Ebook: Ice Breakers

New Hampshire Bureau of Adult Education, 2009. — 193 p.A collection of 82 ice breakers.The proper definition of ice breakers (also known as Warm-ups, Energizers, Openers, and De-inhibitizers) is: team building activities that help people feel more comfortable and get to know each other in a process often called "breaking the ice" or "warming up the group."
Icebreakers are most commonly used early in the group process or at early stages of team development, for example, at the first class or at the beginning of a team meeting. They can also be used with great success whenever the group energy is low and people need re-energizing, or when members join or leave the group.
Icebreakers work best when they are fun and engaging, and they draw out information or qualities of the participants that aren't obvious or on the surface, such as hidden talents, attitudes, or previous experiences. Learning more about each other and having fun can help reduce tension and anxiety and help people get a sense of the commonalities between group members.