Gotcha is a quick, simple, and hilarious energiser for all group sizes. Participants gather in a circle and stand side by side with palms facing up and left fingers in each other’s palms.
On “GO,” try to catch your partner’s finger with your right hand while avoiding having your finger caught by your left-hand neighbour. When successful, shout “GOTCHA!” Play multiple rounds and get creative with variations if time allows.
Testing reflexes and creating a light competitive environment, this game is perfect for small groups after a game requiring no props or set-up.
Recommended group size: 15 – 30 people
Typical duration: 2-5 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Extremely fun
- Spontaneous laughter
- Sharpens reflexes
- Any size group
- No props
This game is a classic team-based energiser with lots of fun movements. Form a circle, holding hands, and have two people briefly release their hold to place their arms inside a hula-hoop. Pass the hoop around the circle without using your hands or fingers. To raise the difficulty, introduce more hoops of different sizes and directions. Continue for several minutes or explore variations.
Recommended group size: 8-15 people
Typical duration: 5-10 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Very playful and fun
- Fun stretch & warm-up
- Simple to understand
- Promotes cooperation
- Tons of variation
Elevate your team-building activities with the clapping game. In this entertaining, participation-focused game, lead your group to clap loudly whenever your hands cross in front of you. Start slowly and gradually speed up, incorporating unexpected pauses to test their attention and coordination.
This dynamic game enhances focus, quick thinking, and responsiveness while fostering team spirit. Perfect for energising your team and breaking the ice, the Clap Challenge promises a fun and interactive experience everyone will enjoy.
Recommended group size: 30+ people
Typical duration: 1-2 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Ideal for large groups
- Generates energy & laughter
- Attracts immediate focus
- Audience favourite
- No prop
Transform your group’s dynamics with the copy clap game. Begin with a confident, single clap to set the stage. As you subtly encourage, watch as others follow your lead. Gradually introduce more complex clapping patterns, guiding your group to mimic your motions.
This non-verbal game enhances body language observation skills, fosters synchronisation, and builds a sense of unity as everyone participates in a crescendo of claps and applause. Ideal for improving group cohesion and communication, the Clap Symphony offers a fun and interactive way to engage and unite your team.
Recommended group size: 30+ people
Typical duration: 1-2 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Very simple & engaging
- Ideal for large groups
- Generates energy
- Non-verbal
- No props
Dive into the One-Two-Three for a fun and engaging way to boost coordination and teamwork. Face each other about a meter apart in pairs and take turns counting “1, 2, 3”, with each partner saying one number at a time. Speed and accuracy are key as you repeat this pattern. Next, add a twist by substituting “1” with a clap over your head, “2” with a jump, and “3” with a meow for a challenge, swap partners and repeat, fostering social interaction and alternative communication.
This exercise challenges coordination, rhythm, and quick thinking while fostering laughter and camaraderie. Perfect for energising your group and enhancing collaborative skills, One-Two-Three ensures everyone has a blast while building strong team connections.
Recommended group size: 30+ people
Typical duration: 5-10 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Very playful & fun
- Fosters critical thinking
- Invites collaboration
- Partner activity
- No props
In this engaging activity, pairs stand a meter apart. One person leads a series of imaginative stretching movements. The other partner mirrors these actions, using visual cues and non-verbal communication to match their movements.
After 30 seconds, switch roles and partners to keep the energy and connections fresh. This exercise boosts coordination, attentiveness, and adaptability, offering a playful and effective way to strengthen team bonds and encourage creative expression.
Recommended group size: 15-30 people
Typical duration: 2-5 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Playful & fun
- Fosters collaboration
- Stimulates creativity
- Partner activity
- No props
Test your group’s time perception with the About Now. Start by marking two lines 10 to 20 meters apart. Gather your group behind one line, each person silently attempting to cross the opposite line precisely 60 seconds later.
This is one of our most popular non-verbal games, as participants must rely on their internal sense of time without making sound or verbal communication. Note who crosses closest to the one-minute mark, then repeat the challenge, encouraging group discussions for strategy and improvement between rounds. This activity sharpens time awareness, fosters teamwork, and promotes problem-solving—all in a fun, silent challenge.
Recommended group size: 15-30 people
Typical duration: 10-15 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Simple set-up
- Develops critical thinking
- Inspires creativity
- Tests perception skills
- No props
Create ‘finger-snaps’ from sliced foam noodles and demonstrate how to pop them into the air between your thumb and index finger, aiming to catch them. Participants then pair up to launch and catch each other’s snaps simultaneously.
As the game progresses, form larger groups, challenging everyone to pop and catch all their snaps simultaneously. This fun and engaging activity enhances teamwork, coordination, fine motor skills and quick reflexes.
Recommended group size: 15-30 people
Typical duration: 15-20 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Very playful & fun
- Highly interactive
- Minimal skills
- Inexpensive prop
- Multiple variations
Form teams with a twist with psychic handshakes. Have everyone secretly choose a number between 1 and 4 (or as needed). As participants mingle, they shake hands with others, matching the number of shakes to their chosen number. When two people shake the same number of times, they belong to the same group.
There is no talking or signalling—just silent handshakes and plenty of laughter. The game continues until all groups are formed, offering a fun and interactive way to create teams while enhancing participant’s non-verbal communication skills.
Recommended group size: 30+ people
Typical duration: 1-2 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Simple, rapid execution
- Highly interactive
- Breaks down cliques
- Random group-splitting method
- No props
Challenge your group to form a straight line without speaking. Inform everyone that they are now mute and task them with arranging themselves according to a specific criterion, like birthdate order. Only non-verbal communication is allowed. Participants must navigate the line using social cues, eye contact, and augmentative and alternative communication. Once the line is formed, check its accuracy to see how well they communicated without words.
This activity strengthens non-verbal skills, teamwork, and problem-solving in a fun and engaging way.
Recommended group size: 15-30 people
Typical duration: 5-10 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Very entertaining
- Inspires creativity
- Generates lots of laughter
- Audience participation
- No props
Get ready for some non-verbal fun with BF Skinner. Start by having two volunteers step out of the room, then ask the remaining group to agree on a unique physical position involving two people, like standing back-to-back with hands on heads. When the volunteers return, they must work together to discover the correct position without verbal guidance.
The group can only use applause to guide them—louder and faster clapping means they’re getting closer, while slower clapping means they’re off track. Subtle clues can be introduced after a few minutes of trial and error. The group erupts in wild applause once the pair achieves the correct position.
Recommended group size: 8-15 people
Typical duration: 20-30 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Very playful and fun
- Fun stretch & warm-up
- Simple to understand
- Promotes cooperation
- Tons of variation
Kickstart your event with “Five Handshakes in Five Minutes,” a dynamic and interactive social skills activity. It begins with a range of fun handshake greetings, starting with a classic high-five. Demonstrate the move with a volunteer, then challenge everyone to high-five as many people as possible in 20 seconds. Next, showcase another handshake, like a fist bump, and repeat the challenge. Continue this process with more creative greetings, keeping the energy high and the group engaged.
Recommended group size: 30+ people
Typical duration: 2-5 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Simple yet playful
- Highly interactive
- Generates lots of energy
- Inspires creativity
- No props
Distribute a random playing card to each person without allowing them to see it, and have them place it on their forehead for others to view. Invite the group to mingle silently, interacting based on the face value of each person’s card—using only facial expressions and visual gestures for communication. After a brief period, stop the activity and ask participants to group themselves into low-value, middle-value, and high-value card categories without peeking at their own cards. Once divided, they can reveal their cards and reflect on the experience.
This exercise offers a powerful way to explore themes of diversity, cultural norms, and the value of inclusion while developing effective communication.
Recommended group size: 15-30 people
Typical duration: 15-20 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Simple yet powerful
- Fosters communication
- Multiple metaphors
- Focus on cultural norms
Your group will practice responding to commands in a large space in this activity. Start with “WALK” to walk and “STOP” to halt, then swap their meanings. Next, add “NAME” for everyone to say their name and “CLAP” for a group clap. After practising these commands, swap “NAME” and “CLAP” meanings. The game challenges participants to adapt and respond, quickly enhancing reaction skills and adaptability.
This is one of our many non-verbal activities for children, which aims to enhance language development and cognitive skills. It helps them practice listening and physical responses through engaging commands and reactions.
Recommended group size: 30+ people
Typical duration: 5-10 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Simple, but not easy
- Develops communication
- Sharpens listening skills
- Focus on integrity
- No props
In this activity, lead your group through rhythmic motions, starting with rubbing your palms together and progressing to more vigorous actions like finger-clicking, clapping, and thigh-slapping. Add foot-stamping to build up to a crescendo, almost like the start of a rainstorm and then reverse the sequence back to rubbing your hands. This game promotes coordination and non-verbal communication skills.
Recommended group size: 30+ people
Typical duration: 1-2 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Simple & Engaging
- Ideal for large groups
- Non-verbal communication
- Passive
- No props
Divide your group into three or four teams and assign each a theme, like “community,” to develop a unique non-verbal gesture. After a brief planning period, teams perform their gestures simultaneously while observing the others. The goal is for all teams to agree on a single, identical gesture in as few rounds as possible, with no communication allowed between teams. Allow time for discussion and strategy between rounds. The activity concludes when all teams have synchronised their gestures or after eight rounds.
Perfect for classroom activities with non-verbal students, Negotiation promotes team building, non-verbal communication, and problem-solving skills.
Recommended group size: 15-30 people
Typical duration: 30-45 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Very dynamic
- Focus on consensus & goal-setting
- Promotes collaboration
- Strong metaphors
- No props
Scatter Emoji Cards on a table or the ground and let your group explore them briefly. In pairs, have each person select one or two cards that represent feelings they are experiencing. Encourage them to share the significance of their choices with their partner. Allow two minutes for this sharing.
If time permits, regroup and invite volunteers to share any significant insights or lessons they learned, though sharing is optional. This activity promotes emotional expression and reflection, critical developmental skills that enhance a child’s life and development.
Recommended group size: 8-15 people
Typical duration: 2-5 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Non-verbal options
- Promotes sharing
- Fosters critical thinking
- Multiple uses
- Virtual option
Much like EMOJI cards, you lay all Climer Cards face-up on a flat surface. Pose a reflective question related to the group’s experience and ask each person to choose one or more cards representing their response. Encourage sharing their choices and reflections in pairs, small groups, or with the whole group. This activity fosters meaningful discussion and a more in-depth understanding of personal experiences.
This activity is ideal for non-verbal or autistic students, as the visual supports help them express their emotions about specific experiences.
Recommended group size: 3-8 people
Typical duration: 2-5 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Fun
- Invites sharing
- Inspires creativity
- Fosters teamwork
- Virtual options
Form a circle where everyone can see each other. Ask each person to place one hand behind their back and extend between zero (a fist) and five fingers, based on their assessment of a given topic, such as the effectiveness of the group’s communication. A clenched fist (zero fingers) indicates the lowest score, while five extended fingers represent the highest. After briefly considering their response, signal the group to reveal their extended fingers.
This activity provides a quick, non-verbal way to gauge opinions and feedback, especially for teachers or parents.
Recommended group size: 8-15 people
Typical duration: 1-2 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Very quick & easy
- Non-verbal
- Multiple uses
- No props
Create an imaginary line representing a spectrum from “no energy” to “high energy.” Pose a series of questions or scenarios, like “Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?”
Invite participants to stand at a point along the line that best reflects their preference. Once positioned, have them observe the group’s spread and their placement.
For deeper insights, encourage individuals to share their positions with those nearby. Repeat the process with different questions to explore various aspects of preferences and personalities.
Recommended group size: 15-30 people
Typical duration: 5-10 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Non-threatening
- Rapid execution
- Highly interactive
- Great conversation starter
- No props
Place three coloured objects—red, yellow, and green—in distinct areas. Explain that red represents things you want to stop, green represents things you want to keep doing, and yellow represents things you’re unsure about. Pose a question or make a statement, then have everyone stand by the colour that reflects their response. Encourage those in each area to discuss their choices and reasons.
This activity fosters reflection and discussion about preferences and uncertainties using non-verbal communication.
Recommended group size: 15-30 people
Typical duration: 2-5 minutes
Why it’s great:
- Simple
- Rapid execution
- Promotes communication
- Universally applicable
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