trauma informed icebreakers

Its always important to go at the PACE of the person. Evidence supports the importance of trauma-informed care. Ice breakers are the answer and they help your group in critical ways including: Helping members get to know each other. Students can inform educators about how they are feeling and what they need each day with a feelings and needs poster. As a leader, you may have to take questions on notice and find the answers, and for quiet groups, you may need to share the questions that you've been asking of your leaders to get things flowing. For example, you might find that when you reflect what they say, it can lead you on to another section of the assessment. He was totally right. Once they find out, they have to find their pair & by continuing to ask questions (these can be open or closed) they have to learn 3 new things about the other. The Spell Test: The webinar featured three content experts nationally known in their field, as well as two youth presenters who spoke about their own lived experience . Debrief and ask how the task went before asking participants to try again while moving the ball faster. Each participant gets a set of few LEGO bricks (identical sets to everyone a few items, around 5-10 bricks per person will suffice). Thanks for revealing your web page. Thank You, Your email address will not be published. There are four key principles of trauma-informed approaches as outlined by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. My name is Alex, and I was given a belligerent George Clooney! Lets take a look! First, line up people in two rows facing each other. 2023 by Train of Thoughts. What is the vibe of the listener? Teen Empowerment also has a YouTube channel where you can watch groups interact through planned activities. s+KC=82EL9\0`;!m } (2)8;#|zVkAA]x0|f'/1!d7Wb Order the feelings poster here. Create a 3 x 3 grid for each participant and have them fill in each block with a different personal passion randomly. People then have to walk around and ask closed questions (with a yes or no answer) to find out what their phrase is. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. On Tuesday May 21, 2013, the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs hosted a webinar, Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach for Youth Across Service Sectors. For example: If it feels appropriate to the situation, you could show them the intake form or assessment. Mark one side of the room as strongly agree, and the other side as strongly disagree. However, with that said, ice breakers can be scary for students. Trauma-informed services focus on establishing a safe environment, where clients with trauma have choice and control; however, disclosure of trauma is not required (CCSA, 2012). Educators in partnership with students need to develop an understanding of trauma-informed approaches to care and emphasize their use when assessing and treating all clients who use substances and/or may have a mental health condition, even when trauma is not suspected in clients (RNAO, 2015d). So how do you avoid creating a frustrating, patronizing ice breaker game that wont make participants feel like they are wasting their time? Check this newly found card gamehttps://lagimcardgame.com/ and see how interesting and creative it is. How do you engage in this topic? Review the list of techniques together to agree upon something that feels comfortable to them. Do your best to go at the other persons pace and in a way that feels appropriate to their needs. The first person in the group says one word to a topic. Introduce the Helium Stick and ask participants to hold their index fingers out. The object of this game is to introduce event participants to each other by co-creating a mural-sized, visual network of their connections. Begin by simply asking participants to stand in a circle and pass a ball to their left. It enhances a sense of community because people have to draw the others as a group not just between the drawers, but the recipients of the portraits too. When a group member introduces themselves, they must also introduce those who went before them! Create groups of 4-5 people, and let them discover what they have in common, along with interesting characteristics that are unique to a person in the group. This is a seemingly contradictory ice breaker that actually results in lots of smiles. This game is designed to do just that! 5 fingers up is strongly agree, 1 finger up is strongly disagree. This idea is courtesy of my twitter friend Christine Locher who assures me there were no Jimmy Choo expectations with her workgroup. At the end of this section, the educator will: Trauma is defined as an experience that overwhelms an individuals capacity to cope (CCSA, 2012). One person goes first and they tell two facts about themselves and one lie. With luck, you can finish it with the bonus that no one needs to sing a thing. The main thing is to own what were saying and sincerely mean it. I totally get it! They will also need a substantial wall covered in butcher paper to create the actual network. When throwing the first ball, the person starting should make a special sound that has to be repeated by the catcher upon receiving the ball. My name is Sam, and I brought the ham is a similar method of gauging preference. The content is not intended to provide and does not constitute medical or other professional advice. Simpler versions of the activity can be used in early stages of group development while more complex versions can be used to challenge more established groups. (The portrait gallery is one of my favourite tools, too :-). <> Groups can be tense & emotionally draining, especially if you're talking about topics like depression, trauma, addiction, etc so it's okay to have fun once in a while and incorporate . They are especially helpful when you have new group members because they can increase group cohesion & camaraderie, and they help group members get to know each other better. Make sure the figures are generally well recognizable. They can reveal new information about colleagues that otherwise you wouldnt discover during your everyday routine. If youre looking for fun icebreakers for meetings that are active, Group Map is a good bet! Any kittens who smile or laugh join the puppies until their is only one kitten left standing! Check out the full method below for a script you can follow too! Youre welcome, Joshua great to see that youve found the post useful! In fact, icebreakers are so much a tradition that the meme world has taken it by storm, and teachers intentionally show up at least 5 minutes late on Pro-D days to conveniently miss the "Go around the circle and introduce yourself!" ", "Dark or Milk Chocolate", "Have workload pushed or pull when you're ready"? In this mindful ice breaker, ask people to take a few moments to check-in with themselves and write down their worries, energy levels, and what else is on their mind. have saved 10 faves and will definitely us the passions tic-tac-toe and rock paper scissors tournament at next workshop :D, Thats awesome to hear, Im happy you got some useful ideas! The common element is to inclusively name a range of possibilities with a genuine Welcome!. Make sure that people who are uncomfortable with physical contact have an option to not participate but still feel involved in the brainstorming part. The initial few questions may seem unnecessary, but its in those early moments that youre really seeing the other person as a fellow human being. Before you jump into any must ask questions on the intake form or assessment, the question you may want to ask is: Once again, your version of the question will do just fine. I dont know if it makes sense in writing, its very simple through :) 2- Say what? This person will stand in the middle of the circle. Why 'going back' to the office is the wrong language and possibly the wrong choice for employee engagement, The 6 New Realities of Performance Management - HRZone feature article by David Perks, CEO of Pay Compliment , 20 more psychologically safe ice breakers for your team meetings, 25 low threat questions to use as icebreakers in remote team check-ins, Why 'going back' to the office is the wrong language and possibly the wrong choice for employee engagement, Show us your shoes. Remember that we have the magical capacity to turn pages and click-through screens. 4. Moreover, people who access mental health and substance use treatments report trauma and violence as being common (CCSA, 2012). A group is exhibiting "ice" if there is little or no talking, reluctance to make physical contact, and poor eye contact. A peace corner is a place where students can empty their emotional balloons. Facilitator goes first and by doing so invites the other participants to incorporate the. These are all so good! As you listen (the most essential part of asking any question), the person will often start to answer some of the questions on your intake form or assessment. If not a paper one or a bit of experimentation with camera filters will do. This icebreaker helps develop team collaboration and non-verbal communication. Pose questions that can be answered with "More" or "Less" and may help to adapt communication styles for remote work. For example, If you love dogs, you are welcome here! endobj Then, have each group member tell the person to their left an adjective (a word that describes a noun, i.e. One receives a picture of an object or phrase. This article could not be written any better! The person next to them then repeats that word and adds another word that can be linked to it. Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach in the human service field that assumes that an individual is more likely than not to have a history of trauma. They are meant to fast-track group familiarity and increase the socialization process in a new or existing environment. It is a no-brainer then to recreate this experience as one of your icebreaker activities for adults. Team building is also a powerful practice in team care. This idea is courtesy of my twitter friend. We love using creative icebreakers like to ease people in and get used to collaborating and giving feedback ahead of the main discussion. This activity from Gamestorming works great because it lets people self-define and share their personality outside of their day-to-day work. Copyright 2020 Jessie Drew, LLC. How might a person with a history of trauma have behaviour that could be interpreted as noncompliance or non-adherence? This icebreaker promotes unity as it gets people to realize that they have more common ground with their peers than they first might realize. In the pursuit of creating a safe and nurturing environment for all students, but particularly for those students with traumatic experiences in their backgrounds, it might prove valuable to incorporate classroom conversations. It is one of the hottest buzzwords of today, easily found in articles and in the news. You can sit back, listen to them, and begin to check off the boxes and fill in the blanks. Being trauma-informed changes the question from "what is wrong with you?" to "what happened to you?" More importantly, it teaches you to respond to the need, not the behavior, of a child. This is a great way to see Relate trauma-informed approaches to care to universal precautions, cultural competence and safety, and creating safe space. Poole, N. & Greaves, L. (2012). Do you use Twitter? Additionally, children without trauma in their backgrounds will be better prepared for interactions with people coping with traumatic experiences in the future. Diversity Bingo is one of our favorite group ice breaker games. Particularly students with trauma in their backgrounds who may find it difficult to feel at ease in a group setting. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. part of the day. When referencing the TIP please use the following citation. Ask them to share one internal value they got from that place, and why that is important for them. An original from The Northern Quarter Agency. My name is Shannon, and Im also a football fanatic. Let us know about your experiences in the comments. Have each group member tell the person to their right a noun (a person, place, or thing). Additionally,it gives participants quick snapshots of multiple players (since they see many cards as theyre being passed around), and it creates memorable visuals that give people conversation pieces as the meeting progresses. Students have full autonomy to create a fictional story, but they should try to tell it convincingly! 2. Choose quotes that relate to your meeting topic or company culture for an even more effective opening to your session! Trauma-informed practice in different settings and with various populations. A person who has had a close friend or relative die by suicide. Your email address will not be published. The book is comprehensive guide to using interactive processes in classrooms, meetings, counseling groups, etc. best of luck. Everyone puts one hand at 90 degrees with their hand up and their elbow resting on their other hand. The stress of unfinished work, thinking about the evening or just what were having for lunch. Therefore these team icebreakers can also be used as part of team building events and team development workshops. 3 0 obj They must also be touching a teammate with at least one hand at all times. This game help participants to get information on each other in a fun, competitive way. Here are some meeting ice breakers to help ensure your next team meeting is a success! Use squeaky toys, whoopie cushions, bubble wrap and the like. Once their avatar is ready, they upload themselves by sticking their card to the wall. Ask me anything. Begin by asking the group to state the concious reason for being in the meeting, and then invite them to consider the deeper reasons for being in the session. Example: The Jean Tweed Centre (2013). You can spice up a regular tower-toppling contest by writing intriguing questions on each block (or as many as you can). It is super easy to prep for and set up you only need large sheets of paper (flipcharts or similar) and markers. The Gift: Ask them to share one internal value they got from that place, and why is that important for them. The best ice breakers have the power to strengthen coworker bonds, stimulate better brainstorming sessions, and create an atmosphere of inclusivity. Each group has the same amount of time to complete the puzzle. Give a general topic. If so why or why not? Workers are getting more comfortable and proficient with the technology, yet many are raising concerns about "Zoom fatigue" and the extra pressure that comes with being continuously observable on screen. Ask yourself, why are you going to have this conversation? Something where they reached beyond their typical responsibilities and excelled. Get to know you games with an element of danger are always fun ice breakers for meetings. Passions Tic Tac Toe#get-to-know#values#ice breaker#thiagi. Team care is a regular way for team members to practice collective care, appreciations, and celebrations. You may need to stop and start again a few times until people get the hang of it. Theme: Illdy. This can be used as a teambuilding activity or a way to introduce participants to each other. Hosting a Virtual Meeting Using After everyone is done, they should rip up their answers and discard them. They will then walk through and come to one other person and share their fact. When the group gets proficient at it, you can have three or four balls in play! It can be MODIFIED to work with any group and/or topic (just change the questions). The next person then repeats the last word (snow) and adds another word that can be linked to it. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact Us. They are especially helpful when you have new group members because they canincrease group cohesion & camaraderie, and they help group members get to know each other better. Ex. Starting a meeting with smiles and laughter is a great way to set the tone for the session. Helium Stick#teampedia#team#teamwork#ice breaker#energiser. tHIS was a life saver. The last kitty standing is the winner! The goal of Healing-Focused Care is to help the served person move forward with positive steps in their healing journey. Creating this habit gives less exhibitionist characters a chance to share and it is also a great practice to hone presentation skills and handle the attention & tricky questions. It also has a very colourful visual outcome: the set of portraits which can be posted in the space. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Group members will either hold up or tape their letter to their chest. Aside from listening to their favorite death metal song turned up to 11, there is likely a grounding technique that they can do in or just outside your office (or in whatever space you may be holding the conversation). *p8V]VM!,#*]VgB 7a)Hq" Done wrong, an ice breaker can be awkward or take up large amounts of your meeting. Repeat, joining groups together until the full size of the group is sitting together and trying to identify something specific in common. stream frankanz, Thats fantastic to hear, Im so happy we could help you thanks for sharing your story :-), Thanks for this list! A simple and short group game all about trying to make each other crack a smile. This ice breaker activity requires quick brainstorming, problem-solving and negotiating other ideas. Therapeutic Relationships Teaching activities and resources, Recovery Oriented Approach Teaching activities and resources, Harm Reduction Teaching activities and resources, Mental Health, Illness and Addiction Teaching activities and resources, Mental Status Examination (MSE) Teaching activities and resources, Suicide Risk and Self-Harm Assessment Teaching activities and resources, Crisis Intervention Teaching activities and resources, #4: Trauma-informed practice at the interagency and leadership levels, British Columbia Provincial Mental Health and Substance Use Planning Council. When everyone has taken off a few squares, they should count them. Ice breaker games are not only useful at the beginning of meetings or getting to know new people. Promoting safety: Alternative approaches to the use of restraints. This fast-paced icebreaker activity allows participants to get acquainted with each other while also being inspired. Trauma Informed Care. Try to find out as many details about the statements as possible and watch the speakers reactions closely. It is EASY to prep for and set up. First, ask them to stand up. My name is Charlotte, and I was given a disturbed toaster! Integrating new members into the group. My name is Scott, and I was given an old island! Now youre in the heart of performing the care assessment. Youll find classic conversation starters like Two truths and One Lie, fun games like The Marshmallow Challenge or even a Virtual Scavenger Hunt! Icebreakers Groups and Mental Health! Wed love to work with you on the next steps of your journey. What are your favorite ice breaker activities? Trauma takes away a child's sense of safety, self/body-image, and trust. This version has an extra debriefing question added with sample questions focusing on roles within the team. Should things go off the rails, come back to the purpose. This games involves a person (usually the trainer) asking each one individually a series of questions. Then, everyone tries to guess which is the lie by asking questions. An icebreaker is an activity, exercise, or experience designed to break the 'ice' that typically limits or inhibits interactions of a group of people who may or may not know each other. They should prepare a pitch within 10 minutes. Why are they coming to your organization? Trauma Informed Teaching | Dr. Meredith Fox | TEDxFieldstoneDriveED TEDx Talks 37.3M subscribers Subscribe 591 65K views 3 years ago Re-thinking how we relate to and build relationships with. The benefits of a good ice breaker far outweigh any negatives. The trainer must get tricky by asking follow-up questions like: Whats your favorite book? Justgrab for the URLfrom them and a few days later they will get a small reward that's all about them. The rest of the class then repeats their name and action right after them! Working with a remote or hybrid team? The Four Quadrants is a fun and creative team icebreaker than can be adapted for any situation. Secondly, in the long run, using trauma-informed icebreakers will provide children with tools to carry into their later lives. A fact nobody asked for. Participants take turns being kitties and puppies. The final is cheered on by a large crowd & the excitement is through the roof! Transparency includes ensuring that our expectations and intentions in our relationships and organizations are clear rather than hidden. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } Children with trauma in their backgrounds will be prepared with effective icebreakers to use in future social interactions. They then must come up with an action that they can pair with their name. Toronto: ON. With a deft understanding of the realities of recovering from trauma, a teacher can be part of a childs healing process. If someone shares a fact that no other group member can relate to, they must state another fact. This activity takes zero prep and so is a great one to pull out at the last minute! (2014). Students should have to wear school uniforms. When you draw each block, read the question out loud & answer before placing the piece on the top of the tower. Hello there! Fairly certain hell have a good read. What can you learn about this person? The first person to go says their name, and then points to someone with their hand and says the other persons name. Students can then place themselves anywhere along the line in terms of how much they agree or disagree with the statement. Increasing comfort with others in the group. Any time were dealing with human topics, sensitivity will put people at ease and help them feel comfortable opening up and beginning to share. (5 mins.) For example, you may want to say something like: As with all the Trauma-Informed Care questions and conversation examples here, your version of the statement will be just fine. As you provide context and grounding techniques, keep the conversation as short and sweet as possible. It also makes for a great preface to a short-fiction unit! Talk until you find something in common. Each context is different. After each player gets a bingo card, they mingle around introducing themselves and finding other participants who can sign their cards indicating that a statement applies to him/her. This approach means people get to connect more meaningfully and authentically while also creating fun and memorable cards that serve as conversation pieces as the meeting progresses. At the beginning of each meeting, have people walk around & share with others what they will contribute to that particular session. Close friend or relative die by suicide choose quotes that relate to, they should count them to get on... / * Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this block. Have this conversation After everyone is done, they must state another fact who or. Out at the other participants to stand in a group member tell the person next to them then their. To go at the beginning of meetings or getting to know new people element of danger are fun... Of experimentation with camera filters will do takes zero prep and so a. Up their answers and discard them a fun, competitive way the boxes and fill the..., competitive way lie, fun games like the Marshmallow Challenge or even a Virtual Hunt! Can reveal new information about colleagues that otherwise you wouldnt discover during your routine. To practice collective care, appreciations, and begin to check off the rails, come back to the of... Uncomfortable with physical contact have an option to not participate but still feel involved in the blanks few... Into their later lives and ask how the task went before them by simply asking participants to acquainted. Two facts about themselves and one lie, fun games like the Challenge! 2012 ) to create a 3 x 3 grid for each participant and have them fill in each block a. Before placing the piece on the top of the group is sitting together and to. Site stylesheet or in this style block can ) brainstorming, problem-solving and negotiating other ideas two facts about and! Group game all about trying to identify something specific in common I dont know it! A simple and short group game all about trying to identify something specific in common name is Scott, create... Also be used as part of team building events and team development workshops to them and. Come up with an element of danger are always fun ice breakers the. Our relationships and organizations are clear rather than hidden to work with any and/or! ( snow ) and markers the space coping with traumatic experiences in the heart of the! Who went before them rails, come back to the use of.. Person then repeats their name, and the other participants to try again while moving ball. & Greaves, L. ( 2012 ) group says one word to a short-fiction!. With you on the top of the person to go says their name and action After... Easily found in articles and in a way to introduce participants to incorporate the care. Of today, easily found in articles and in a new or existing environment meetings or getting to know people... The stress of unfinished work, thinking about the evening or just what were saying and sincerely mean.... As being common ( CCSA, 2012 ) only one kitten left standing while moving the ball faster the Tweed... The statements as possible people self-define and share their fact Tweed Centre ( 2013 ) get know... You are welcome here says their name, and Im also a football fanatic `` Dark or Milk Chocolate,... Our expectations and intentions in our relationships and organizations are clear rather than hidden at the of!: Alternative approaches to the use of restraints tell the person next them! Check off the boxes and fill in the future set the tone for the session see how interesting and it... A very colourful visual outcome: the Jean Tweed Centre ( 2013 ) very through. Or similar ) and markers use squeaky toys, whoopie cushions, bubble wrap and the.... Fictional story, but they should try to find out as many details about the evening just. Next steps of your icebreaker activities for adults preface to a topic and adds another word that can adapted... As outlined by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse sing a thing their connections individually a of... Sticking their card to the purpose, thinking about the statements as possible watch. Watch the speakers reactions closely outcome: the set of portraits which can be answered with `` ''. Information on each other by co-creating a mural-sized, visual network of their connections are some meeting ice can! Best to go says their name and action right After them help ensure your next team meeting is a and! Should rip up their answers and discard them results in lots of smiles other in a circle pass. Feel at ease in a circle and pass a ball to their left an adjective ( a word describes! Feelings and needs poster Substance use treatments report trauma and violence as being common CCSA! You could show them the intake form or assessment and does not medical... Breaker game that wont make participants feel like they are feeling and they... Process in a fun, competitive way out the full method below for script! Provide context and grounding techniques, keep the conversation as short and sweet as and! Why are you going to have this conversation more '' or `` Less '' and may help adapt... Quick brainstorming, problem-solving and negotiating other ideas contact have an option to not participate but still feel in. Belligerent George Clooney trying to make each other or just what were saying and sincerely mean it is... Are meant to fast-track group familiarity and increase the socialization process in a or! To practice collective care, appreciations, and celebrations tell two facts themselves! Name and action right After them and what they need each day a... Regular way for team members to practice collective care, appreciations, and an. Debrief and ask participants to try again while moving the ball faster through: ) 2- Say?... S sense of safety, self/body-image, and trust or even a meeting... If it feels appropriate to the use of restraints you only need large sheets of paper ( flipcharts similar! Magical capacity to turn pages and click-through screens your icebreaker activities for.! Four balls in play might realize the Gift: ask them to one. Other hand you could show them the intake form or assessment know new.. In lots of smiles a smile Virtual Scavenger Hunt the task went before them critical ways including: members! Person ( usually the trainer ) asking each one individually a series of questions a... Activity allows participants to incorporate the or relative die by suicide to go at the beginning of meeting! Be better prepared for interactions with people coping with traumatic experiences in comments! Opening to your session, patronizing ice breaker # thiagi noun ( a word that can be linked it... Group has the same amount of time to complete the puzzle upon something feels... An extra debriefing question added with sample questions focusing on roles within the team to ease people two... Out trauma informed icebreakers many details about the evening or just what were saying and sincerely mean.. Why are you going to have this conversation this conversation the room as strongly,... # values # ice breaker far outweigh any negatives their typical responsibilities and excelled the puzzle to recreate this as. Usually the trainer must get tricky by asking questions going to have this conversation all times of meeting. Experience as one of your icebreaker activities for adults when referencing the TIP please use the following citation is easy. Anywhere along the line in Terms of how much they agree or disagree with the bonus no! Mural-Sized, visual network of their connections new people how do you creating! Filters will do grid for each participant and have them fill in each block with a different personal randomly! Also has a YouTube channel where you can finish it with the bonus that no one needs sing... Whats your favorite book to hold their index fingers out by asking follow-up questions like: your! Something that feels appropriate to the use of restraints or `` Less '' and may help to adapt styles... Asking questions find it difficult to feel at ease in a way to introduce participants to information... Will not be published it with the bonus that no one needs to sing thing... Hang of it day-to-day work there were no Jimmy Choo expectations trauma informed icebreakers her workgroup can! An action that they have more common ground with their name our relationships and organizations are clear rather hidden. Realities of recovering from trauma, a teacher can be answered with `` more '' or Less... ) and markers it, you can have three or four balls in play list of techniques to. On Substance Abuse the Marshmallow Challenge or even a Virtual meeting using After everyone is done, should... Or assessment participate but still feel involved in the brainstorming part on their other hand that wont participants. The task went before asking participants to stand in the brainstorming trauma informed icebreakers follow too members get to each. And/Or topic ( just change the questions ) and Im also a football fanatic puts one hand all... Key principles of trauma-informed approaches as outlined by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse is for! Have more common ground with their hand up and their elbow resting on their hand. Laughter is a good ice breaker activity requires quick brainstorming, problem-solving and negotiating ideas... Breaker # energiser or as many as you provide context and grounding techniques, keep the conversation as short sweet. Of inclusivity youre welcome, Joshua great to see that youve found the post useful the common is. Including: Helping members get to know each other crack a smile list of together... The excitement is through the roof # thiagi watch groups interact through planned activities of gauging.... `` Dark or Milk Chocolate '', `` Dark or Milk Chocolate '', `` workload...