Using Games in School Counseling
Using Games in School Counseling
I LOVE games. In fact, I’ve never lost a game of Pictionary. Unless you count the one game in question in 2003 that my sister claims she won. I had to quit due to my Pictionary partner’s bad attitude (my now husband), BUT we were ahead when we quit. Anyway, now that I’m a school counselor I’m constantly using games in school counseling. In this post and related podcast, we will attempt to share why using games in school counseling is important and beneficial, and how we use specific games.
The Benefits of Using Games in School Counseling
Sometimes we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to have the perfect small group that solves everyone’s problems in 6 easy meetings. Don’t get us wrong, we LOVE structured small groups and have had data proven success from them. BUT there have also been times when we have gotten students together who have experienced similar situations, like the death of a parent or guardian. We’ve put a few games out on the table and let them play. It has been amazing to watch them bond and start sharing their personal stories on their own. Games seem to make the room feel friendly and relaxed (unless you play with my family). The students feel comfortable enough to share this vulnerable part of themselves.
Using games can help students focus on achievement rather than competition. Of course, there will always be an element of competition within games, but the benefit of teamwork is huge. And how fun is it to watch the older students cheer for and help the younger students? Or to watch the popular students bond with the underdogs? Watching these leadership roles develop is a perk of using games in school counseling. We can also observe who the sore losers and sore winners are. Raise your hand if you realize there are sore losers and sore winners!
Our Favorite Games to Use in School Counseling
Ice Breaker Games
I use this game during the first session of just about every small group I begin. It’s a great way to get to know each other and realize similarities between each other. Each time I’ve used it bonds have been made over the silliest things like how many people like root beer floats! I also recommend it when the high school students who are involved in my mentoring program meet their elementary students for the first time. The only problem is that I don’t think they make it anymore so it’s difficult to find. Here’s an Amazon link. Just so you know we’re an Amazon Affiliate so we get a small percentage if you use one of our links. BUT you might also want to try consignment sales or yard sales.
Fibber is another great get-to-know you game. First of all, it leads to so many laughs since everyone looks so funny, as evidenced in the attached picture. It is also a way to get to know students’ personalities and what their hobbies, fears, likes, and dislikes are.
Purposeful Games
HoneyBee Tree
I found this game on Amazon last year, and it has been a hit! I have used it in so many different settings. It has helped me deescalate tough students, pull some information out of a student who was nearly nonverbal, and just led to laughs and fun with other students. This game has sticks and bees that you place inside the tree. As the 6 inch long sticks are removed, the bees fall out. I attach an emotion to the sticks and the bees. The students have to tell me something that makes them feel scared/angry/lonely, etc. when they pull one of the sticks out. If a bee falls out, they have to tell me something that makes them happy.
Giant Uno
Giant Uno is similar because you can assign an emotion to each color. If red is played, have students tell something that makes them feel the emotion that red represents. Use the wild card or reverse to “reverse” how you talk about emotions. Instead of telling something that makes you mad, tell an anger management skill that you can do if you find yourself feeling mad.
Pop Up Pirate
Pop Up Pirate is another game that has colors that can be assigned to different emotions. You never know when the pirate is going to pop out of the barrel! I will warn you that it gives me heart palpitations each time! You can throw the colored swords onto the table and let people grab whichever color they want to put in the barrel, or you can count out an equal number of each color for each player. Either way should provide you with some insight on their emotional health!
I am sneaking this book into our blog because it is so helpful in knowing how to implement games in your everyday small groups or lessons. This book takes common games and gives ideas to make most students comfortable enough to open up and share their stories.
These games have provided so much insight and entertainment for us! We hope that you enjoy these. We want to know what your favorite games are, too! Tag us on Instagram or Facebook and let us know!
