. Hand one person a pen and piece of paper and show the other person a picture of something that’s fairly simple to draw (e.g., a car, a flower, a house). This person now has to describe the picture to their teammate without actually saying what the item is so they can draw it. They’re allowed to describe shapes, sizes, and textures but can’t say, “Draw a lily.” Once the blind drawing is finished, compare it with the original to see how well you communicated.
Why this exercise is great : This activity is a fun way to polish your communication skills, especially your listening skills. It also gives your team a chance to get creative and innovative by thinking outside the box to describe the image to their teammate.
6. Birthday line up
Team size : 8+ people
Time : 10–15 minutes
How to play : Ask your entire team to form a line in order of their birthdays without talking to each other. You can encourage other forms of communication like sign language, gestures, or nudges. If you want to add a little bit of pressure and excitement to the exercise, add a time limit!
Why this exercise is great : Besides learning everyone’s birthday (which can always come in handy as a conversation starter later on), this exercise encourages your team to learn to communicate towards a common goal without using words. Although this can be a challenge and get frustrating, this exercise promotes problem framing skills, cooperation, and non-verbal communication skills.
7. Charades
Team size : 8–10 people
Time : 10–25 minutes
How to play : Divide your team into groups of four or five people. The person who goes first is given or shown a random object (e.g., printer, stapler, keyboard) in private. They then have to demonstrate how to use the object without actually showing it in front of their team. Their team gets 30 seconds on the clock to shout out the correct word (you can adjust the time depending on the difficulty of the objects).
Then it’s the other team’s turn. You’ll keep playing until every team member has had the chance to demonstrate an object to their team.
Why this exercise is great : This classic game is a nice way to break up a mentally taxing day and get your team to do a creative exercise that isn’t work-related.
8. Swift swap
Team size : 10–20 people
How to play : Split your team into two groups and line them up facing each other. Team A gets a quick observation period (15–30 seconds) in which group members have to memorize as many things about the people in front of them as possible. Then team A turns around while team B changes as many things about their appearance as possible.
Anything from changing the line up order to swapping shoes with someone or changing your hairdo is fair game. After about 45 seconds, team A turns back around and gets 5–10 minutes to find out what’s changed. You can adjust the time depending on the size of your group.
Why this exercise is great : This game is a great way to break up a long day and take everyone’s minds off work for a little while. Your team also gets to practice time-sensitive non-verbal communication during the swapping phase.
9. Code of conduct
Time : 20–30 minutes
How to play : This game is a great way to tune into a new project or workshop. Write the two categories “meaningful” and “enjoyable” on a whiteboard and ask the group to share what they believe is needed to accomplish these two things for your project or workshop. This can be anything from “regular breaks'' to “transparency and honesty,” which could fall under either category.
Everyone will choose ideas that they agree are both meaningful and enjoyable . Record these values in a shared tool to establish the code of conduct for your upcoming project or workshop. This list will function as a reminder for the team to uphold these values.
Why this exercise is great : Whether it’s the first day of a workshop, the beginning of a new project, or simply a Monday morning, this exercise is great to get everyone on your team on the same page. By establishing group norms and values early on and holding everyone accountable with a written code of conduct, you can create a sense of cohesiveness. If you’d like to do this exercise virtually, use our team brainstorming template to collect everyone’s thoughts.
10. Common thread
Team size : 10+ people
Time : 30 minutes
How to play : Divide your team into groups of three to five people. Then ask your team to find things everyone in their group has in common. This can be a favorite TV show, an ice cream flavor nobody likes, or a common hobby. Encourage your teammates to find common threads that aren’t too superficial or obvious. The more things they can find that everyone in the group has in common, the better! If you have the time, bring everyone together afterward and ask the teams to share their experiences.
Why this exercise is great : This fun game allows your team to find commonalities that they may not get a chance to discover otherwise. It’s also a great way to reunite teams that feel a bit divided. Talking about shared likes and dislikes can be helpful to reconnect you with teammates.
Remote or virtual team building games
Bonding with your teammates can be more difficult when you’re working remotely. Remote or virtual team building games can improve remote collaboration , motivate teams , and create a sense of community even though you’re physically apart. You can use Zoom to connect with your teammates or do quick team building exercises via your remote work software during the day.
If your team is located across multiple time zones, you may have to get creative with scheduling. Ashley Frabasilio, Employee Engagement Manager at Asana encourages leaders to schedule these activities during normal work hours. Ensure that the activity is appropriate for all participants in all time zones so no one feels excluded. Using work hours for these exercises can also increase the participation rate because you’re not interfering with personal time.
11. Show and tell
How to play : Ask everyone in your team to bring something they’re proud of or that brings them joy to your next meeting. This can be anything from a pet to a plant, a painting they did, or a certificate they received. Everyone gets two to three minutes to show off their item and answer questions from the team if they have any.
Why this exercise is great : Show and tell isn’t just fun for kids, it’s also a great way to connect with your team. You’re probably going to learn something new about your teammates and may get a couple of conversation starters for your next meeting from this game.
12. Photo caption contest
How to play : Collect a few funny photos—for example a few memes that have recently been circling the internet. Send these to your team before the meeting and ask everyone to submit their best photo caption for each image. You can put these together in a quick presentation and present them to your team during the call. You can have a good laugh together and even vote for the best captions.
Why this exercise is great : This exercise is a fun way to get creative as a team and have a good laugh together.
13. Morning coffee
Time : 15–30 minutes
How to play : Schedule regular coffee calls for your remote team to give everyone a chance to get to know each other like they would in an office setting. You can schedule team calls with four to five people or randomly assign two people to each other that switch every time. You can offer these casual calls once a week, bi-weekly, or once a month, depending on your team size and the interest in this opportunity.
Why this exercise is great : Remote teams don’t often get a chance to just chit-chat and get to know each other without talking about work or feeling like they’re wasting meeting time. By designating 15–30 minutes on a regular basis to a casual call, your team members will have a chance to bond with people they might not typically interact with.
14. Lunch and learn
How to play : Hold a weekly or monthly “lunch and learn” where one team member presents a topic to the whole team during their lunch break. This presentation can be on a tool everyone uses at work, on a lesson learned from a recent project, or even on a book they read that everyone can learn from.
Why this exercise is great : These events are a great opportunity for your team to connect in a more casual yet educational setting. If your team budget allows, send restaurant gift cards to your team members so they can order lunch for the call.
15. Online group game
Time : 30–60 minutes
How to play : Invite your team to play a game online together. This can be an actual video game if everyone happens to use the same console at home or you can download an interactive game (like Jackbox ) which you can screen share with the rest of the group.
Why this exercise is great : Playing a video game or an interactive game that has nothing to do with work can be a fun way to switch things up, create a more casual work environment, and get to know each other better. It will also give people with great sportsmanship a chance to shine!
16. Trivia games
Team size : 6–20 people
Time : 30–90 minutes
How to play : Start a meeting with a quick game of trivia or host a regular virtual trivia night at the end of the work day. You can play a game of office trivia (e.g., facts about the company) or pick random other themes like TV shows, music, or national parks. To mix things up, ask other team members to host trivia night.
Why this exercise is great : Whether you’re making the trivia game office-themed or creating a regular team activity that takes everyone’s minds off of work, you’ll get to spend time with your team playing a competitive, educational, and entertaining game that gives everyone a chance to bond.
17. Quarterly challenge
Time : One month
How to play : Create an optional challenge for your team to participate in. The challenge can be centered around healthy eating, meditation, journaling, or reading. Create a chat or thread where your teammates can exchange their experiences, wins, and questions to keep each other motivated and accountable throughout the month.
Make sure your team knows that participation is optional. It never hurts to ask for feedback to spark future team challenge ideas.
Why this exercise is great : Creating a challenge like this for your team shows them that you care about their work-life balance. By offering a quarterly challenge, you provide your team with the opportunity to share an experience together. Plus, it’s always easier to complete a challenge when you have a team who supports you and an incentive to work toward.
18. Personality test
How to play : Send a personality test to your team and ask everyone to share their results in a chat or during your next team meeting. This can be a formal test like the Enneagram or StrengthsFinder . For something more lighthearted, you can send a fun quiz like the Sorting Hat to find out which Hogwarts house you belong in or a Buzzfeed quiz (e.g., “ What Kitchen Appliance Are You? ”).
Why this exercise is great : Depending on the type of quiz your team takes, this can become a funny icebreaker before you start a meeting or turn into a discussion on your team’s combined strengths and challenges.
Problem solving games
Playing problem solving games with your team helps them level up their teamwork skills, resolve issues, achieve goals, and excel together. Whether you’re using new brainstorming techniques or going out for a team adventure, these fun team building activities are the perfect way to improve your team's problem solving skills.
19. Your first idea
Team size : 5–12 people
Time : 10–20 minutes
How to play : Ask everyone in your team to write down the first idea that pops into their head when they’re presented with the problem. Compile the list and review it as a team.
A fun twist on this game is to ask everyone to write down their worst idea. After reviewing with the team, you may realize that some ideas aren’t that bad after all. You can play this game with a real-life problem, a fictional one, or when you’re brainstorming new ideas to pitch.
Why this exercise is great : We often get too much into our heads about problems and solutions. By writing down the first solution that comes to mind, we can uncover new perspectives and fixes.
20. Back of the napkin
Team size : 6–24 people
Time : 15–20 minutes
How to play : Divide your team into groups of two to four and present them with a variety of open-ended problems. These can be work-related, imaginary, or even environmental problems. Every team gets a napkin and pen that they have to sketch or write their solution on after they’ve discussed the issue as a group. These will then be presented to the rest of the team.
Why this exercise is great : Some of the best ideas have allegedly been recorded on napkins (hey, when creativity strikes you’ll write on anything). This game imitates this scenario while challenging your team to collaborate on solving a creative problem.
21. Create your own
How to play : Each team member will create an original problem-solving activity on their own and present it to the group. Whether this entails a physical, mental, or creative challenge is up to your team. If you have the time, play some of the games afterward!
Why this exercise is great : Coming up with your own games is fun and a real creative challenge. It also allows your team members to showcase their strengths by creating challenges they’ll be prepared to tackle.
22. Spectrum mapping
Team size : 5–15 people
How to play : Present your team with a few topics that you’d like their opinions and insight on. Write them down on a whiteboard and give everyone sticky notes and pens. Ask them to write down their thoughts and pin them on the whiteboard underneath the respective topic.
Now arrange the sticky notes as a team. Try to group similar ideas together to the left of the topic and post outliers toward the right side. This will create a spectrum of popular thoughts and opinions on the left and more extreme ideas on the right.
Why this exercise is great : This game will help you map out the diversity of perspectives your team has on different topics. Remember that unpopular opinions don’t have to be wrong. Embracing this diversity can help you uncover new perspectives and innovative ideas to solve problems you’re facing as a team.
23. What would “X” do?
Team size : 5–10 people
Time : 45–60 minutes
How to play : Present your team with a problem and ask everyone to come up with a famous person or leader they admire. This can be a celebrity, a business person, or a relative. Challenge your teammates to approach the problem as if they were that person and present their solution (extra points for playing in character).
Why this exercise is great : Getting stuck in your own head can often keep you from solving a problem efficiently and effectively. By stepping into the shoes of someone else, you may uncover new solutions. Plus, it’s fun pretending to be someone else for a little while!
24. Team pursuit
Time : 1–3 hours
How to play : Form groups of two to six people that will compete against one another in a series of challenges. You can buy a team pursuit package online or create your own game, which will take a good amount of prep time.
You’ll want to create a set of challenges for your team: cerebral challenges that test logic and intelligence, skill challenges like aptitude tests, and mystery challenges which usually ask for creativity and out-of-the-box thinking (e.g., come up with a unique handshake, take a fun picture, etc.).
Why this exercise is great : A solid game of team pursuit will create a fun challenge that gives everyone a chance to shine and show off their talents. Whether you’re a good runner, a quick thinker, or a creative mind, everyone will be able to contribute to the success of the team. This game will bring your team closer together and show them new sides of their teammates that they may not have been aware of.
25. Code break
Team size : 8–24 people
How to play : This brain teaser is a fun activity that you can play indoors or outdoors to challenge your team. Outback Team Building offers self-hosted, remote-hosted, and on-site hosted events that include several codes your teammates have to find and break to make it through the course.
Why this exercise is great : This challenge requires creative thinking, creates a competitive environment, and works with large groups because you can break off into smaller groups.
26. Escape room
Time : 2–3 hours
How to play : Visiting an escape room is always a unique experience and a great way to spend an afternoon with your team. If you have multiple escape rooms nearby, ask your team if they have a general idea of what theme they’d like to explore (e.g., history, horror, sci-fi) and try to pick something you’ll think everyone will enjoy.
If you’re super creative and have the time and resources, you can put together an escape room on your own!
Why this exercise is great : Solving the mysteries of an escape room with your team will reveal the strengths and weaknesses of your teammates, foster communication and collaboration, build trust, and become a shared memory that connects you together.
Indoor team building games
Most of these indoor games can be played in an office, conference room, or a hallway with a small team, but you may need a bit more space if you’re inviting a larger group to join in.
27. Perfect square
Team size : 4–12 people
How to play : Divide your team into groups of four to six and ask them to stand in a tight circle with their group. Ask everyone to blindfold themselves or close their eyes and give one person a rope. Without looking at what they're doing, the teams now have to pass the rope around so everyone holds a piece of it and then form a perfect square. Once the team is sure their square is perfect, they can lay the rope down on the floor, take off their blindfolds (or open their eyes) and see how well they did.
Why this exercise is great : This game is about more than perfect geometric shapes, it’s an amazing listening and communication exercise. Because no one can see what they're doing, your team members have to communicate clearly while figuring out how to create a square out of a rope. Besides, it’s often really funny to see how imperfect the squares come out.
28. Memory wall
How to play : You’ll need a whiteboard and sticky notes for this game. Write different work-related themes on the whiteboard such as “first day at work,” “team celebration,” and “work travel.” Hand each teammate a few sticky notes and ask them to write down their favorite memories or accomplishments associated with one or more of these themes. Invite everyone to share these with the team to take a walk down memory lane and post the notes on the whiteboard as you go.
Why this exercise is great : This is a nice way to end a week, long day, or workshop because you’ll share positive experiences with one another that will leave your teammates smiling. If you’re finishing up a work trip or multi-day workshop, you can also do a slimmed-down version of this by asking everyone to share their favorite memory or biggest accomplishment of the last few days.
29. Turn back time
How to play : This team building exercise works best in a quiet atmosphere with everyone sitting in a circle. Ask your team to silently think of a unique memory in their lives. You can give them a few minutes to collect their thoughts. Then, ask everyone to share the one memory they’d like to relive if they could turn back time.
Not everyone may be comfortable opening up at first, so be sure to lead with vulnerability and make everyone in the room feel safe about sharing their moment.
Why this exercise is great : This exercise is a great way to help your team members remember their priorities and bond on a deeper level. In a team that’s facing disconnection or stress, sharing personal highlights that aren’t work-related can help create a sense of togetherness. Although the exercise doesn’t take too long, it’s best to do it toward the end of the day so your team has a chance to reflect on what’s been said.
30. Paper plane
Team size : 6–12 people
How to play : Split your team into groups of two to four and hand out card stock. Give each team 10–15 minutes to come up with the best long-distance paper plane design (they’re allowed to do research on their phones or computers) and a name for their airline.
When the paper planes are done, have a competition in a long hallway or outside to see which plane flies the farthest.
Why this exercise is great : This exercise requires team members to collaborate on a project with a tight timeline. It is a great activity to practice communication skills, delegation, and time management.
31. Build a tower
Team size : 8–16 people
How to play : Divide your team into groups of four or five and provide them with 20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. Challenge each team to build the tallest tower possible using only the supplies you gave them. When finished, the tower has to support the marshmallow sitting on top. Set the timer for 20 minutes and ask everyone to step away from their masterpiece when it runs out so you can crown a winner.
Why this exercise is great : This challenge is a great way to improve problem solving skills and communication within your team. Your team members will have to prototype, build, and present the tower in a short amount of time, which can be stressful. The better they work together, the more likely they are to succeed.
32. Flip it over
Team size : 6–8 people
How to play : Lay a towel, blanket, or sheet on the floor and ask your teammates to stand on it. The goal is to flip the piece over without ever stepping off of it or touching the ground outside of the fabric. You can make the challenge more difficult by adding more people to the team or using a smaller sheet.
Why this exercise is great : This exercise requires clear communication, cooperation, and a good sense of humor. It’s a great way to find out how well your teammates cooperate when presented with an oddly difficult task.
33. Sneak a peek
Team size : 4–20 people
How to play : Create a structure out of Lego pieces and hide it in a separate room. Divide your team into groups of two to four people and give them enough Legos to replicate the structure in 30 minutes or less.
One player per team is allowed to sneak a peek at the original structure for 15 seconds, then run back and describe it to their team. The person who gets to sneak a peek rotates so everyone gets to see the original at some point during the game. The team that first completes the structure as close to the original wins!
Why this exercise is great : During this game your team gets to focus on teamwork and communication. Since only one person at a time is allowed to look at the original, team members may see and describe different things. The more complex the structure is, the harder this game will be.
34. Pyramids
How to play : Pick a large open area for this game like a hallway, a meeting room, or the cafeteria. Divide your team into groups of four to six and give each team 10 paper cups. Ask the teams to stand in a line with about 8–10 feet between the team members. Now it’s a race against time!
The first person in each line has to build a pyramid with four cups at the base. Once they’re done, the second player has to help them carry the pyramid to their station (this can be on the floor or at a table). They can slide it on the floor or carry it together but if the pyramid falls apart, the players have to reassemble it on the spot before continuing their journey. At the next station, the second player has to topple the pyramid and rebuild it before the third player gets to help them carry it to the next station. This continues until the pyramid reaches the last station. The team that finishes first wins the game
Why this exercise is great : This game is fun to play during a mid-day break, fosters communication skills, and promotes teamwork.
35. Shipwrecked
Team size : 8–25 people
How to play : The premise of the game is that you’re stranded on a deserted island and only have 25 minutes to secure survival items off the sinking ship. Place items like water bottles, matches, food, etc., in the “shipwreck area.” You can also print pictures on index cards to make things a bit easier. The quantity of each item should be limited, with some items having more than others (e.g., more water than food, fewer tarps than teams, more knives than ropes, etc.).
Divide your team into groups of two (or more if it’s a large team). Once the clock starts, they have to gather as many items as they deem worthy from the shipwreck and rank them in order of importance. Since the items are limited (some more than others), the teams will not only have to prioritize the items within their own group of people but also negotiate, trade, and exchange items with other teams.
Why this exercise is great : This game will challenge problem-solving abilities, encourage collaboration, and enable your team to flex their leadership skills. Typically, teams with strong leadership qualities will have the most success in making these quick decisions.
36. Team flag
Time : 30–45 minutes
How to play : Divide your team into groups of two to four people and provide them with paper and pens. Each group now has to come up with an emblem or flag that represents their team. Once everyone has completed their masterpiece, they have to present it to the rest of the teams, explaining how they came up with the design. This exercise is also a great opportunity to discuss how each group identified their common values and created alignment during the design process.
Why this exercise is great : This is a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Your team will not only have to come up with a unique design that represents their collective identity but they’ll also have to collaborate on putting pen to paper and presenting their flag or emblem at the end of the game.
37. Salt and pepper
How to play : You’ll need a list of things that go well together like salt and pepper, left sock and right sock, day and night, peanut butter and jelly, or yin and yang. Write these words on individual pieces of paper and tape one sheet of paper on every team member's back.
Ask your team to mingle and find out what’s written on their back by asking questions that can only be answered with yes or no (e.g., “Am I sweet? Do you wear me? Am I cold?”). Once the participants find out who they are, they have to find their match!
Why this exercise is great : Your team can use this game to bond with one another and improve their communication skills. If you have a large team, this exercise also gives them a chance to interact with people they may not usually get to talk to.
38. Sell it
Time : 45–90 minutes
How to play : Ask your teammates to each bring a random object to the meeting. Everyone then has to come up with a logo, slogan, and marketing plan to sell this object. After 30 minutes, each team member has to present their new product to the rest of the team. If you have a larger team, divide them into groups of 2–4 people and ask them to collaborate on their product pitch.
Why this exercise is great : This game is great to switch things up if you don’t already work in marketing or sales. It’s also fun to play with others as it allows your team to get creative and have fun with everyday objects.
39. The barter puzzle
Time : 1–2 hours
How to play : Divide your team into groups of three or four people and give each a different jigsaw puzzle of the same difficulty level. Ask them to complete the puzzle as a team. The twist: each puzzle is missing a few pieces that are mixed in with an opposing team’s puzzle. The teams have to figure out ways to get the pieces they need from the other teams by negotiating, trading pieces, or even exchanging teammates. Every decision has to be made as a team. The first team to complete their puzzle wins.
Why this exercise is great : Every decision made will have to be a group decision which challenges your team to improve their problem solving skills.
Outdoor team building exercises
If you want to get a larger group together for a team building exercise, why not take things outside? Outdoor team building is also a great way to get your teammates to interact without the distractions of screens or smartphones. Whether you want to catch a breath of fresh air or get some sunshine together, these exercises will help you bond with your teammates outside of the office.
40. The minefield
Team size : 4–10 people
How to play : Create a minefield in a parking lot or another large, open space by sporadically placing objects like papers, balls, cones, and bottles. Split your team into groups of two and ask one person to put on a blindfold. The other person now has to guide the blindfolded teammate through the minefield only using their words. The blindfolded person is not allowed to talk and will be eliminated if they stop walking or step on anything in the minefield.
The objective of the game is to make it to the other side of the minefield. The teams can then switch so another person will be blindfolded and guided through the field on their way back. You can also distribute pieces the blindfolded person has to pick up on their way through the field to add another difficulty level.
Why this exercise is great : This game is not just a trust exercise for your teammates but also a fun way to practice active listening skills and clear communication.
41. Earth-ball
Team size : 5–20 people
Time : 15–45 minutes
How to play : You’ll need a balloon, beach ball, or volleyball for this activity. Ask your team to stand in a circle and keep the balloon or ball in the air for as long as possible. To make it a real challenge, no one can touch the ball twice in a row. The bigger your team, the more fun this game will be!
Why this exercise is great : This fun challenge is a great way to get your team moving. If you’re struggling to keep the ball up for longer, try to come up with a strategy to improve your time.
42. Scavenger hunt
How to play : Put together a scavenger hunt for your team. This can be in the form of a list of photographs they have to take (e.g., something red, all teammates in front of the company logo, the CEO’s car, etc.), items they have to collect (e.g., company brochure, yellow sticky note with manager’s signature on it, ketchup packet from the cafeteria, etc.), or other activities they have to complete on a designated route.
Why this exercise is great : The more people that tag along, the more fun this game will be. You can group people together who don’t know each other very well to allow them time to bond during this exercise. Try to come up with company-specific quests for your team so they learn a few fun facts along the way. You can offer prizes for the most creative team or the first to finish the challenge to boost motivation.
43. Egg drop
Time : 60–90 minutes
How to play : Divide your team into groups of two or three people and give each team a raw egg (keep some extras in case they break before the grand finale). Then put out supplies like tape, straws, rubber bands, newspapers, and balloons so the teams can build a structure for the raw egg that will protect it from a fall out of a second or third story window.
Each team has 60 minutes to complete their structure. When the time is up, ask your teams to gather their eggs and egg cages to drop them out of the window. This grand finale will reveal which team engineered and built the best cage.
Why this exercise is great : Collaborating on a design and building a cage will challenge your team’s problem solving and collaboration skills.
44. Team outing
Team size : Any
How to play : Plan an outing for your team. You could attend a cooking class or go to a museum together. If you want to have something your teammates can work toward, plan to run a 5K together or host a ping pong tournament. You can also do something more casual like inviting your team to hangout at a bowling alley after work where you can play a few games in a casual and fun setting.
Why this exercise is great : Taking your team somewhere new will help break down some of the walls we often build in a professional setting. While you’re still at a company function, you’re more inclined to connect through casual conversation at a restaurant or park than you would at the office.
45. Volunteer as a team
How to play : Organize a team event during your regularly scheduled workday. This can be a charity event, yard sale, or fundraiser for a cause your team cares about. Even though these are enjoyable, scheduling them during work hours makes this feel like more of a perk than an obligation.
If your team members have a few causes they’re truly passionate about, consider making this a monthly or quarterly event. You can also rotate the charities that you’re helping out to accommodate your team’s different interests.
Why this exercise is great : Experiencing helper’s high can improve your personal health and mental state. Sharing this rush that doing good can give you will help your team bond on a deeper level.
Benefits of team building
Team building is more than a fun break from your everyday routine at work. It also:
Improves communication, trust, and collaboration skills
Promotes a collaborative culture by bringing teammates together
Fosters agile decision making and problem solving skills
Boosts team productivity and morale
Uses creativity and outside-of-the-box thinking
Ashley Frabasilio believes that:
A common goal is to create a memorable and meaningful experience for folks to connect. Some questions to consider when planning an impactful team-building activity include: What do I hope folks walk away with? I.e., a new skill, a deeper connection to one another, personal development, a moment of delight, etc.”
Ask yourself these questions before proposing a team building activity so you can reap the full benefits of the exercise.
Bring your team together, creatively
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to build your team’s confidence, connection, and teamwork skills. While team building is fun, it’s also important to connect with your team on an everyday basis. To build one of those connections in your day-to-day work, the right collaboration software is key.
Looking for the right collaboration tool? See how Asana keeps your team connected, no matter where you’re working.
Related resources
How to use performance improvement plan templates (PIPs)
How to navigate organizational change
Increase employee satisfaction by meeting these 5 needs
What is a brand voice? Plus, 7 tips to develop one
- View Events
- How it Works
15 Team Building Activities, Exercises & Ideas for Small Groups
Here is our list of fun team building activities for small groups at work or school.
Team building activities for small groups are fun-filled exercises, games and ideas designed to enhance team collaboration. For example, the broken telephone and the tower of babel are good activities for students and adults. The purpose of these exercises is to strengthen relationships and encourage team participation in small groups.
These ideas are a subset of office team building exercises and fun group activities , and are similar to small group icebreaker games . You can use these ideas as trust-building exercises , community-building activities and for team building events .
This list includes:
- team building activities for small groups
- team building exercises for small groups
- team building ideas for small groups
- small group team building activities for adults
Here are the ideas.
List of team building activities for small groups
When choosing team building exercises for small groups, it is best to select activities that allow everyone to participate. You can adopt these quick small group team building activities for your students or colleagues.
1. Quick-fire Trivia
This quick succession question-and-answer activity tests coordination, speed, and teamwork.
Required: Divide your team into smaller groups of two to four people. Each subgroup will choose a representative. The facilitator will then read the questions drawn from different disciplines. For example, the questions could range from history to art or science.
The goal is to get the most points within each two-minute round. For each correct answer, the team earns a point.
Here are the rules:
- The team members can discuss the questions, but only the rep will answer.
- The answers should be short – a word or a list but not descriptions.
- The reader can only repeat a question once.
- The team cannot answer before the facilitator finishes reading the question.
- The representative’s answer is final.
- The team can express differing opinions; however, the rep has the final say in deciding the answer.
At the end of the exercise, the members will discuss the performance and strategize ways to improve. This exercise aims at educating members about consultation and decision-making.
Here is a list of more problem-solving games and a collection of starter questions for trivia .
2. The Clueless
The Clueless is one of the best small group activities for adults that nurtures problem-solving and communication skills. Your team will enjoy this fun and straightforward exercise.
Required: Divide your group into smaller teams. Each team receives a sealed written problem. These problems should be possible case scenarios at work, home, or school. Before reading, the team will select one member to temporarily exclude from the group. You shall refer to this member as ‘the clueless,’ This member will need to decipher and solve the problem.
The team building leader will assess the activity on a scale of five points.
- The groups will have five minutes to read and discuss the main issues. The leader can give more time to younger students.
- The groups should develop up to three keywords that best describe the issue. Once done, the clueless rejoin the groups.
- The clueless have three minutes to figure out the issue using the keywords as clues. Then, the clueless can only ask two follow-up questions to clarify.
- The rest of the members must remain mute and only communicate through facial expressions and cues. It is up to the members to guide their teammates without speaking or writing.
- The clueless members will then identify the problem and describe the method for tackling the scenario.
- The leader awards points based on the problem’s accuracy and the solution’s relevance. The leader may award up to two points for the problem and three for the solution.
This activity helps members to identify and appreciate nonverbal cues. These signals include reading moods and unexpressed concerns from customers, colleagues, and fellow students in real life.
3. The Tower of Babel
This activity is one of small group team building ideas drawn from ancient history. The idea mocks the Babylonian tower story and seeks to build the tallest, longest-standing tower.
Required: Divide members into smaller groups of three or four. Each group should make a tower by stacking provided supplies.
- Each group will use similar building materials. Some good ideas for the materials include pens, toothpicks, and toy building blocks.
- Each mini-group will get an equal amount of building supplies.
- There is no restriction on arranging the building materials. Team creativity is of the essence.
- The towers must remain standing for the duration of the judging.
- The members should use all the building materials.
At the end of a session, group members will measure the tower’s height and compare notes with other groups. The idea is to promote creative thinking and collaboration.
4. The Swallowship
The Swallowship is a fellowship exercise that promotes bonding. Members help each other identify secret ingredients in food. Among the best quick small group team building activities, The Swallowship tests memory and discussion skills.
Required: The leaders assign each team a main ingredient. The members will then develop a secret recipe using the core ingredient. For example, the secret ingredient could include spices, essence, or herbs. Depending on the setup, participants may cook on-site or prepare the food before the activity.
- Different teams should taste each other’s food.
- Each member is only allowed one bite-size sample.
- Members may use other senses like sight and smell to identify the ingredients.
- After swallowing the sample, the teams will discuss the ingredients and list possibilities. The members may list as many ingredients as they can identify or remember.
- The correct secret ingredient earns the team one point. Yet, for every wrong ingredient, teams lose a point.
The goal of the game is to collect as many points as possible.
Note: Ask if members have food allergies before starting the exercise. Common allergens to watch out for include gluten, egg, milk, and nuts.
5. Back-to-school PE
Physical activities provide a great way to bond. In Back-to-school PE, members will engage in a series of cardiovascular exercises.
Based on the needs of the group members, the team-building leader will select appropriate exercises. Examples of small group team building activities for students may include relay running, frog jumping, star jumps, and push-ups. Older people can do stretches and other suitable exercises. The important thing is to select and balance appropriate high to low energy options.
Physical exercises improve mood and mental health, promoting morale and productivity in teams.
For similar ideas, here is a list of team workouts .
6. The Broken Telephone
The Broken Telephone is a communication exercise. The aim of the game is to pass a message without altering its meaning.
Required: Members will line up in a circle, keeping a distance of at least one and a half meters from each other. The first player will share a message by whispering the phrase into the second person’s ear. Next, the second person will do the same to the third. The pattern repeats until the message reaches the last person in line.
- Team members must whisper the message.
- Members should cover their mouths while speaking to prevent lip reading.
- The last person will speak the phrase out loud, and the first member will reveal how closely the statement matches the original message.
- If the message is wildly incorrect, the group will have to diagnose the problem with the telephone line. Each member will say the message they passed. The member who distorts a message moves to the end of the line.
The goal of the exercise is to encourage attentive listening.
7. Tell My Story
This creativity exercise engages all team members. If you need small group team building ideas for introverted and shy members, then Tell My Story is a good option. The game grants silent group members a chance to speak.
Required: Have all group members sit or stand in a circle. The facilitator will have a pre-written short story. The leader reads the first sentence of the script, and the members will continue the story.
- Each member will input one sentence at a time.
- You cannot pass your turn.
- You cannot skip a member before they speak.
- You cannot start a new story unless it continues the original. The story must flow and relate to the previous sentences.
- The story ends only when the facilitator says, “The end.” After that, he will read the original script.
It is interesting how a story can deviate. Since everyone is narrating from their imagination, the story is entirely unpredictable. Therefore, members end up practicing attentiveness and creativity.
8. Office Thief
The Office Thief is a fun small group activity that promotes conversation and socialization among team members.
Required: The facilitator will organize a heist and remove personal items from each member’s desk or locker. The leader will disguise these items in similar boxes. Finally, members will pick the items, make their guesses, and write on sticky notes.
- The leader will put the disguised items in a central place.
- Each member should select one item. Once selected, you cannot change your mind.
- Members may use senses like weight and sound to determine the item.
- Each member will guess the item and write the guess on a sticky note alongside their names.
- Without opening the boxes, members will interact. The goal is to find the owner of the item.
- Members will reassemble and write the name of the suspected owner without opening the boxes.
- In pairs, players will exchange the boxes. One by one, members will read the written guesses and finally unveil the items.
- Finally, owners will confirm possession and claim their items
The game’s goal is to guess the item and return the object to its rightful owner. This activity uses conversations to solve problems, and members will learn more about each other.
Check out more get to know you games .
9. Water Balloon
This water balloon exercise involves carrying a balloon filled with water to a designated place without using hands.
Required: Have smaller teams of 3 to 5 members each. Each subgroup will fill a large balloon with water and place the balloon on a marked starting point.
- Each team must carry the balloon to the designated place.
- You cannot touch the balloon with your hands. The team should figure out how to carry the balloon.
- You must lift the balloon to move it.
- The water balloon must not touch the floor between the starting and finish points.
- Ensure that the balloon does not burst.
- The team that violates the rules must return to the starting point. The exercise stops when the last team arrives at the finish line.
Water Balloon is one of the most practical games for sharpening critical thinking and problem-solving skills and is one of the best small group team building activities for students.
10. The Diplomat
The Diplomat is an activity that helps team members identify and appreciate each others’ strengths and weaknesses.
Required: Divide the team into groups of three members. The members will share their interests and fears in their mini-groups.
- Team members should be at least one meter apart and must not face each other.
- The facilitator will provide case scenarios. He will then ask the team, “Choose your most suitable diplomat for this mission.”
- The three team members cannot discuss their answers. Instead, they will write the answers on whiteboards.
- When signaled, each person will display the member’s name they chose as the diplomat. At this point, group members may look at each other’s answers.
The goal of the game is to agree on a unanimous answer. The diplomat is one of the quick small group team building activities where teams interact more personally.
12. Back-to-back Drawing
The Back-to-back Drawing exercise is a communication activity that tests members’ speaking and listening skills.
Required: Members will work in pairs. The team building leader will give each duo a picture and writing materials like paper and marker pens. Then, one team member will hold a picture and describe the image, and the other player must draw the object exactly as described.
- The partners must remain back-to-back throughout the exercise.
- Neither partner should peek at the other’s picture.
The game aims for each pair to draw similar or identical pictures.
Example objects might include cartoon characters, emojis, landscapes, or other fun shapes.
Back-to-back Drawing is an in-person version of Can You Hear Me Now .
13. Guess the Logo
Guess the Logo is an exercise that helps eye-brain coordination.
Required: The coordinator will subdivide the team and display a part of a logo. Each team should identify the logo using the given clue.
- The logo should refer to familiar brands, for example, popular eateries, institutions, and superstores.
- The leader will display part of the logo. For example, part of text, colors, or images with the rest of the background blocked.
- Members can discuss and figure out the brand’s name in the least time possible.
The activity’s goal is to match the logos to their brands. This exercise will give great insights into branding for workplace teams and marketing students.
14. Blind Snake and Apples
Blind Snake and Apples is a memory-sharpening exercise.
Required: Team members will have a chance to see the position of each apple before they start the activity. Players will then put on blindfolds and pick as many apples as possible.
- Each member moves one step at a time. The coordinator will signal the members when it is time to move, and each player will take a step.
- Upon each step, players may bend, sit or kneel to pick apples. The feet must remain on the same spot.
- The players can pick fruit from any part and move in any direction.
- Players decide whether to take a big or small step.
- Each member is allowed an equal number of steps.
At the end of the activity, members can check each other’s performance. The group with the most fruits becomes the memory champion.
15. The Collection Board
This exercise seeks to find qualities members have in common. The game also helps members to get comfortable with each other.
How to conduct: The team-building leader will ask the members to bring items from the office, class, or home. The items can be everyday objects, yet each object should have a remarkable story. The leader will provide glue and Manila papers, and members will stick their items onto the paper.
The group makes a collage with the assorted items. The collection may involve items similar in color, shape, texture. During the activity, members need to find out the story attached to each item. At the end of the session, the members can share lessons they learned from each other’s stories.
Small group team building activities are fun ways to empowering teams. These exercises range widely in energy level, variety and application. There are indoor or outdoor activities suitable for every small group. When choosing an activity, it helps to consider participants’ demographics like age and physical capability before selecting the most appropriate one.
Team building activities and exercises are essential to your team. Apart from breaking the monotony of work and strengthening the team spirit, these exercises enhance physical and mental health. In addition, problem-solving techniques, collaboration, and communication are skills you can obtain from such activities and exercises.
Next, check out these lists of get to know you games and relationship-building activities .
FAQ: Small Group Team Building
Here are answers to common questions about small group team building activities.
What are small group team building activities?
Team building activities are playful indoor or outdoor exercises that small teams use to promote team spirit. These can range from high to low energy activities like back-to-school PE and the collection board, respectively.
What are some good small group team building activities for work?
A good team building activity allows each employee to participate enthusiastically. In choosing the most appropriate activity for work, it is important to consider your team’s demographics, such as age and health status. This mindfulness will enhance the effectiveness of the team building activities you select.
Some of the most all-around options include,
- quick-fire trivia
- the broken telephone
- the diplomat
- the water balloon
How do you improve teamwork on small teams?
To achieve a productive team, you need to influence the members to collaborate and make tasks interesting. Some of the tips that work effectively for small teams include:
- Enhancing bonding through social activities like swallowship
- promoting conversations through activities like Tell my story
- Promoting creativity and problem-solving through activities like the water balloon
- Acknowledging and appreciating leadership skills through exercises like The Diplomat
- Enhancing staff motivation and morale through participation in ice breakers
Author: Grace He
Content Expert at teambuilding.com. Grace is the Director of People & Culture at TeamBuilding. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.
Want to do team building online?
We have 30+ experiences to choose from, and thousands of five star reviews.
Home » Games » 17 Fun Problem Solving Activities & Games [for Kids, Adults and Teens]
17 Fun Problem Solving Activities & Games [for Kids, Adults and Teens]
Everyone should learn problem solving, as it is important in both our personal and professional lives. Problems occur all around us and many people react with spontaneous emotion. Instead, effective use of problem solving skills can lead to rational thinking, a component of any successful endeavor.
Creative problem involves using one or more of the basic steps of problem solving in exercises designed to challenge the thinking. Problem solving activities work for every age group. In this article, we will present problem-solving activities for adults and kids. We will also provide you with group and team building problem solving ideas.
Table of Contents
- 1.1 Wool Webs
- 1.2 To Do Scavenger Hunt
- 1.3 Impromptu Skits
- 1.4 Block Duplicating
- 2.1 Tower Building
- 2.2 Personalized Crossword
- 2.3 Picture Pieces Puzzle Game
- 3.1 Move It!
- 3.2 Playing Card Mix-up
- 3.3 Blind Formations
- 3.4 Line up Blind
- 3.5 Balloon Tower
- 4.1 Walking the Plank
- 4.2 “Laser” Web
- 4.3 Group Drawing
- 4.4 Animals
- 4.5 Alphabet Game
- 4.6 Related Posts
There are four basic steps in problem solving:
- define the problem
- generate possible solutions
- evaluate and select possible solutions
- implement solutions
Problem solving activities use one of more of these steps.
Group Problem Solving Activities
Group activities provide an effective way to learn problem-solving skills. The following list of activities present problem solving skills in the form of games, a non-threatening and fun way.
Divide your group into teams of equal numbers. Give each team a ball of yarn. Instruct the teams to create a web using only the yarn. Once the teams have finished (you may have to set an amount of time for completion), switch the teams around so that every team has a web other than their own. Each team then blindfolds one team member. The goal is for the blindfolded individual to unwind the web following the verbal instruction of their teammates. In order to be successful, team members must concentrate, and give/follow directions. The first team that has dismantled the web wins this game.
To Do Scavenger Hunt
This scavenger hunt game involves solving a list of problem activities. Begin by dividing your group into teams. Give each group a list of to do activities. The list should begin with some simple tasks, with increasingly more difficult activities. Some suggested activities are:
- Write a one hundred word poem on a given theme.
- Find an object readily available in the area in which you are playing
- Drink a whole can or glass of a liquid
- Solve a Sudoku or cross word puzzle
- Write out all the lyrics of a song (a Christmas carol works well at holiday time)
The team that completes all the activities first, wins.
Impromptu Skits
Prior to playing this game, write down a few appropriate situations that deal events in the venue in which you are playing. For example, for a group involved in customer service, use dealing with an angry customer on the phone. If you have a large group, divide them into teams of six to eight members. Have each group choose a folded piece of paper on which you have written the subject of a skit they must create. Give a set amount of time to prepare the skit and then have each team present their skit to the group. If you have a small group, have each person create one side of a conversation dealing with the problem for presentation to everyone.
Block Duplicating
Build a model out of building blocks. Provide each group member (or divide into teams for a large group ) enough blocks to duplicate the model. Set a specific amount of time for completing the duplicated model. The team that is the first to finish – or gets the furthest on completing their model – wins. The more difficult the original model, the longer this task will take.
Team Building Problem Solving Activities
When choosing team building problem solving activities, make sure the game you use suits the group of people – their ages and interests. The activities we have listed will help with not only problem solving, but also build decision making, collaboration, and listening skills.
Tower Building
Although there are many variations to this game, this one using spaghetti and marsh mellows is our favorite. Divide you group into teams with an equal number of players. Provide each team with an equal amount of spaghetti and marsh mellows. The goal is to see which team can build the highest tower within a set amount of time.
Personalized Crossword
For this game to be effective, you need one or more teams of 8 to 10 people. Have each team list the first and last names of their group members. The goal is to create a crossword puzzle with clues composed of hints about the person, for example, if only one team member has red hair, the two clues for her first and last name could be, “Red hair,” and “Ginger.” It should take each team 20 to 30 minutes to complete their puzzle. When all the teams are finished, trade puzzles so that every team has a different one. Make sure you provide a list of names for the puzzle solvers.
Picture Pieces Puzzle Game
Prepare for this problem solving activity by choosing a well-known picture or cartoon full of detail. Cut the picture into equal sized squares and give one to each member of the group. You will need as many pieces as you have participants. Additionally, give each person a pencil, ruler for help enlarging the picture, colored markers, and a clean sheet of paper. Instruct them to make the puzzle piece five times larger.
Problem Solving Activities for Adults
Divide your group into two teams. Line up the two teams front to back. Have the two groups face each other. Using chalk, spray paint, or masking tape (depending on the play surface) mark a square space for each person to stand on with one extra empty space between the two facing rows. You may also use a piece of paper for each person. The goal is for the two facing lines of players to change places.
Place these restrictions on movement:
- Only one person may move at a time.
- A person may not move around anyone facing the same direction.
- A person may not move backward.
- A person may not move around more than one person on the other team at a time.
Playing Card Mix-up
Divide your group into teams of six to eight participants. Give each team two decks of cards randomly mixed together. Tell the group they must sort them out without talking. As they working at the task, after a few minutes, change the way in which they are doing so using one of the following:
- If a team is sorting by suits from ace to king (4 stacks), tell them to collect the suits together by number (13 stacks).
- If a team begins by collecting the suits together, i.e. all the ones, twos, threes, etc., tell them to sort the suits from ace to king.
The team(s) that do so successfully by the end of a given time (depending on the size of your group) share what methods they used to accomplish the task.
Blindfolded games are always fun and provide the perfect challenge for adult problem solving. We have provided two for you.
Blind Formations
Have your group of adults put on blindfolds and form a large circle. Tie the ends of a rope together and lay in it a circle in the middle of the group, close enough that each person can reach down and pick up the rope. Tell them they must create a shape – a square, triangle, pentagon, etc. If you have a very large group, divide them into teams and provide a rope for each team. Let them compete to see who forms a particular shape quickest.
Line up Blind
Blindfold everyone and number the group by whispering a number to each individual beginning at one. Tell them to line up in numerical order without talking. Variations are many, with some of the favorites not requiring the whispering step being to line up according to height, birthday, surname, color of hair, etc.
Balloon Tower
Divide you group into teams of three and provide ten balloons and four 3-foot long strips of masking tape for each team. The object of this problem solving activity is to build the tallest freestanding tower in ten minutes. They can break the balloons if they wish. However, they may not use any additional materials and the tower must be built on a table or the floor. If you wish, you may add the following instructions:
- No talking.
- Each team member may use only one hand.
- One team member may not touch the materials and only give directions.
You can use one or more of these limitations in 60-second intervals. The first team to complete their tower wins this challenge.
Problem Solving Activities for Kids
The purpose of problem solving activities for kids is to get kids to think about a problem in a different way and have fun while solving it. Children will develop their creativity as they seek to implement a solution.
Walking the Plank
For this problem solving activity for older kids or teens, you will need four 2×6 boards. Divide your group into two teams with an equal number of children on each team. Place two of the four boards end to end on the ground or floor. Set the other two parallel to the first two about two or three feet apart. The goal is for each team to pass one board forward while standing on the other board in single file. If someone steps off a board, the team must start over. The team that succeeds in passing the boards a set number of times, or reaches a predetermined spot is the winner.
“Laser” Web
Use a large ball of string to create a giant web from one end of a room to the other. The goal is for individuals or teams to move through the web without touching the string. If they do so, they have been “zapped by a laser” and must try again. For greater suspense and for older players, use blindfolds or turn off the lights, allowing players to touch the string, but not pull it down or out of its original shape.
Group Drawing
Divide your group of kids into teams of three. Each person on the team has a one of the following roles:
- Drawer . The drawer attempts to recreate a pre-drawn design they cannot see. They take directions from the talker. They stand with their back to the talker and viewer and may not talk.
- Talker . The talker describes the design to the drawer, without seeing the design. They may question the viewer. They may not use hand gestures.
- Viewer . The viewer sees the design. However, they are not allowed to talk and must communicate nonverbally to the talker. Additionally, they must not draw the design in the air or actually show the design with their gestures.
The activity ends when the viewers say they are satisfied with the drawings. You may wish to award a prize to the best drawing.
Prior to playing this game, write on individual slips of paper the names of animal pairs, one name on each slip. Distribute the slips of paper to each group, instructing them not to share which animal name they received. The kids then move around performing activities their animal might do. The goal is for the kids to get into pairs successfully in a set amount of time without talking or making any noises. Suggest the following activities:
- Cleaning or grooming
- Eating and drinking
- Walking or running
Alphabet Game
Have your players sit or stand in a circle. The goal is to shout out words in alphabetical order. Give the kids one of the following categories (or choose your own):
If a player takes longer than five seconds to think of a word, they are out. The last player remaining wins the game.
People achieve more when they solve problems and make decisions together. Our problem solving activities teach participants how to work out a solution, a talent useful in many different environments. Problem solving:
- Improves team work
- Helps participants address complex situations
- Utilizes different thinking styles
- Increases creativity
- Collectively leads to decision making
- Teaches both negotiation and cooperation
After completing a problem solving activity, encourage participants to discuss what process(es) they used in the exercise. Even kids are able to participate in such discussions. Also ask what was learned and if they have any opinions about how they could have solved the problem more efficiently.
Team-building exercises can improve problem solving and decision making in a new or established team. They work with every age group and in many different environments. Use our exercises to help solve problems and have some fun doing so.
Related Posts
Susan majored in English with a double minor in Humanities and Business at Arizona State University and earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Liberty University. She taught grades four through twelve in both public and private schools. Subjects included English, U.S. and world history and geography, math, earth and physical science, Bible, information technologies, and creative writing.
Susan has been freelance writing for over ten years, during which time she has written and edited books, newspaper articles, biographies, book reviews, guidelines, neighborhood descriptions for realtors, Power Point presentations, resumes, and numerous other projects.
Read full bio
Thanks for your help!!
excellent ideas – thanks !
Excellent ideas.
Thank you. My students have requested we do team-building activities; I thought we would start with problem-solving.
Leave a Comment Cancel Reply
Recent posts, 256 things to be thankful for (gratitude list ideas).
March 15th, 2023
178 Fun Q and A Questions (Teens, Couples, Friends, Adults...)
March 1st, 2023
181 Questions to Ask Your Boyfriend [Fun, Freaky, Dirty, Cute...]
February 15th, 2023
245 Questions to Ask Your Girlfriend (Fun, Cute, Dirty, Deep...)
February 1st, 2023
19 Amazing Throwing Games (Catching Games)
January 15th, 2023
13 Fun Games To Play On FaceTime (Calling Games)
January 1st, 2023
77 Fun New Year’s Trivia Questions & Answers
December 20th, 2022
- Skip to content
- Skip to primary sidebar
- Skip to footer
unremot.com
Developer marketplace
Top 50 problem solving activities, games & puzzles for remote teams
Blockchain and Crypto / March 6, 2022 by admin
Here is a list of the top 50 problem solving activities, games & puzzles best suited for remote teams. Read on!
What are problem solving activities?
The success of a company or organization depends heavily on the managers’ ability to help workers develop their problem solving skills. Problem solving activities that address areas such as teamwork and cooperation, adaptability or reinforcement of decision-making strategies help.
All processes of problem solving begin with the identification of the problem. The team will then evaluate the possible course of action and select the best way to tackle it. This needs a profound understanding of your team and its core strengths.
Not only among corporates, but problem solving activities find their use in educational settings as well. Students who are good at solving problems will become much more successful than those who are not. Remote work and education are on the rise.
Enabling smooth interpersonal communication to solve problems can become a task in these situations. However, engaging all the people concerned in problem solving activities before shifting to the remote space can ease the process.
Also Read: Keen to invest in bitcoins – find a trustworthy bitcoin trader now!
Key skills evaluated in problem solving activities
Problem solving skills refer to the necessary thinking skills that an individual or group uses when met with a challenge. Many issues require the use of several skills; others are easy and may require only one or two skills. These are some skills that help to solve problems,
- Communication skills
- Decision-making skills
- Analytical thinking
- Negotiation skills
- Logical reasoning
- Persistence
- Lateral thinking
Problem solving skill examples
Several problems occur at the workplace. Problem solving skills can be technical problems that occur on websites or apps or addressing client concerns. Problems could be simple or complex. Business managers spend time and resources to solve problems.
They encourage their team to improve their analytical and logical abilities. Common issues in companies can be exploding data or changing technology, or financial management.
Did you know? Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in problem solving!
Also Read: Keen to invest in Ethereum – find a trustworthy ETHtrader now!
Problem solving scenarios
Many problem solving scenarios occur at work. The basis to solve any problem is to evaluate and arrive at a solution. Analytical skill or problem solving ability is a skill many employers evaluate while hiring candidates.
Strong problem solving skills can be an asset to any organization. Organizations organize problem and solution activities to improve the problem solving abilities in the workplace.
1. Decision making games
Businesses are looking for new and innovative ways to stimulate their staff. Decision making games help employees to learn new skills and work effectively as a team. Decision making activities help to improve the creative problem solving and decision-making skills of the team. Here are some best Decision-making games,
1. Dumb Idea first – This game gives a hypothetical problem that could occur in your company. Ask each manager to think of the dumbest solution to the problem. After compiling the list of the ideas, the team reviews them.
You have a brainstorming session to make the “dumb ideas” feasible. This problem solving exercise underlines the importance of out-of-box thinking.
Benefits: Decision-making skill
Time duration: 10 to 15 minutes
Team size: 2 to more team managers
Material: Paper and pencil
2. Egg Drop Idea – The objective of the game is to build a container to protect the egg when dropped from a specified height using the material provided. Each team nominates a presenter who explains why the egg will survive the fall.
Once they have presented the idea, the team drops the egg to check if the idea has worked. Egg drop pyramid activities like the marshmallow challenge help teams to think on their feet.
Benefit: Decision-making skill and is a top problem solving skill example
Time duration: 15 – 30 minutes
Team size: 6 or more
Material: A cartoon of eggs, aprons to protect clothes, material for packing (cardboard, tape, elastics, plastic straws, etc.), material to clean up.
Instructions:
- Every team gets an egg and should choose from the building materials.
- Grant everyone 20-30 minutes to build an egg carrier and guard against breaking.
- Remove each egg carrier from a ledge (that is, over a balcony) to see which carrier prevents it from cracking.
- If several eggs survive, continue to heighten until only one egg remains.
3. Dog, Rice, and Chicken – The dog, rice, and chicken game can be fun decision-making activities for adults. In this game, one team member plays the farmer, and the other team members are villagers who advise him. The farmer has to take three items chicken, dog, and rice across the river by boat.
There are the following constraints:- only one item can be carried on the boat. He cannot leave the chicken and dog alone because the dog will eat the chicken. He cannot leave the chicken alone with the rice because the chicken will eat the rice grains.
Benefit: creative problem solving examples that are applicable at work.
Time duration: 10-15 minutes.
Also Read: Keen to invest in bitcoins – find a trustworthy bitcoin broker now!
2. Teambuilding puzzle
Team building exercises are fun and creative ways to get your team to work together and improve problem solving skills.
1. Lost at Sea – In this game, you and your friends have chattered a yacht to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Since you do not have any navigation experience, you hire a captain and a two-person crew. Unfortunately, the crew and captain die when a fire breaks out on the yacht.
The yacht is severally damaged and is sinking. You and your friends have managed to save 15 items and a lifeboat. Your task is to rank the 15 items while you are waiting to be rescued. The activity lost at sea team building underlines the importance of problem solving skills in the workplace.
Benefits: Team building exercise and interaction
Time duration: 30 to 40 minutes
Team size: 4 to 6
Material: Lost in sea ranking for interaction chart for each member
2. Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower – The marshmallow team-building activities have the goal of building the tallest tower as quickly as possible. To make the task more challenging the marshmallow is placed at the top of the tower. This is a fun puzzle activity for team building.
Benefit: Teambuilding puzzle
Time duration: 30 minutes
Material required: 20 sticks on raw uncooked spaghetti, a marshmallow, masking thread, and yarn of thread.
3. Go for Gold – This is an example of a marshmallow challenge similar to activities. The objective of this exercise is to create a structure using pipes, rubber tubing, and cardboard to carry a marble from point A to point B using gravity.
Benefit: team building problem solving scenario examples
Team size: Minimum 6 persons
Material required: Each member has different material
Also Read: Keen to learn about bitcoins – find an experienced bitcoin consultant now!
3. Work Problem Solving
Work problem solving activities help to use the skills you used in problem solving activities in your workplace.
1. Create your own – this game aims to create a brand new problem solving activity for the organization. The team can brainstorm for 1 hour. After one hour each team has to give a presentation about their activity outlining the key benefits.
Benefit: Understanding the problem solving process. Build creativity, improve negotiation, and Decision-making skills
- When the participants arrive, you declare that they will create an original problem solving activity on their own, rather than spending an hour on an existing problem solving team-building exercise.
- Divide members into teams and encourage them to develop a new problem solving team-building exercise that will fit well with the organization. The activity should not be one they have engaged in or heard of before.
- Every team has to show their new activity to everyone else after an hour and outline the main benefits.
2. Shrinking Vessel – make a shape on the floor using a rope where all the team members can fit. Reduce the size every 10 -15 minutes. The real challenge for the team is figuring out how to work together and keep everyone together.
Benefits: Adaptability and cognitive diversity
Material: Rope and large room
- Place on the floor a big circle of rope. Position your whole team inside the circle.
- Lessen the circle size steadily. When it gets smaller, advise the team to keep the entire team inside the circle. Nobody must move out of the loop. See how small you can make the area until it cannot remain inside.
3. Legoman – the team is divided into groups of two or more people. Select an impartial individual who will make a structure in 10 minutes. Each team will compete to recreate it in fifteen minutes. Only one person is allowed to see the structure. They need to communicate vital parameters like color, shape, and size.
Benefits: Communication
Tools: Lego
4. What Would X Do – This problem solving activity stimulates teams to think of new ideas.
- Benefits: Instant problem solving
- Time Duration: 10-15 minutes
- Materials Required: N/A
- Let every team pretend to be someone famous.
- Every team needs to address the issue as if they were a famous person. Which are the choices they would consider? How will they do this?
- It helps all to consider options they may not have initially thought of.
Tip: Before you decide, a problem is worth solving, weigh the risks of solving it versus not solving it.
Also Read: Keen to invest in crypto – find the best crypto financial advisor now!
4. Team building riddles
Team building riddles are a great way to show the team group problem solving is usually more effective.
1. Barter puzzle – the team is broken into groups. Give each team a different jigsaw puzzle to solve. The groups have to complete the puzzle at the same time. The twist in the game is that some pieces of their puzzle belong to other puzzles.
The goal is to complete the puzzle before the other teams. Each group has to come with their method to convince other teams to handover the pieces they need, either by bartering pieces or donating time to the other teams. This puzzle piece team-building activity helps teams to collaborate.
Benefit: Team building and negotiating.
Material: Jigsaw puzzle for each team
Time: 30 minutes
2. Scavenger Hunt – in this game, each team has a list of the article to locate and bring back. The goal of the game is to finish the assigned list first. In the scavenger hunt, the team has a time limit to make the game more challenging. You have the flexibility of having the hunt outside or within the premises. The team-building puzzle game helps the team to look for creative solutions.
3. Escape – the goal is to solve clues and find the key to unlock the door in a limited time. Hide the key and a list of clues around the room. The team has 30 to 60 minutes to figure out the clues and unlock the door.
Benefit: Team building exercise
Material: Rope, key, lockable room, 5 to 10 puzzles
Also Read: Interested in crypto – find an expert crypto consultant now!
5. Work together problems
Work together on problems helps to underline the need to collaborate while solving issues at work. Group challenge activities help the team work well together.
1. Bonding belt – each group is divided into 5 to 6 participants, who are bound together with rope or tape so that their movements are limited. The team has to reach from point A to point B, and the time is recorded. The teams collaborate to beat their previous score.
Benefits: Helps the team to collaborate and skills for problem solving scenario/
Time: 20 to 30 minutes
Material: Cling film, belt, or rope
2. Scramble puzzle – the team members with blindfolds sit in a circle with the puzzle. The teammate without the blindfold sits outside the circle, with their back to the group. The blindfolded group tries to assemble the pieces of the puzzle. The outsider who has the same puzzle gives the team instructions to solve it.
Benefits: trust, leadership, and communication
Material: Preschool-level puzzles and blindfolds.
3. Flip it over – this is a classic work-together problem. In this game, 6 to 8 participants stand together on a blanket/towel/tarp. The challenge is to flip over the blanket or reverse it. The rule is that none of the participants can leave the blanket.
Benefit: Work together exercise
Duration: 30 minutes
Material: Blanket
Also Read: Building a blockchain – browse varied blockchain consulting services now!
6. Team building survival games
Team building survival games helps to fine-tune problem solving scenarios that may occur at work. The activities encourage creative problem solving and decision making.
1. Stranded – Stranded helps in building effective communication. In this setting, the team is stranded in an office. The rooms will be locked, and doors and windows cannot be broken down. The team is asked to make a list of 10 items that they need to survive.
They need to rank items in the order of their importance. The team has to agree on the items and the order. Stranded is one of several popular survival team-building exercises.
Benefit: Team building and Decision-making exercises
- Your team is stuck inside the building. Doors are closed, so there is no option to kick down the doors or smash the windows.
- Grant the team 30 minutes to determine what ten things they need to thrive in the office and list them in order of importance.
- The goal of the game is to get everyone to agree in 30 minutes about the ten things and their ranking.
2. Minefield – you randomly place items around the room or hallway and there is no clear path from one end of the room to another. The team is divided into pairs. One team member is blindfolded, and the other team member is the guide.
The guide navigates the blindfolded person across the minefield. The two partners cannot touch. This survival team-building activity underlines the need for clear communication.
Benefits: Communication and collaborative problem solving
Duration: 10-15 minutes
Material: Blindfold, empty room or hallway, and collection of random items.
3. Frostbite – in this survival scenario team-building exercise the team is trapped in Siberia. Each team has to elect a team captain. The team has to build a storm shelter with the material provided.
The twist in the game is the team captains cannot help physically since they have frostbite. Other team members are suffering snow blindness and are blindfolded. The electric fan will be turned on in 30 minutes to see if the shelter built will survive the storm.
Benefit: Leadership, skills action plan, and team building survival games
Team size: 4 to 5 members
Material: An electric fan, blindfold, simple building materials like cardboard paper, rubber bands, toothpicks, masking tape, straws, sticky notes, etc.
Also Read: Lost your bitcoins? Find a bitcoin recovery expert to retrieve it!
7. Group decision making games
Group decision making games help encourage creative problem solving and decision making at work. Here is a bunch of group decision making games
1. Reverse Pyramid – the team members stand in a pyramid shape. The next step is to flip the base and apex of the pyramid. The limiting factor in only three persons can move.
Benefits: Group Decision-making and collaboration
2. Tower of Hanoi – in this game, there are three towers/posts/rods with 5 or more discs arranged conical shape with the smallest shape at the top. The objective of the game is to move the entire stack to another location retaining the shape. Some conditions of the games are only one disc can be moved at a time. Only the top disc can be moved. Another rule of the game is larger disc cannot be put on a smaller disc.
Benefits: This team-building exercise helps problem solving within the participants.
3. Human Knot – the team stands in a circle every person holds hands with a person not standing next to them. When everyone is cross-connected, the aim is to untangle the structure without letting go of anybody’s hand.
Benefit: group problem solving
Also Read: Interested in crypto – find an expert digital asset investor now!
8. Funny problem solving games
We need to solve problems for personal and professional lives. Funny problem solving exercises are a light way. Funny problem solving can help reduce stress levels.
1. Pencil drop – in the pencil drop challenge, one end of the pencil is tied to a pencil and the other is tied around the waist of a team member. The other team member puts the pencil into the bottle placed below. The participants are not allowed to use their hands.
Benefit: Team bonding
Team size: 2 members each
Material: Some pencil and bottle
2. Blind drawing – this game requires two players to sit back to back. One participant describes an image in front of them without giving stating anything obvious. The other participant needs to draw it using the description. The outcome can be fun.
3. Be the character – in this activity, you pretend to be an imaginary character while trying to solve a problem. This game gives a unique perspective on your solution and whether the solution is feasible for other members.
Also Read: Keen to invest in crypto – find a trustworthy cryptocurrency consultant now!
9. Group problem solving activities for adults
Group problem solving activities are very efficient, especially for adults. These can be used in any setting to enhance problem solving skills.
1. Human Knots
- Benefits: Communication skills, collaboration
- Time Duration: 10 – 15 minutes.
This is one of the most straightforward group problem solving activities that can be done with any group. It facilitates communication and critical thinking in the face of a challenging and complex question. Various group members will possibly suggest a variety of solutions, and each will need to be reviewed and adopted by the organization as a whole.
- Have the group stand in a small circle (make several circles when you are a larger group). Every person in the loop will hold the hands of 2 other people who are not directly next to them. That would make a messy crossed arms knot.
- Ask the group to disentangle themselves without moving their hands at any point in time. They may be unable to disentangle completely to form a circle again. Still, they would have begun to work together to solve the problem by the end of the activity.
2. Frostbite
- Benefits: Leadership, decision-making, trust, adaptability
- Time Duration: 30 minutes.
- Materials Required: An electric fan, blindfold, simple building materials like cardboard paper, rubber bands, toothpicks, masking tape, straws, sticky notes, etc.
Your group is trapped in the barren deserts of Siberia, and a sudden winter storm is approaching. You have to create a shelter with only the materials in hand that can survive the storm’s harsh winds. The leader of your expedition was afflicted with frostbite in both hands, sadly, and all the others experience severe snow blindness.
- Divide the group into clusters of 4-5. Every group will have to elect a chief.
- Group leaders are not allowed to use their hands to support the group in any way, and group members should be blindfolded during the exercise.
- The groups have 30 minutes to build a small tent structure that can withstand the wind from the fan’s highest location.
3. Dumbest Idea First
- Benefits: Critical thinking, creative problem solving, quick problem solving
- Time Duration: 15 – 20 minutes
- Materials Required: Pen or pencil, a piece of paper.
Dumbest Idea First is one of the most creative problem solving activities for groups. This can encourage your creativity by thinking out of the box and lead you to ideas that would typically sound too insane to work. You can broaden the possibilities by looking at these crazy solutions first, and find potential alternatives that might not be as obvious.
- Present your team with a question. It could be a real-world dilemma facing the group, or it could be a created scenario. For example, your company attempts to beat a rival to win a high-paying customer contract, but the customer bends to your competitors. You have a short period before they make the final decision to change their mind.
- With the given question, advise your group to come up with the dumbest ideas to tackle the issue. Anything can be written down.
- After each person has put forward a few ideas, go through the list, and analyze each plan to see which are the most feasible. List them from the highest level of feasibility to the lowest level.
4. Wool Web
- Benefits: Leadership, communication
- Time Duration: 30 minutes
- Materials Required: Some balls of yarn.
As hard as replicating the magnitude of the real-world problems is, that is no excuse not to try! Wool web creates a dilemma that appears complicated at first, but groups will learn to break down complicated challenges into solvable problems one move at a time.
This happens by using the right strategy and working together. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most stimulating problem solving activities for adults.
- Split the group into similarly large teams. Every time, it receives a yarn ball.
- Tell each team to turn the yarn ball into a vast web. Give them around 5-10 minutes to do this. When done, rotate all the teams so that every team is on a yarn web they have not set up.
- Every group must choose one person to untangle the web. That individual would be blindfolded and be guided by the rest of the team on how to unwind the web using only verbal instructions. The first team to achieve it wins the game.
5. Tallest Tower
- Benefits: Creative thinking, collaboration
- Materials Required: 1 bag of marshmallows, one packet of uncooked spaghetti.
Simple building projects can help group members create strategies to overcome box issues. Tallest Tower is another one of the most creative problem solving activities. Groups will compete with only two materials to make the tallest tower in a fixed period.
- Divide the group into two, which have an equal number of players. Provide 20 – 30 uncooked spaghetti noodles and 3-4 marshmallows to every team.
- Groups must compete in the provided period to build the tallest tower using only the materials supplied. A marshmallow has to be set at the top of the tower.
Also Read: Struggling with blockchain – find an expert blockchain analyst now!
10. Problem solving activities for students
Below is a bunch of problem solving activities for students and kids,
1. Brainstorm Bonanza – Brainstorm Bonanza is one of the best problem solving activities for students. As a teacher, making your students create lists relevant to something you are teaching at the moment can be a fantastic way to help them expand their knowledge of a subject when learning to solve problems.
- Benefits: Problem solving
- Materials Required: Pen and paper
1. If you are discussing a real, current, or fictional occurrence that did not work out well, let your students imagine ways that the protagonist or participants might have produced a better, more favorable result.
2. They can brainstorm independently or in groups.
2. Clue Me In – this is one of the most enjoyable problem solving games. It facilitates logical thinking and cognitive development.
- Benefits: Cognitive development, logical thinking
- Time Duration: 20 minutes
- Materials Required: A bag, clues, items as necessary
- Select a collection of things relating to a specific occupation, social phenomenon, historical incident, object, etc.
- Assemble individual objects (or pictures of things) commonly linked to the target response.
- Place all of them in a bag (five-10 clues ought to be enough).
- Then, have a student reach into the bag and take out clues one by one.
- Select a minimum number of clues to draw before they make their first guess (two-three).
- After that, the student should guess, pulling each clue until they think it is right.
- See how quickly the student can solve the riddle.
3. Survivor Scenario – Create a hypothetical situation that allows students to think creatively to make it through. One example may be being stuck on an island, realizing that three days of help would not come.
The community has a small amount of food and water and has to establish shelter from the island’s objects. This would undoubtedly be one of the fascinating problem solving activities for students.
- Benefits: Logical thinking, collaboration
- Encourage working together as a group.
- Listen to each student who has an idea about making it safe and secure across the three days.
4. Moral Dilemmas – Create several potential moral dilemmas that your students can face in life, write down, and place each object in a bowl or container. These things may include items like, “I’ve seen a good friend of mine shoplifting. What is it that I would do?” or “The cashier gave me an additional $1.50 in change after I purchased candy from the shop. What is it that I would do?”
- Benefits: Logical thinking
- Time Duration: 5 minutes per student
- Materials Required: Container, bits of paper with moral dilemmas written
- Ask every student to draw an item from the bag one after the other and read it aloud.
- They must then tell the class the response on the spot as to how they would handle the situation.
5. Problem solving box – this is an activity that will help on both cognitive and emotional levels for students.
- Benefits: Logical thinking, decision making
- Materials Required: Box, paper, pen
- Have your students design and decorate a medium-sized box with a top slot. Name it as the “Problem Solving Box.”
- Invite students to write down anonymously and apply any concerns or problems they may have at school or at home, which they do not appear to be able to work out on their own.
- Let a student draw one of the things from the box once or twice a week, and read it aloud.
- Finally, as a group, let the class work out the best way students can approach the problem and eventually solve it.
Also Read: Invest large in bitcoins – get a profitable deal from a bitcoin OTC broker now!
11. Problem solving activities for kids
Below is a bunch of problem solving activities for kids,
1. Puzzle-solving – Solving puzzles is one of the best problem solving activities for kids out there. Essentially, every puzzle is a big collection of muddled-up items to figure out and bring back together again.
Kids must be introduced to puzzles with regularity. These are useful for improving skills in reasoning. The best kinds to choose from are wooden puzzles with a wooden frame. They last long, and the structure serves as the foundation to direct children during construction.
- Benefits: Reasoning skills
- Time Duration: Varies
- Materials Required: Puzzles according to the age level
Instructions:
- Show the kids a demo of how a particular puzzle can be solved.
- Then, let them choose a puzzle of their liking from the available choices.
- Ask them to solve their chosen puzzles.
2. Memory Games – Memory games will improve memory and attention to detail for your child.
- Benefits: Attention to detail
- Materials Required: Matching pairs of images
- Using matching pairs of images and turn them all face down, shuffled, on a table.
- Take turns to pick any two cards, and face them on the table.
- You hold the cards if you turn over a similar pair, and if the pair does not match, turn the cards over before it is your turn to try again.
- A teacher/parent must encourage the kids to concentrate on where the pictures are, and seek to find a matching pair on each turn.
3. Building games – Construction toys like building blocks, wooden blocks, or legos should be a staple in a kid’s home every day. Playing with them is one of the most fun problem solving activities for kids. Anything that your child builds is a challenge as it involves thinking about what to create and how to put together the parts to get a workable and usable design.
- Benefits: Decision making
- Materials Required: Construction toys.
1. Let your child build a challenge openly and often, and ask him/her to build a particular structure, with conditions. For instance:
- Create two towers with a bridge that connects them.
- Create a creature that stands alone and has three arms.
2. Observe how your child uses trial-and-error before finding a way to bring the idea into motion.
4. Tic-Tac-Toe – this is an excellent game for teaching decision-making skills. It encourages kids to think before they act and weigh the potential consequences.
- Materials Required: Pencil, paper
- Draw a simple tic-tac-toe table on paper or chalkboard.
- Take turns to add a nought or a cross to the table to see who is the first to make a line of three.
- Your kid will likely catch on in no time before placing their symbol and start thinking carefully.
- Coloured counters or different items can be used to play this game as well.
5. Building a Maze – This activity is fun and fits for any age. It will also be a lot more enjoyable than doing a maze in an activity book, particularly for younger kids.
- Materials Required: Chalk
- Draw a big maze with jumbo chalk on the paving. Make passages, including one or two, which end in an impasse. Teach your kid how to get out of it.
- Make the maze more complicated and add more dead-end passages as your child gets better at figuring out a path and finding the way out.
Also Read: Developing a blockchain – hire an expert blockchain developer now!
What is a problem solving process?
When a team or person faces an issue or obstacle, it can be tempting to quickly track a potential solution and set up a fast fix. This could happen without understanding the complexity of the problem and pursuing a systematic approach to seeking a solution.
The attempts to address issues or obstacles may become unstructured and frustrating without a consistent method. End-to-end processes for problem solving offer a mechanism for a community to tackle any size or nature, and see results. Problem solving activities for adults, kids, and students can help make the problem solving process very useful.
Army problem solving process
There are 7 steps to problem solving army model,
- Recognize and define the problem – The first step army problem solving process is defining the problem precisely and determining the root cause.
- Gather facts and make assumptions – You need to gather all information you have at your disposal. Common resources for information may be documentation and policies. Assumptions are unsubstantiated facts. Use facts rather than assumptions when you need to analyze the scope of the problem.
- Generate alternatives – One of the key steps in military problem solving is finding ways to solve the problem. Ideally, it best to have multiple approaches to solve the problem. Take input from peers and subordinates if possible.
- Analyze possible solutions – Analyze each possible solution with advantages and disadvantages. You evaluate each solution according to screening and feasibility criteria. Reject the solution when it fails in the screening process.
- Compare Alternatives – Another crucial step in the army problem solving model is to evaluate alternatives for cost and benefits. You need to consider your experience and immediate future. Tabulating each solution with the pros and cons will help clear the picture.
- Make an executive your decision – Make a decision and prepare an action plan, and put it in motion.
- Assess the result – You need to monitor the implementation of the plan and modify it if required. Establishing critical steps and milestones will help to ensure success.
Army problem solving games
- Capture the flag – the game helps in team building and army problem solving. Two teams compete against one another to retrieve a flag or object from the opposing team camp base and get into their camp base. This game is flexible, and ground rules need to be set before the game starts.
- Paintball – Paintball is a fun military problem solving activity. You can have many modifications and variations of the paintball game. The aim is to fire paint pellets at the opposing team. Laser tag is another variation of the game.
- Firing blind – Firing blind is a game where each team has a large number of water balloons. At the other end of the field has to hit the target is protected by a tarp from direct firing. The team has to hit the target that is covered. One team member acts as the observer and directs the team to hit the target with the water balloons.
Also Read: Interested in NFT – find an expert NFT consultant now!
Obstacles to problem solving
Problem solving can take time and patience, one of the best ways to solve any problem is pausing and evaluating the problem. Obstacles to problem solving are,
- Misdiagnosis – Misdiagnosis is a common problem can occur due to preconceived idea, biases or judgments. Defining and having a concrete understanding of the problem is the first step in the problem solving activity. This can be difficult. If you are not careful, you may spend your time and resources solving the wrong problem and finding the wrong solution.
- Communication bias – Communication barriers are caused when we are unable to explain the problem to the team, or presuming we know more than everyone else. Everyone on the team must be on the same page. You may need to acknowledge you have a limited understanding of the problem.
- Solution bias – A common obstacle in problem solving is thinking there may be a universal solution or thinking the same solution can solve multiple problems. You need to evaluate a problem independently than try to force-fit a solution that worked previously.
- Cognitive bias – One of the barriers to finding an effective solution is cognitive bias, or the tendency to jump to conclusions. To find solutions fast firms often end up with an irrelevant solution. This may cause more problems down the line.
- Lack of empathy – Every problem is associated with human emotions or abilities. It is important to identify and recognize people affected by the problem or it will be difficult to find a solution that will solve help.
Also Read: Developing an NFT – hire an expert NFT developer now!
Famous virtual problem solving software
Traditionally watercoolers chat is a great way to bring people together and help team members interact with one another. A virtual water cooler has a similar concept where people interact in a similar virtual setting or a dedicated virtual room. It allows remote teams to bond. Software that offers virtual water coolers services,
- unremot.com – provides users with a unique water cooler experience. The app provides unique solutions to remote teams.
- Microsoft Teams
- Informal Whatsapp group
- Donut over slack channels
Blockchain & Crypto
Crypto-mania: Is the current Crypto rally on echo bubble?
Cryptocurrencies have been on a wild ride these past few months, leaving many people wondering if …
Continue Reading about Crypto-mania: Is the current Crypto rally on echo bubble?
What opportunities can blockchain create for global supply chains?
This article will discuss what opportunities can blockchain create for global supply chains. Let's …
Continue Reading about What opportunities can blockchain create for global supply chains?
What industries can blockchain disrupt?
This article will discuss what industries can blockchain disrupt. Let's get started! Experts …
Continue Reading about What industries can blockchain disrupt?
Background checks in less than 30 minutes!
Get the background checks completed for anyone in less than 30 minutes. Just enter the email ID and press start verification!
Tales of Soldiers and Civilians, By Ambrose Bierce
Why do you need unchek?
Instant background check on anyone | Generate reports in 30 minutes | Run checks on anyone with an email | Completely free and online | Includes professional and educational checks | Covers social and personal insights
Don't have a personal office yet?
Nurture healthy conversations at your office with 360-degree virtual experiences of your real-office water coolers, cafeterias, and game zones!
...it’s not nice to talk about people behind their backs, but that’s not to say that gossip doesn’t have any social value. In fact, it has plenty. Gossip is the foundation of our species’ survival...
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari
Select from many spaces.
Cafeteria | Watercoolers | Virtual Gym Game Zone | Conference Rooms | Virtual Spa Ping-pong Tables | Fun Zone | Office Rooms and more...
18 Best Large Group Online Games For Teams [Have Virtual Fun in 2023]
When you think of work, one of the first things that probably comes to mind is routine, right?
Between Zoom calls, keeping up with your tasks on your favored project management software, and checking off the other daily requirements of your job, it’s pretty easy to end up zombified keeping up with corporate life.
So what does it take to break the routine and smash through monotony?
For one, large group online games and virtual team building activities took over during the pandemic and show no signs of slowing down in the new reality of the mixed workplace. Not to mention, interacting with your colleagues in a setting that does not involve deadlines, shop talk, and reports can have a number of positive outcomes for employees.
According to a Harvard Business Review study , “When people feel like they belong at work, they are more productive, motivated, engaged and 3.5 times more likely to contribute to their fullest potential.”
In a hybrid world where in-person and virtual employee experiences both have to be accounted for and optimized, large group online games provide the opportunity to bring in-office and remote employees together — not to mention the fact that perhaps now it can all be fun and games in the office.
In a hurry? These are some of our favorite online group games for teams:
So without further ado, let’s dive right into the 18 best online group games for teams to have interactive fun in 2023! (As a bonus, all of our picks are ideal for social distancing).
Want to become a better professional in just 5 minutes?
Online Games For Groups and Teams
1) virtual clue murder mystery party.
The Virtual Clue Murder Mystery Party is an online team building activity for large teams . Video conferencing tools make it more than possible for employees and coworkers to join in on the fun from around the planet!
Play online with groups of: 4-1,000+
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: Outback’s proprietary app lets your teams create groups, analyze clues, study case files, and summon their inner-Sherlock to solve the mystery of who had the motive, the method, and the chance to murder the unsuspecting victim.
Where to get started: Virtual Clue Murder Mystery Party
2) Online Escape Room
By participating in a virtual escape room experience remote teams will feel — well, not remote at all. This team-building activity brings employees and coworkers together to escape the maze before time runs out!
Play online with groups of: 4-100
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: These mind-bending exercises require creative problem-solving, communication, and on-your-toes quick thinking to find the stolen items before the last tick of the clock.
Where to get started: The Ultimate Virtual Escape Room Experiences
3) Virtual Mash-Up
Virtual Mash-Up is a series of rapid and entertaining icebreaker games for lightning-fast team building.
Play online with groups of: 20-50
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: These fun icebreaker games allow your team to test their dynamic on a virtual Shark Tank, Rogue Gallery, Speed Puzzler, and much more!
Where to get started: Virtual Mash-Up
4) Boom Box: Name That Tune
Laugh, guess, and game your way through exciting rounds of musical trivia about your favorite albums, songs, and bands!! You and your coworkers will feel like you are right in the middle of a high-stakes game show experience. Teams get extra points for sass and funny answers, making the game a can’t miss experience.
Play online with groups of: 10-150
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: This virtual spin on a classic game show competition lets two teams battle it out for office bragging rights.
Where to get started: Boom Box: Name That Tune
5) Online Jeopardy
This twist on the traditional Jeopardy game show uses a diverse mix of topics from different cultures to give a tribute to people of color, women, and other groups and enables teams to learn about their organization.
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: In this rapid-fire trivia game, players compete separately to provide answers and earn points for their team. Participants get to show off their expertise while using a game board with a range of categories and complexity.
Where to get started: Online Jeopardy
6) Coworker Feud
Coworker Feud is an interactive online game for large groups to pit team members against team members for Family Feud-style fun at work !
Play online with groups of: 10-20
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: Your coworkers or employees compete against each other to come up with the most popular answers for each presented question. For instance, for a question like “What is an employee’s worst nightmare?,” they might say “Meetings.” Each game comes with the needed digital materials, a buzzer, a Zoom link , and an invitation for participants.
Where to get started: Coworker Feud
7) Pictionary
Pictionary is a virtual spin on the drawing game we all know and love. This mobile-friendly gets everyone at the company together to compete to see who can guess the word they need without writing the word itself. Rack up the most points to win!
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: Part of the beauty and fun of Pictionary is that the guesses and the drawings can be hilariously off target — or perhaps, masterfully accurate. For the sake of entertainment, both make this a fun game.
Where to get started: Pictionary
8) Online Mini Games
Online Mini-Games give your team the chance to compete at quick, super simple mini-games designed to help them showcase their problem-solving skills and trivia knowledge , while at the same time giving them plenty to laugh about!
Play online with groups of: 4-20
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: This set of 8 mini brain-busting games includes picture-word puzzles, name that nonsense (a game of deciphering gibberish), name that tune, and much more! Additionally, in-game points scored go towards planting real trees in the Albertine Rift forests of Uganda.
Where to get started: Online Mini Games
Taboo is the word game of all word games. You know when you want to say something, but you can’t quite say it? Or a certain subject is taboo? You say everything except for that very thing. And that right there is the name of this large group game!
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: Teammates have to try to guess the word at the top of each card, without using any of the related words listed underneath the main phrase just as they would when playing the classic board game. The team with the most points is the victor. The funniest part is watching how Taboo often turns into a quasi-game of charades.
Where to get started: Taboo
10) Space Escape
Houston, we have a problem . You and your coworkers are being sent on an important mission to Mars but something has happened! Race the clock to make your way through the different virtual rooms of the spaceship to save the day and successfully land your ship on the red planet.
Play online with groups of: 6-100
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: This virtual escape room activity is a great team building exercise that will have you and your team solving different puzzle types as you race to escape.
Where to get started: Space Escape
11) Virtual Game Night
This online game night is the employee engagement gaming solution you’ve been looking for. With an easy set up and a host to guide you through numerous team activities, all your friends will have to do is log on!
Play online with groups of: 8-100+
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: A live host guides your team through karaoke, lip sync battles, trivia, team draws, tournaments and many other carefully curated activities . Every game is designed to make teams feel more connected, more engaged, and more satisfied in the in-person or virtual workplace.
Where to get started: Virtual Game Night
12) Time Machine Trivia
Ready to test your pop culture knowledge? Time Machine Trivia invites remote teams to indulge in a virtual game show experience , complete with a buzzer, scoreboard, and a living, breathing game show host!
Play online with groups of: 50+
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: This action-packed online game for employees and coworkers challenges their knowledge of pop culture history going back all the way to the counter-cultural 60s! Time Machine Trivia is a fast-paced, super fun idea for giving your team a challenge they can bond over.
Where to get started: Time Machine Trivia
13) Virtual Boom Box
The Virtual Boom Box game features puzzles and music trivia about your team’s favorite albums, songs, and bands, making it a fun and engaging pastime for music aficionados, especially those who want to flex their musical knowledge.
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: An on-air quiz master will lead employees through six rounds including music by popular and contemporary American musicians and bands. During the game, each team will use an answer sheet that includes the questions they are answering. Teams will have a ball with this super-entertaining interactive game.
Where to get started: Virtual Boom Box
14) Drunk History
Drunk History is the gamified version of the TV phenomenon, which retells lesser-known historical events such as the perspective of the onlookers of the Wright Brothers’ first flight. Or an event like the gentleman who attempted to strap a pair of wings to his back and fly off a castle.
Play online with groups of: 3-20
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: A little warning is that this game is so funny that your team will end up begging for the fun to never stop. A great way to kick off an office party , virtual happy hour , or department get-together.
Where to get started: Drunk History
15) Virtual Do-Good Games
Philanthropy is made even cooler with Virtual Do-Good Games. Give back to the less fortunate through the large group team games that turns competition into charitable donations.
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: This interactive online party game is designed around and donates to challenges like food insecurity and clean water, health and wellness, environmental awareness, and community support. Every time a challenge is completed, workplace teams will earn points that can be redeemed as donation dollars!
Where to get started: Virtual Do-Good Games
16) GeoGuessr
Using Google Maps, you and your team must use clues, street signs, landscapes, and anything else to guess where you are in the world. This online game lets you discover the world while playing a short and fun game with a little bit of competition and a lot of discussions.
Play online with groups of: 4+
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: This online game can be set up with five-minute rounds so that you and your group can play as many rounds as you like. Quick and easy to start playing, this game is a great free option for groups looking to explore the globe.
Where to get started: GeoGuessr
17) Online Settlers of Catan
Instead of divide and conquer, the online version of Settlers of Catan is a fun way to help your team unite and conquer! The Catan player community requested several features and Colonist is the realization of their desires.
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: In addition to the game itself, Colonist also offers tons of information and instruction so newbies can fit right in and start playing this online game for teams with their workplace pros in minutes!
Where to get started: Colonist.io
18) Drag Queen Bingo
Drag Queen Bingo is the incredibly fabulous diversity, empathy, and inclusion (DEI) virtual bingo, hosted by a marvelous drag queen!
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: Large groups simply join a video call where they can participate in live bingo games and watch a drag queen performance all at once! Typically, this virtual event includes at least 4 rounds, a full-fledged drag show, and lots of jokes .
Where to get started: Drag Queen Bingo
Bonus: Casino Games ( Poker + Blackjack )
For the perfect virtual game night, Casino Games is led by a professional poker player and an online live blackjack dealer, respectively.
Play online with groups of: 1-10
Why you’ll love this interactive online party game: For the poker portion of Casino Games on Zoom , your host gives the team a rundown of the rules of 3-Card Poker or Texas Hold ‘Em so they’ll know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. For the blackjack card game, the dealer will give them the tips, tricks, and strategies before letting them play at least 5 hands per hour. A virtual casino is the online party game that your group can log on and start playing in minutes!
Where to get started: Try Poker or Blackjack
People Also Ask These Questions About Online Group Games
Q: what are the benefits of large group online games.
- Improved collaboration
- Stronger communication
- Better group problem-solving
- Greater employee engagement
- Increased productivity and energy
Q: What are online group games?
- Online group games are games that are purposefully designed for small, medium or large groups of people to be able to play together online.
Q: What are some online games for a large group?
- Online games for a large group are any games that can easily accommodate many individuals at once. Oftentimes, the most important factor is that the gaming platform itself is capable of hosting large groups. Games like Cards Against Humanity, Uno, Scattergories, Scrabble, Skribbl, scavenger hunts , and trivia games with work-related trivia questions are fairly common.
Q: Can my work team play an interactive online game together?
- Yes, your work team can play an interactive online game together. In fact, many of the best online interactive games for groups are designed specifically with corporate and work ecosystems in mind.
Q: What do I need to set up an online group game for my party?
- The most important thing you need in order to set up an online group game for your party is a stable internet connection, clearly communicated rules, and easy accessibility for all of the intended participants.
Q: How do I find some group games to play online?
- Finding group games to play online is a matter of searching online; however, it really comes down to what your intention is. For instance, if you’re looking for a game that relates to improving workplace collaboration , it would be smart to look into virtual team building games.
Interested in a content partnership? Let’s chat!
Get Started
About SnackNation
SnackNation is a healthy office snack delivery service that makes healthy snacking fun, life more productive, and workplaces awesome. We provide a monthly, curated selection of healthy snacks from the hottest, most innovative natural food brands in the industry, giving our members a hassle-free experience and delivering joy to their offices.
Popular Posts
You may also like.
Top 3 Best HR Consulting Services For Your Company To Support Your Human Resource Needs In 2023
Everything You Need To Know To File Your Employee Retention Credit In 2023
Leave a reply cancel reply.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
SnackNation About Careers Blog Tech Blog Contact Us Privacy Policy Online Accessibility Statement
Pricing How It Works Member Reviews Take the Quiz Guides and Resources FAQ Terms and Conditions Website Accessibility Policy
Exciting Employee Engagement Ideas Employee Wellness Program Ideas Thoughtful Employee Appreciation Ideas Best Coffee Mugs For Sipping Happiness At Work Fun Office Games & Activities for Employees Best Employee Engagement Software Platforms For High Performing Teams [HR Approved] Insanely Fun Team Building Activities for Work
Fun Virtual Team Building Activities The Best Employee Recognition Software Platforms Seriously Awesome Gifts For Coworkers Company Swag Ideas Employees Really Want Unique Gifts For Employees Corporate Gift Ideas Your Clients and Customers Will Love
© 2023 SnackNation. Handcrafted in Los Angeles
- Work-From-Home Box
- Employee Welcome Kits
- Office Snacks
- Work Anniversary Gifts
- Employee Milestones
- Happy Hour Box
- Employee Appreciation
- Join Our Newsletter
- Partner With Us
- SnackNation Blog
- Gifts For Employees
- Gifts For Clients
- Virtual Team Building
- Company Swag Ideas
- New Employee Welcome Kits
- Employee Engagement Ideas
- Care Package Ideas
- See Snacks & Pricing
- More Networks
- Privacy Overview
- Strictly Necessary Cookies
- 3rd Party Cookies
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Here are some social problem solving games online: Moral machine Scruples – the game of moral dilemmas Morality play Dilemma Quandary
The benefits of group problem-solving activities for team building include: Better communication; Improved collaboration and teamwork; More flexible thinking; Faster problem-solving; Better proactivity and decision making; Without further ado, check out this list of the 14 best team-building problem-solving group activities for 2023!
There are four basic steps in problem solving: defining the problem, generating solutions, evaluating and selecting solutions, and implementing solutions. Help your team to think creatively at each stage by getting them to consider a wide range of options.
Although this can be a challenge and get frustrating, this exercise promotes problem framing skills, cooperation, and non-verbal communication skills. 7. Charades Team size: 8–10 people Time: 10–25 minutes How to play: Divide your team into groups of four or five people.
11 In-Person Team Building Problem Solving Activities for Your Work Group 1. Cardboard Boat Building Challenge. Split into teams and create a cardboard boat made out of just the materials... 2. Egg Drop. Every day at work, you’re forced to make countless decisions – whether they’re massively ...
Here is a list of more problem-solving games and a collection of starter questions for trivia. 2. The Clueless The Clueless is one of the best small group activities for adults that nurtures problem-solving and communication skills. Your team will enjoy this fun and straightforward exercise. Required: Divide your group into smaller teams.
These problem-solving games will help co-workers think outside of the box to solve generic or company issues while fostering team communication. Some games require a small amount of time and minimal supplies, while others are a bit more elaborate and will take more time to complete.
1 Group Problem Solving Activities 1.1 Wool Webs 1.2 To Do Scavenger Hunt 1.3 Impromptu Skits 1.4 Block Duplicating 2 Team Building Problem Solving Activities 2.1 Tower Building 2.2 Personalized Crossword 2.3 Picture Pieces Puzzle Game 3 Problem Solving Activities for Adults 3.1 Move It! 3.2 Playing Card Mix-up 3.3 Blind …
Team building exercises are fun and creative ways to get your team to work together and improve problem solving skills. 1. Lost at Sea – In this game, you and your friends have chattered a yacht to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Since you do not have any navigation experience, you hire a captain and a two-person crew.
1) Virtual Clue Murder Mystery Party. The Virtual Clue Murder Mystery Party is an online team building activity for large teams. Video conferencing tools make it more than possible for employees and coworkers to join in on the fun from around the planet! Play online with groups of: 4-1,000+.