Getting to know game

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Get-to-know games are playful activities that have the purpose of bringing people who are unknown to one another into contact with one another and making one another more familiar. They belong to the so-called group games .

Occasions and objectives

The formation of a working group from people who are strangers to one another is often initially characterized by a wait-and-see attitude, a slight distance, sometimes even by mistrust. Such situations arise e.g. B. when taking on a new class at the beginning of the school year, when accepting new children in the class, when constituting a sports or music group, at the beginning of a course with young people, when starting a seminar with adults or when two families meet for the first time. These situations, which are marked by uncertainties, should be loosened up by the distracting game and an atmosphere of approaching, listening to and acting together should be created.

The purpose of introductory games is to encourage people who are unknown to one another to make initial contact with one another and to introduce them to one another in a relaxing way. Information about each group member such as name, interests, preferences, dislikes, occupation or hobby is collected informally. The aim is to become more aware of the other people in the group, to deal with them more closely, to dissolve any fears of contact or bias, to dispel any prejudices, to arouse curiosity, to establish personal relationships. This is intended to create the conditions for a good working atmosphere and willingness to cooperate in the new community.

Game forms

The playful contact can initially take place in two-person partnerships and / or with the whole group. They can take place on a verbal level, for example as a playful “interview” or as a common “spinning of a never-ending story”. But they can also be designed on the motor level in the form of movement games (" My right place is empty ... "). Finding the pairs or small groups together can be left to chance, but can also be controlled using certain forms of play or criteria (older + younger, he + she). It is essential that small tasks are then solved together in the new partnership (e.g. then introducing the other to the entire working group), which requires immediate attention and attention.

Problems

In order not to let the playful start fail from the outset, it is essential that the game master takes the age level and level of education of the group members into consideration when choosing the game types and tactfully deals with any sensitivities:

As a rule, children are easily caught by simple game ideas and look forward to playing. The situation is different with adults. In this way, the impression must not be created that one is being pushed into “silly children's games” when one has come to a serious seminar or of producing closeness that is not wanted. This can usually be achieved by explaining the meaning of the introduction and allowing participation in the games. Indiscreet questions on topics that are not addressed by those affected (age, family relationships, religious affiliation, etc.) should also be taboo. The introductory games achieve particular value and a high level of acceptance among participants if the activities are selected to match the topic of the event. A high level of sensitivity is required above all when integrating refugee children and adults from another cultural area through play. With children, distracted by playful activities, this can be done in an informal and factual manner in the form of project lessons.

literature

  • B. Fuchs: Games for the group atmosphere . Munich 1998
  • Johanna Pretorius: Kennenlernspiele , In: Knaurs Spielebuch, Knaur Taschenbuchverlag, Munich 2009, pages 51ff, ISBN 978-3-426-79836-2
  • Siegbert A. Warwitz, Anita Rudolf: Making contacts while playing - games to get to know each other . In: Dies .: The sense of playing. Reflections and game ideas . 4th updated edition, Schneider, Baltmannsweiler 2016, ISBN 978-3-8340-1664-5 , pp. 37-40.
  • Siegbert Warwitz, Anita Rudolf: Possibilities of integrating foreign children in the class . In: Die Deutsche Schule 12 (1980) 719–730.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Johanna Pretorius: Kennenlernspiele , In: Knaurs Spielebuch, Knaur Taschenbuchverlag, Munich 2009, p. 51ff
  2. ^ A b Siegbert A. Warwitz, Anita Rudolf: Making contacts through play - games to get to know each other . In: Dies .: The sense of playing. Reflections and game ideas . 4th edition, Baltmannsweiler 2016, pp. 37–40
  3. ^ B. Fuchs: Games for the group atmosphere . Munich 1998
  4. ^ Siegbert Warwitz, Anita Rudolf: Possibilities of integrating foreign children into the class . In: Die Deutsche Schule 12 (1980) 719-730