Guidelines for trust games 1

The following games have been put together from the more simple ones to the more difficult ones. This is done so that the students can get used to trusting one another in ever increasing amounts; they can experience a range of trust situations; and the teacher is able to spot any potential dangerous situations before the hardest trust game of all.

Please note that the games should be carefully supervised, particularly with the larger groups, and if there are insufficient members of staff present then each group in turn should attempt the activity rather than having everyone playing at once. In the last activity it is unsuitable for a girl wearing a skirt to be lifted above the heads of the others - please point this out when you come to it. Also, where it is unavoidable but to have a mixed gender group, make sure that no one is being compromised by inappropriate holding. A good way around this, as detailed in the instructions, is to have everyone - both boys and girls - who is the �volunteer� (often the person who is doing the trusting) to fold their arms across their chest, mummy style. This has the second advantage that it is a lot safer when playing the games than when having trailing arms etc..

Game 1 - pushing up

The group splits down into pairs. Each pair sits on the floor back to back, with knees bent, arms linked. Together they are to push on one another�s back to stand up. This will only work if they trust one another and work together

Game 2 - falling in pairs

In the same pairs, they both face the same direction one in front of the other. The front one puts his or her arms out stretched (as in a crucifix shape) and keeps their arms like this. This is important as it makes it easier for the catcher. The front person keeps their legs straight and their feet in one place and falls backwards. Start with just a small distance and then the catcher moves backwards in increasing amounts. How far do they trust? Look out for the best pair and the pair who does not trust each other - this is even better if the second pair are really good friends as you can query them as to the quality of their friendship.

Game 3 - Circle sit

In each pair, one of the pair becomes number 1, the other number two. All the number 2�s form a new group, as do the number 1�s. You should now have the class slit in half.

Have each team stand in an even circle, shoulders close together. Have everyone then turn to their left. They must now move towards the centre until they are packed really close, back to front and all facing one way. At a given moment they should all sit down together. If you are doing this in a room then be careful of the furniture around the edges as they are more than likely to end up in a heap on the floor.

Turn around and do the same facing the other direction

Game 4 - Circle hop

In the two teams, form the circle again but only to the stage of touching shoulders, then everyone face one direction. (e.g to the left) Each person does the following in order:

Put their right hand on the right shoulder of the person in front

Cock their left leg up behind them, bending it at the knee

Grasp the left leg of the person in front of them by the ankle with their left hand

Now everyone should hop around as a circle joined together! If they are unable to do this, tell them on the word go that everyone should shout �hop� together. It is only by hopping together that they can move around.

Face the other direction and repeat, reversing the hand and leg positions to the other sides.

Games continued on the following page