Teamwork Games for Adolescents

Games are a useful tool in teaching people of all ages how to work together. Teamwork games are especially useful for young people entering adolescence. Because they have reached that tumultuous time in their life, perception begins to play a key role. Adolescents are keenly aware of how they are perceived by their peers. It matters to them what others think, and by challenging adolescents to participate in teamwork games, it can help them to build their self-esteem, allowing them to see themselves as an integral part of a group, rather than separate from it.

  1. We the People

    • Divide the group into teams of two to eight people, providing each team with paper, colored markers, colored pencils, poster board, pens, pencils, scissors and glue. The objective of this game is for each team to create a country, making decisions as a group. Teams must form a government taskforce and tackle some of the same tough decision-making issues that helped to build the United States. First appointing themselves to government offices, each team will then be asked to come up with a name for their country. They will design a flag and a license plate, as well as choose a national bird and a national flower. They must create a national anthem, as well as write any laws that pertain to their country. After they have completed these tasks, teams will be responsible for presenting their country as a team to the other groups. After everyone has presented, discuss the pros and cons of working together as a team.

    Scavenger Hunt

    • Scavenger hunts are another way to build teamwork, as well as to engage in a spirited competition. The objective of the game is to encourage adolescents to work together, making decisions as a team. Break the group up into teams of four to six people. Distribute a laundry list of items to each team. Some of the items might include a penny that is under a year old, a company pen, a business card, a safety pin and a bottle cap. Set a time limit and send each team out to gather their list of items. When the time limit has been reached, get everyone back together to see which team found the most items. Have them discuss their team strategies and what they learned.

    I've Got Your Back

    • Learning to trust is not always an easy thing to do. The object of this game is to teach adolescents to trust in each other as they work to achieve their goal. Pair off the group into teams of two, making sure each pair is equal in height and weight. Ask the teams to sit down on the floor with their backs pressed together. The goal of this exercise is for each pair to communicate as they attempt to stand to their feet together, solely relying on one another and without using their hands to push themselves up. Once each team has accomplished this task, create teams of four and then eight, staggering each individual so that their backs are pressed against two people.

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