3 Favorite Fun and Games

My very favorite college professor in my school counseling program is one of the most creative people I know.  She gave us so many ideas on how to use everyday items in our counseling program.  I now ask myself daily, “WWDTDWT?”  Or in simpler terms: What Would Dr. Townsend Do With This?  Each week she showed us various games, books, or activities.  Then we brainstormed ways we would use them in our own counseling program when we grew up and got big girl/boy jobs at real schools!  That was my favorite part of the class, and so….  today we want to share some fun and games with you!

1.) Thelma the Unicorn– I LOVE bibliotherapy.  I have gotten out of my box a little this year, but most of my lessons up until this year have consisted of a children’s book that teaches a valuable lesson.  I love trying these books out on my two little girls at home first before creating a lesson to go with them.  When I bought Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey at our school’s Scholastic BookFair, it was an instant hit at bedtime at my house.  I knew the students at my school would love it!  Without giving too much away, Thelma is a horse who really wants to be a unicorn.  After a near-miss accident, she finds herself covered with paint.  She puts a carrot on her forehead and BAM!  Instant unicorn.  The next few pages follow her life and adventures as a unicorn plus her mental anguish as she tries to decide whether to continue living as a unicorn.
Leave it to Kim, who always inspires me to take it up a notch, to do just that: take it up a notch!  She used it with her elementary students, but we were both surprised to find out that her middle school students actually appreciated the humor and the moral of the story!  This book was given thumbs up across the board from children ages 1-14!  Anyone who has ever tried to please various age groups will realize what an accomplishment this is!  And make sure you do like Kim and read it while wearing your unicorn horn!

2.) Fibber– This game is great for individual sessions or small groups teaching social skills.  The premise of the game is to bluff your way to the end.  If someone calls your bluff, you add a nose piece to the glasses that each player must wear.  The person at the end of the game with the shortest nose is the winner.  It’s a great icebreaker game.  You can also use it as a tool to teach about telling the truth.  Let us know your thoughts on this game and how you use it in your counseling program.  The kids absolutely love it.  Every review I’ve read on it is positive!  That’s saying a lot!

3.) Zonk- This game is SO easy and so versatile!  I have used it several times as a quick assessment tool to check for understanding at the end of a lesson.  I divide the group into 2 teams.  They answer a question about the lesson we just completed, and then they can pull as many card slips as they want from from the deck.  The only catch is… if they pull the slip that says ZONK (or the black splat, as seen in the video), they lose all their points!  You can decide whether they lose the points just for the round, or for the whole game!  Check out the video below to see how it is played.  The kids LOVE it!  Right now we’re using it in our Slime Attendance lesson and attendance bundle.  Try it out!

Sharing techniques and ideas make us all better.  What are your favorite fun and games you use in your counseling program?  We’re giving away a copy of Thelma the Unicorn to one lucky person who shares an idea with us in the comments section.  Share away!