Ice Breaking Ideas? Social, Not Weather...

[hipmamajen]

I'm having a gathering later this month, and there will be a few different people who don't all know each other. Rather than turning everyone loose and letting them sink or swim, I thought I might have an activity or two so that we all at least have some idea who everyone is before we get down to eating.

They don't all know each other, but they do know (and voluntarily hang around) me, so they're the kind of people who'll be OK with some goofiness. It's not like a business gathering or anything. There will be a mix of adults and kids, all of them easy-going and fairly sociable once you get them going.

I do ice breaker games for the homeschool teens all the time, but I'm thinking there might be a whole world of more grownup-type stuff people do? Sadly, my "adult dinner party" experience is pretty limited. Among my circle, a party where everyone gets a chair is considered pretty fancy.

 

[nate_watkins]

 

[FlakeNoir]

Twister... the moment they're through the door. (I'm kidding!)

I'm sorry, I'm about the same as you with experience in adult entertaining. (That sounds rude, but isn't! )

 

[Walter Oobleck]

No clue...but it might be interesting (maybe more so if all were strangers) when all are gathered to have everyone introduce themselves...and say Walter is there...Walter should also tell the group something Walter likes, something that begins with the letter "W"...and the next person acknowledges "Walter and water-boarding" introduces him or herself and also tells the group something they like, again, a word that begins with the same letter as their first name. Depending on the size of the group, there ought to be some chuckles as people make mistakes...and people will...or maybe some wit in the group will come up w/new inventions (better if the "invention" is for someone that person knows...who won't take offense?)...so on so forth down the line. But the end of it all, everyone ought to have a handle on each and every name and at least one thing that person likes. But I'm clueless on these things...that's me in the corner, examining the woodwork.

 

[Neesy]

No clue...but it might be interesting (maybe more so if all were strangers) when all are gathered to have everyone introduce themselves...and say Walter is there...Walter should also tell the group something Walter likes, something that begins with the letter "W"...and the next person acknowledges "Walter and water-boarding" introduces him or herself and also tells the group something they like, again, a word that begins with the same letter as their first name. Depending on the size of the group, there ought to be some chuckles as people make mistakes...and people will...or maybe some wit in the group will come up w/new inventions (better if the "invention" is for someone that person knows...who won't take offense?)...so on so forth down the line. But the end of it all, everyone ought to have a handle on each and every name and at least one thing that person likes. But I'm clueless on these things...that's me in the corner, examining the woodwork.

Walter likes to examine the woodwork then, okay - that sounds like something people could do. (what do you think hipmamajen?) will there be alcohol involved? i.e. a glass of wine for example - I am not talking full out "drinking parties" as I have heard them called here in my city (adopted city)

 

[FlakeNoir]

Walter likes to examine the woodwork then, okay - that sounds like something people could do. (what do you think hipmamajen?) will there be alcohol involved? i.e. a glass of wine for example - I am not talking full out "drinking parties" as I have heard them called here in my city (adopted city)

Neesy likes reading Noddy stories while Naked sunbathing... what?

Maybe I misheard that at some point?

 

[Neesy]

Neesy likes reading Noddy stories while Naked sunbathing... what?

Maybe I misheard that at some point?

Flake likes f**king - (Forking fettucine, that is!) while wearing flimsy negligees and fleeing flamethrowers

ooops - I smell a hijack - we should try to get back on topic for hipmamajen

 

[FlakeNoir]

Flake likes f**king - (Forking fettucine, that is!) while wearing flimsy negligees and fleeing flamethrowers

They said I couldn't be seen through this camera-thingee on my laptop! Lying b'stards!

 

[jacobtlong]

This isn't my forte, lol. My first thought was a round of "Surprise Strip Poker," but I don't think that is exactly what you are looking for.

For the record... Jacob likes joking about jaguars jogging in June, July, and January. Top that!

 

[VultureLvr45]

So HipmamaJen...I have a bunch of ideas for some fun get togethers... all adults? A couple of Adult ideas... Have many different 'place cards' (1/2 of an index card folded) with random questions on each..(your most embarassing memory, your silliest joke, your favorite book, movie, season, flower...if you had to become an animal for a week what kind would you be..?) Have them sprinkled around ..at the cooler or by the food...

Are you having a theme party? Such as a murder mystery..everyone comes in character, or it is a bunch of neighborhood and various friends maybe you could play yatzee or bunco or poker depending on how many come. I hosted a bunco party several years ago. The theme of the party was Alfred Hitchcock (any excuse for girls to get together). Took three movies North by Northwest, Rope and Psycho and did prizes for each (compass, rope and a shovel). We had a lot of fun... Depending on how many people you could do a few fondu pots... one with chocolate and fruit or stiff cake, another with cheese and veges, another with small bits of meat to cook or dumplings to boil...

I have always found it helpful to have some type of theme. Chinese New Years, Mama's brunch the day the kids go back to school...,you get the idea..Football parties are usually fun. I'm a Steelers fan, hubby Redskins, and son Ravens...so it usually works out.. Let us know what happens 8)

 

[Winter]

 

[Neesy]

This isn't my forte, lol. My first thought was a round of "Surprise Strip Poker," but I don't think that is exactly what you are looking for.

For the record... Jacob likes joking about jaguars jogging in June, July, and January. Top that!

Jacob does the jive with Jimla while Jake watches and John

Spoiler

(Kennedy)

goes on a jaunt - 11/22/63

Sorry hipmamajen - yeah - what Winter says - serve drinks! Maybe you could have recipes and ask what their favourite cocktails or shooters are?

 

[not_nadine]

yeah, wine and some of the "Big Chill" music..

 

[hipmamajen]

No alcohol, and probably about 15 kids. The kids (except my 15 month old Torleif) are old enough to carry on a conversation with adults, but not really "strip-poker" appropriate ages. ;-)

I'm taking notes, thanks everyone!

 

[GNTLGNT]

...nobody wears pants....end of discussion...

 

[not_nadine]

Muskie is invited?

 

[ghost19]

Everyone entering the party must first take a bong hit and drink a beer....no, wait a minute, that only worked in college.....hmmm, maybe have everyone pick team Edward or team Jacob upon entering your house......no...that would cause everyone to leave and possibly strike you on the way back to their vehicle.....I'm out of suggestions...sorry

 

[HollyGolightly]

Those guys up there crack me up - No pants - hit the bong, funnel a beer - it'll be OK.

For real though - events are kind of my thing where I work and something I've done with mixed ages before is: get name tags and think up a bunch of famous pairs: Lucy & Ricky, Fred & Wilma, SpongeBob & Patrick, etc. You could separate them by age or not - some adults like to interact with kids, some don't (esp after hitting the bong). Anyhow, slap a nametag on everyone and their goal is to find their mate and learn 3 interesting things about them - make a new friend so to speak. And then you can call them up together and have them tell the group what they've learned about their new friend.

 

[Autumn Gust]

Pass a roll of toilet paper around and tell everyone to tear some off but don't tell them why. However many squares a person has is the number of interesting facts they have to tell about themself. Just the act of circulating toilet paper around the room starts to melt the ice a little.

 

[fushingfeef]

Here are some good suggestions...
Top 10 fun-tastic dinner party games - Channel4 - 4Food

Also, my wife recently went to an no-kids party where if you overheard someone talking about their kids, you got to bop them over the head with a foam bat.