Ice breakers for creative thinking

Here are some icebreaker activities that can help stimulate creative thinking:

  1. The Human Bingo Game: Create bingo cards with different traits, characteristics, or interests (e.g. "has traveled to another country", "speaks more than one language", etc.). Each participant needs to find someone who fits each of the characteristics and get them to sign the corresponding square.
  2. The One-Word Game: Ask each participant to come up with a word that describes themselves, such as "adventurous" or "creative". Then, ask them to explain why they chose that word.
  3. The Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items or challenges that require participants to think creatively, such as "find something that is both round and square" or "take a photo with someone who is wearing the same color as you".
  4. The Would You Rather Game: Present participants with two difficult choices and ask them which one they would prefer. For example, "Would you rather be able to fly or be able to breathe underwater?"
  5. The Two Truths and a Lie: Ask each participant to come up with two true statements about themselves and one false statement. The others have to guess which one is the lie.
  6. The Show and Tell: Ask each participant to bring an object that represents something about themselves, such as a hobby or interest. Then, have each person explain the significance of the object.
  7. The Word Association Game: Have each participant write down a word, then ask each person to come up with a word that is associated with the original word. Repeat this process several times to create a chain of associations.
  8. The Creative Constraints Game: Give each participant a set of constraints, such as "create a new product using only recycled materials" or "write a short story using only 50 words". Then, ask them to come up with as many ideas as possible within those constraints.
  9. The Mind Mapping Game: Have each participant start with a central idea or concept, then ask them to brainstorm as many related ideas as possible. Use sticky notes or a whiteboard to create a visual map of their ideas.
  10. The Role-Playing Game: Divide the group into small teams and assign each team a scenario or challenge, such as "you are a team of astronauts on a mission to Mars" or "you are a group of entrepreneurs trying to come up with a new business idea". Ask them to work together to come up with a solution or plan.
  11. The Brainstorming Game: Have each participant write down as many ideas as possible on a given topic or challenge. Then, ask each person to share their ideas with the group and build upon each other's ideas.
  12. The Storytelling Game: Ask each participant to tell a story about themselves, such as a memorable experience or a challenge they overcame. Then, ask the group to share their own stories and see if they can find any common themes or connections.

These icebreaker activities are designed to stimulate creative thinking by encouraging participants to think outside the box, be open-minded, and build connections with each other.