Ready to practice the power of play with your own family or colleagues? Similar to our November team building pizza party hosted by Accenture in the picture above, we love to make sure we keep playing during the winter season – children AND adults!
We’ve gathered three simple, festive games that serve as excellent icebreakers to help everyone unwind, laugh, and find that much-needed moment of presence.
1. The Winter Wonder Guess
This game encourages listening, observation, and shared laughter – a perfect way to slow down a hectic evening.
Goal: Guess what common, hidden object is inside a container using only touch and sound.
How to Play:
- Place a common, distinctive object (like an apple, a jar of coins, a small toy, or a pinecone) into a plain paper bag or shoebox.
- The “Guesser” holds the bag/box without looking inside.
- The Guesser shakes, feels, and listens to the object. They can ask yes or no questions about its texture or common use (“Is it soft?”, “Does this belong in the kitchen?”).
- The Guesser takes a final guess. The person who prepared the object wins a point if the Guesser is stumped after a set time limit (e.g., 60 seconds).
2. Holiday Two Truths and a Lie
A festive twist on a classic, this game is a quick way to learn something surprising about your colleagues and foster connection outside of project deadlines.
Goal: Guess which holiday statement is the fabrication.
How to Play:
- Each person shares three short statements about their holiday experiences. Two must be true, and one must be a lie. (Example: “I once sang carols on a fire truck,” “My family only eats Chinese food on New Years Eve,” “I started decorating on November 1st.”)
- After the person shares, the group discusses and votes on which statement they think is the lie.
- The storyteller reveals the lie. It’s a low-stakes way to reveal fun, personal facts and break down professional barriers.
3. Snowball Toss Challenge
If you need a quick burst of movement to clear the mind, this simple challenge uses common household items and encourages focus.
Goal: Successfully toss “snowballs” (paper) into a target.
How to Play:
Make it competitive by assigning points to each ball thrown at different distances.
Crumple up several sheets of paper (or use clean, white socks) into “snowballs.”
Set up various targets (a laundry basket, an empty gift bag, or a designated spot on the floor). Assign different point values to each target.
Each participant gets a set number of throws from the same line.
This is the gift of play – a reminder that a safe space to breathe, connect, and move is essential for all of us, no matter our age or where we are. This holiday season, remember that the most powerful antidote to stress is simple, intentional, and shared joy.
