drama games for problem solving

Fun Drama Games and Activities

Diving Deep Into the World of Drama Games

Drama games play a crucial role in enhancing the creative, cognitive, and emotional abilities of individuals. They're not just an incredible source of fun drama, but they also contribute to building a strong foundation of critical soft skills. Let's explore the key categories of these games and see how they enrich us.

Focus and Listening Games: The Essence of Teamwork and Engagement

These  games  are designed to refine the listening skills and the attention span of the participants. These are often structured  around the circle  where participants   stand in a circle, and follow prompts involving gestures, movements, or dialogues. For example, the "Zip Zap Zop" game, where participants swiftly pass on these words to each other while maintaining eye contact, or "Freeze and Justify" game where one person freezes in an action and another steps in, continuing the action with a justifiable context.

The benefits of these games are multifarious. They not just build confidence, but also foster  teamwork, concentration, and foster a keen sense of understanding others' non-verbal cues. They also help in reducing performance anxiety among the players, making them  theatre game  pros!

Imagination and Creativity Games: Igniting the Sparks of Creativity

Imagination and creativity games invite participants to step into a world of fantasy and think outside the box. These improv games like "The Magic Box," where players pretend to open an imaginary box and interact with whatever they find inside, or "Fortunately/Unfortunately," where players alternately present positive and negative scenarios, help in unleashing the hidden creativity in them.

These games are wonderful tools to enhance imagination. They foster creative thinking, fun, and encourage the players to express themselves freely. As a result, they boost their confidence and communication skills, making these activities for kids  and adults alike.

Tactic Games: The Strategy Powerhouse

Tactic games are a subset of drama games that target problem-solving and strategic thinking. They involve planning, strategizing, and executing actions. For example, games like "Park Bench," where a player tries to get another player to leave a bench using different tactics, or "The Hitchhiker," where the driver and passengers adopt the behaviors suggested by the hitchhiker.

Developing tactics and strategies through these games is an exciting and beneficial journey. They sharpen decision-making skills and teach the importance of planning, making them a must-have on your list of drama games.

Characterization Games: The Journey Towards Empathy and Understanding

Characterization games are a fantastic tool to understand and delve into the depths of different characters. Games like "Party Quirks," where each guest has a unique quirk and the host has to guess it, or "Who Am I," where players have to guess the character on their back based on others' interactions, are classic examples.

Learning character development through these games offers immense benefits. They nurture empathy, understanding, and perspective-taking. They also help in   theatre, making actors versatile in their roles.

In conclusion, these   games and activities are a powerhouse of skills and entertainment. They offer a wide range of benefits, making them one of the most enjoyable and fruitful theatre activities. Whether you're interested in fun drama games for kids  or engaging improv games for your drama team, this guide will serve as a helpful starting point.

Play Drama Games

Playing these games is a fantastic method of teaching drama and creating a fun, engaging environment. They provide an excellent warm-up before diving into more serious theatre work and allow participants to develop essential skills such as creativity, spontaneity, and teamwork. This article will take you through a collection of  games that are beloved in drama clubs all over the world.

The first game is Zip Zap Zop, which is often used as a theater game and sometimes as an elimination game. The rules involve participants who sit in a circle, and the game begins when one person sends a 'clap' or 'impulse' to the next person, saying the word "zip". Other moves, such as "zap", send the clap in different directions. This fun game also changes its rules when played in different places, making it a super fun and spontaneous activity. As a teaching drama method, Zip Zap Zop allows students to work on their reflexes and concentration.

The second game on our list is Freeze and Justify. This is a fantastic drama activity to encourage quick thinking and improvisation. Participants perform a scene, and at any given moment, a person can shout "freeze". The actors must then freeze in their current positions. The person who shouted "freeze" will then take the place of one of the actors and start a new scene, justifying the positions of the actors.

Next, we have The Magic Box . This game helps players to use their imagination. In this game, the facilitator introduces an imaginary box that contains all sorts of props. Each participant then reaches into the box and pulls out an object of their choice, which they must then use in an improvised scene.

Fortunately/Unfortunately is a game that works great for teaching narrative skills. Participants sit in a circle, and the first person starts a story with a sentence that begins with "fortunately". The next person then continues the story, starting their sentence with "unfortunately". The game continues, alternating between fortunate and unfortunate situations.

Park Bench is a fun improv game that involves one player sitting on an imaginary park bench. Another player then enters the scene with a certain character trait or behavior. The goal is for the player on the bench to guess the character trait of the other player.

The Hitchhiker is a  game that involves four players sitting in an imaginary car. One by one, the players pick up a hitchhiker, who introduces a new character trait that all players in the car must adopt.

Party Quirks is a game that involves one player hosting a party, while the other players are guests with peculiar quirks. The host must guess each guest's quirk.

Who Am I is another fun game where a player has a post-it note with a name of a celebrity or character stuck on their forehead. The player then asks yes or no questions to the group to guess who they are.

Bippity Bippity Bop is a great warm-up game for a drama lesson. In this game, players stand in a circle and the leader points to a person and says either "Bippity Bippity Bop" or "Bop". If "Bippity Bippity Bop" is said, the person must say "Bop" before the leader finishes the phrase. If the leader just says "Bop", the person must remain silent. Any mistakes mean that the person is out.

Bomb and Shield is another fun game where each participant chooses one person to be their bomb and one to be their shield. As they move around the room, they must always keep their shield between themselves and their bomb.

These  games not only make the process of learning drama enjoyable but also ensure that the essential skills required in theater are nurtured in an interactive way.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about drama games and activities:

What are drama games?

They are activities that are designed to build confidence, encourage teamwork, and promote creative thinking. They can be used to warm up participants before a drama class or rehearsal, or simply as a fun way to break the ice.

What are some examples games and activities?

There are many different games and activities. Some examples include improv games, next person, stand in a circle, around the circle, and mime. Other popular options include theater games, warm-up exercises, and activities for kids.

How can games and activities help build confidence?

They can help build confidence by encouraging participants to step outside of their comfort zones and take creative risks. By practicing these games and activities, individuals can develop the skills needed to perform in front of an audience with ease and confidence.

What are some good drama games for kids?

There are many good games for kids, such as "Theater Tag," "Freeze Tag," and "What Are You Doing?" These games are designed to be fun and engaging, while also helping kids develop teamwork and creative thinking skills.

How can They be used to promote teamwork?

They can be used to promote teamwork by encouraging participants to work together to achieve a common goal. For example, games like "It's a Great" and "Once" require participants to work together and communicate effectively in order to succeed.

What are some fun improv games?

There are many fun improv games, such as "Build a Story," "Last Letter," and "Party Quirks." These games are designed to be light-hearted and entertaining, while also helping participants develop their improvisation skills.

How can They be used in a classroom setting?

They can be used in a classroom setting to promote creative thinking, build confidence, and improve communication skills. By incorporating these games into their lessons, teachers can help students develop their social and emotional intelligence, as well as their ability to work effectively in a team.

What are some drama tips for beginners?

Some drama tips for beginners include practicing breathing exercises and physical warm-ups, practicing tongue twisters to improve enunciation, and watching other actors perform to learn from their techniques. It is also important for beginners to stay open-minded and willing to take creative risks.

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• David Farmer

Drama Games

Drama Games for breaking the ice, physical warm-ups, group dynamics and encouraging creativity. These activities are drawn from a wide range of sources, including traditional games, as well as exercises developed by directors, actors and teachers. View each category by clicking on the tabs below.

Count To 20

Daft definitions, drama games for language teaching (teenage to adult), drama games for story books, family portraits – online/socially distanced, fruit salad, grandma’s footsteps, groovy image factory, guess the pet, guess who i am (inc online version), imaginarium, night watchman, open and close, pecking order, poetry in motion, random sound stories, sculptor and statue, shoe shuffle, siren (voice warm-up), soundscapes, sources of light, status pictures, story orchestra, ten second objects, three changes, three word sentences, two truths and a lie, where do you stand (inc online version).

I find ‘Poetry in Motion’ a great way to teach lines from Shakespeare!

I would like to thank you, David Farmer, so much for all the online drama games – I am doing a debate club via Zoom and they are wonderful for warm ups – I am a big fan of yours having bought both your drama games books and regular visits for your drama tips eg the Cinderella freeze frame, for when I used to teach in a classroom before Covid.

Love the Who am I game – had great fun choosing lots of famous paintings and can’t wait to try it out on Y4 in Zoom time on Thursday.

I just wanted to thank you for this wonderful resource.  I have found inspiration and comfort from your emails for years. I thought you should know your generous sharing of ideas has been really appreciated.

Thank you David Farmer !!! I love your Drama Games and they inspire me greatly!

I have really enjoyed learning about the games and creating ways to use them in my classes for adults. It takes a bit of courage to get students to move out of their comfortable chairs to the imaginary stage – and courage for the teacher to make this happen in a safe and fun way for the students!

I loved this game, the students were extremely spontaneous and that made it more enjoyable. I often use all the drama games that you send and believe me it’s made my classes fun!

Thank you for sending me the suggestions for the parents’ workshop. The parents loved those sessions and could understand how their children are learning and why their kids say that drama is so much fun. They really loved it!

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20 Fun And Exciting Drama Games

• Art Education

Drama games are a fantastic way to break the ice, build confidence and develop vital performance skills. Here are 20 fun and exciting drama games that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

1. Freeze: Participants perform a scene, and whenever the word “freeze” is called out, they must stop in place. Two new players jump in, assume the frozen positions and start a new scene.

2. Hot Seating: Participants sit opposite one another and engage in improvised character interviews or scenes based on specific themes or situations.

3. Zip Zap Zop: Players stand in a circle and pass an imaginary energy bolt around using the words “zip,” “zap,” and “zop” in sequence. Players are eliminated if they say the wrong word or hesitate too long.

4. Taxi: Participants create scenes as drivers or passengers inside an imaginary taxi cab, using their powers of improvisation to interact with various locations or other characters.

5. One Word Story: In a circle, each player says one word at a time to craft an original story out loud.

6. Park Bench: Two players sit on an imaginary park bench. A third player comes along to try to make one person leave their seat by making various offers or suggestions.

7. Party Quirks: The “Party Host” must guess the odd personality traits assigned to their guests as they’re introduced during their party.

8. World’s Worst: In a rapid-fire round, participants take turns demonstrating the world’s worst example of something – like a waiter, doctor, or teacher.

9. Machine: Participants create different components of an imaginary machine with their bodies while making noise or mimicking movement to contribute to the overall function of it.

10. Tableau : Groups pose in still images to convey a specific theme, subject, or idea without speaking.

11. Where Game : Players create mini-scenes by acting very clearly their surroundings – whether it’s a beach, an office, or a haunted house – and other players guess the location.

12. King of the Hill : Players must use their imagination and improvisation skills to invade territories on an imaginary hill until there’s only one person left.

13. Three-Headed Expert : Participants play three experts who can only answer questions one word at a time, creating funny answers and sparking creativity.

14. Mirrors: Partners face each other and attempt to mirror each other’s movements without talking about the choreography ahead of time.

15. Sound Circle : Players sit in a circle while creating different sounds using their bodies or voices, which they must then pass on to the person next to them.

16. Object Transformation : Participants must transform one prop into multiple things through improvisation while the others guess what it has become.

17. Monologue Chain : Players take turns performing a monologue based on the last sentence spoken by the previous participant.

18. Emotional Symphony : The group forms an emotional orchestra where each player represents an emotion demonstrated through vocal or physical actions, all conducted by someone in the middle

19. 10-Second Objects : In groups, participants have ten seconds to form various objects out of their bodies, including anything from cars to parks or famous landmarks.

20. Alphabet Game: Players must perform a scene with dialogue that goes through every letter of the alphabet, starting with ‘A’ and ending with ‘Z.’

These 20 drama games are sure to provide hours of fun and excitement for any aspiring actor or performer. Use them in workshops, rehearsals, or even just for fun with friends. The possibilities are endless!

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Engaging in purposeful, socially interactive problem-solving games such as those found in dramatic play can help students access and develop parts of the brain related to complex thinking.

Students who participate in drama learn to think creatively. Engaging in purposeful, socially interactive problem-solving games such as those found in dramatic play can help students access and develop parts of the brain related to complex thinking. Here are three drama games that can enhance brain development in key areas: communication, problem solving and creativity:

• Gibberish:  This game heightens listening skills and teaches how to convey meaning through expression. Demonstrate some nonsense sounds for the students, then allow the entire group to practice making gibberish sounds all at once. Students may move through the space and greet each other, uttering strange sounds. Next, pair up the players and invite them to carry on a conversation about a specific topic such as what they had for lunch that day, the best party they have ever attended, or the scariest thing that ever happened to them. Have one person be the teller, and the other person listen and respond, and then switch.
• Mystery Bag Theater:  A game that encourages problem solving and creativity. To prepare, put a selection of items such as a bell, a flashlight, a cookie cutter or a cat toy in each of six paper grocery bags. Each bag should have only a few items in it. Divide the students into small groups, and give each group a mystery bag. Allow fifteen minutes for the students to write a skit in which they use each of the items in a way that makes sense. Let each group act out their skit.
• Ten-Second Objects:  This activity helps students think creatively and work together. Assemble players in groups of three to five. Call out an object, such as blender, lawn mower, clock, UFO, popcorn popper, washing machine or jungle gym. The groups have ten seconds to create that object out of their bodies. Each group will have a different interpretation.

Try these ideas, then make up some of your own!

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17+ Best Drama Therapy Techniques, Activities, & Exercises

Drama therapy is an established and validated form of therapy that can be applied to a wide range of participants with an even broader range of issues, problems, and disorders.

The evidence backing its effectiveness is compelling, as is the intuitive reasoning behind its appeal.

Curious about drama therapy yet? Read on to learn what drama therapy is and why it is an intriguing form of treatment with such exciting potential.

Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

What is drama therapy definition and history, techniques in drama therapy.

• 10+ Activities, Games, Exercises, and Ideas (PDF)

Drama Therapy Applications

• Certification and Training – Courses, Programs & Workshops (+ online)

Drama Therapy Associations

5 books on drama therapy, a take-home message.

Drama therapy is a type of therapy that uses theatrical techniques and concepts to bring about meaningful change. It gives clients a way to express their feelings, interact with others, and rehearse healthy behaviors.

Drama therapy expert David R. Johnson (1982) defines this method of treatment as

“the intentional use of creative drama toward the psychotherapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional and physical integration, and personal growth.”

The North American Drama Therapy Association (n.d.) describes drama therapy as an approach that:

“…can provide the content for participants to tell their stories, set goals and solve problems, express feelings, or achieve catharsis.”

It is intended to help participants explore their inner experience and break them out of any rigid roles or frameworks. They can express themselves while sharing a new side to their personality, or dig up an old one long forgotten.

Drama therapy was first conceived as a therapeutic approach called psychodrama by psychiatrist Jacob Moreno (Langley, 2006).

Psychodrama went against the grain of the current psychology, given its focus on the present and the future rather than the past (e.g., in the style of Freud and his successors).

A psychodrama session was generally organized based on the following guidelines (Logeman, 2019):

• The session focuses primarily on one person, the protagonist.
• Participants act out their emotions by reacting to others.
• Participants use techniques like mirroring the protagonist’s behavior and role reversal to better understand their feelings and behaviors, as well as the feelings and behaviors of others.
• Spontaneity and creativity are emphasized as propellers of progress and development.

After Moreno

From Moreno’s psychodrama technique , what we now call drama therapy was born. People noticed that drama facilitates the expression of difficult emotions and provides psychological distance from trauma or suffering, and they applied these truths from the world of theater to the realm of therapy.

While psychodrama focuses on an individual, drama therapy can be applied to individuals or groups and can provide therapeutic opportunities for all participants in each session (HealthPRO, n.d.).

During the 1960s, as the new focus increased on humanistic approaches, drama therapy offered psychologists a way to treat clients through theater that revolved around the actor’s experience instead of the audience’s (Johnson, 1982).

The field really began to take shape when the American Dance Therapy Association formed in 1966 with the American Art Therapy Association following soon after in 1969. The North American Drama Therapy Association (n.d.) was established in 1979.

Today, the goals of drama therapy are often described as follows (GoodTherapy, 2015):

• To promote positive behavioral changes
• To improve interpersonal relationship skills
• To integrate physical and emotional wellbeing
• To achieve personal growth and self-awareness
• To improve overall quality of life

Drama therapy also provides participants them with the opportunity to (HealthPRO, n.d.):

• Express their feelings
• Tell their story
• Act out/work out issues and problems
• Relive their symptoms
• Achieve emotional and physical integration
• Experience catharsis
• Expand their depth of inner experiences
• Boost their self-confidence
• Improve their self-esteem
• Increase their sense of play and spontaneity
• Develop trust
• Work out relationship issues
• Improve their interpersonal/social skills
• Strengthen or expand their personal life roles
• Increase their mental and emotional flexibility

Drama therapy sessions are usually organized into four separate parts (Counselling Directory, n.d.):

• The check-in In this first component of the session, participants will check in with the therapist and share how they are feeling today.
• The warm-up The warm-up activity is meant to get the blood flowing as well as participants’ creative juices; it should help get everyone engaged, mind and body.
• The main activity This is the biggest component of the session and the focus of the therapeutic work for the day.
• Closing Closing out the session offers an opportunity to discuss how the session went for each participant and reinforce any lessons learned or objectives achieved.

Drama therapy uses exercises rooted in theater to help participants express themselves and gain new insights about themselves and others.

The nine core processes through which drama therapy facilitates change in participants include (Jones, 1996):

• Dramatic projection A technique that allows participants to project their inner feelings and work their issues out onto a role or object.
• Personification and impersonation Two different techniques in which participants can express their own personal material through role-play or onto an object.
• Interactive audience and witnessing Refers to the participant, the group, and/or the client in the role of audience or witness.
• Playing An attitude characterized by spontaneous problem-solving, in which a play space is staked out, objects are actively repurposed into new roles, and allowances are made for changes.
• Drama-therapeutic empathy and distancing The ability of the participants to engage or disengage with the material that resonates with their personal problems and inner conflicts.
• Life-drama connection A process in which participants analyze their personal problems or issues through dramatic projection.
• Transformation An inherent aspect of much of what happens in theater and in play, built right into the structure of telling a story.
• Embodiment The physical expression of personal material (can be actual or envisioned).
• Therapeutic performance processes The therapeutic use of theatrical performance to work through the participants’ personal issues and themes.

In addition to these core processes, other common techniques include the following.

Stimulating creativity and spontaneity

Throughout treatment, the drama therapist will try to poke, prod, and provoke the participants into developing and applying their creative nature (Johnson, 1982; Jones, 1996).

Role-play allows the participant to alter their mindset, act out in new ways, and connect their own experiences to those of another person (whether that other is real, imagined, a near-perfect copy of the participant, or someone completely different). There are two main types of roles that a participant may play.

– Scripted role

Scripted role-playing gives the participant the opportunity to act as another person, usually based on a script or text describing the individual. The participant studies the role, attempts to understand the individual, and often finds that they can relate to certain factors in the character’s experience.

– Improvisational role

Unlike the scripted role, participants acting out an improvisational role are given minimal guidance on the character and allowed to create their personality spontaneously. The actor in an improvisational role will undoubtedly draw from their own experiences, memories, and assumptions to create a personality, making it an exercise in self-expression, whether the actor is aware of each aspect of their self that seeps through or not (Johnson, 1982).

Speech and storytelling

This technique capitalizes on the desire to tell a good story and allows us to form new narratives and practice getting our message across to others.

Talk therapy itself is a sort of storytelling, in which the client composes, alters, and refocuses their own stories with the therapist as the audience. The simple process of telling your story can bring a surprising sense of catharsis and facilitate a new understanding of yourself and your experiences.

However, storytelling can also be used to construct hypothetical (or not-so-hypothetical) situations and explore the various ways the story could end. In this technique, the client is in a position of leadership concerning the characters, the situation, and the resolution, allowing them to work through their own experiences and find healing (Miller, 2011).

Projective play

Projective play is generally used with children, although it can also be applied with adults. This technique uses dolls, toys and other props to allow participants to express and project their feelings. Projecting themselves onto the external world through play is a sign of healthy development, and failure to do so can provide valuable insights into what the participant is struggling with.

The use of props is a prominent feature in drama therapy and offers participants versatile ways to use the things around them to express themselves. Props can be used for a wide range of purposes, from simply giving the participants a tool to utilize in their role to holding symbolic meaning and representing an experience, individual, or concept.

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Movement and miming

One of the most basic and fundamental human behaviors is movement. The use of movement in a therapeutic manner is also found in art therapy, interpretive dance therapy , and other activities humans devised to express themselves.

Miming is essentially movement replacing speech in acting out a scenario or portraying emotion. This technique requires the use of body language alone, which may bring up new thoughts, feelings, and perspectives for the participants (Counselling Directory, n.d.).

This process is when participants act out negative behaviors without consequences. In this safe space, they can act out harmful behaviors and face them directly and truthfully. This technique can be especially helpful for participants with addiction issues, as they can engage in a thoughtful consideration of their addiction behaviors without actually backsliding (Blank, 2010).

In addition, acting out can be extremely helpful for participants who have engaged in other harmful behaviors or actions that have caused them problems in the past (Counselling Directory, n.d.).

Donning a mask can help participants feel safer and more secure, as well as give them another way to express themselves and share their feelings with others nonverbally.

There are four main ways in which a mask can be used in a therapeutic encounter (Landy, 1986):

• To represent two sides of a conflict or dilemma
• To express one’s identity in a group
• To explore dreams and imagery
• To express a social role

Having participants create a mask that reflects their own experiences or matches how they feel can also provide a great opportunity for them to express themselves and engage their creativity.

10+ Activities, Games, Exercises, & Ideas (PDF)

Here is a sampling of these resources, activities, games, and exercises often used in drama therapy.

Mirroring resonance: Parla (“speak”)!

In this resonance exercise, the goals are for participants to examine an inner conflict from a new perspective and develop their listening skills.

The facilitator begins by dividing the group into groups of three. The participants take turns discussing a current or past conflict. The participant discussing their conflict uses their partners’ bodies to “sculpt” the scene. The other two participants will remain frozen in their position until the sculptor says “parla.”

Once the magic word has been spoken, the scene will come alive; the two participants that make up the scene can move, talk, and act however seems most fitting. In one or two minutes, they act out the scene while the third partner watches, then freeze back into a sculpture to finish the exercise.

The point of this exercise is to mirror the conflict back to the author as clearly as possible, without trying to solve it.

You can find this exercise and more examples of resonance exercises starting on page 9 of Dr. Pendzik’s PDF resource .

In this exercise, two participants create a scene in which they are meeting by chance at a specific time and place in an imagined future.

They start recognizing and greeting one another, then move on to talking about what they’re doing now and about the drama therapy group they were once in. The focus is on reminiscing back (to the present) on their experience in the group and what they learned, gained, or achieved during that time.

This exercise comes from Renée Emunah’s Acting for Real, and it can also be seen on page 32 of Collection of Theatre Activities and Games from Emily Nussdorfer. [ Please note this link will initiate an automatic download.]

In addition to these exercises and activities, there are also other interventions utilized in drama therapy to bring about healing and positive change, such as (Whipple, 2012):

• Creating visualizations
• Creating fill-in-the-blank style improvised stories
• Role-playing with role cards
• Poetry creation
• Recitation, enactment, or interpretation of literature
• Retelling or reenacting familiar stories
• Stories told through figurines, puppets, or objects
• Story summation and titling

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Drama therapy is used to help adults with issues like depression, addiction, and personality disorders.

It’s also applied in schools, prisons and assisting those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

One such program is Diana Feldman’s ENACT method, which places specially trained actors into classrooms to interact and engage with the students. Their goal is to create a “safe container” for students in which real-life issues can be explored and addressed.

At the pace that is right for the students, the actors present customized, real-world scenes of conflict that the students likely see in their own lives (Freeling, 2015).

Studies on the program’s effectiveness showed that it improved students’ verbal and nonverbal expression and increased their demonstrations of trust, focus, engagement, collaboration, and cooperation with peers and adults. Some schools are even seeing decreases in behavioral problems and improvements in attendance, grades, and test scores (Freeling, 2015).

Although the idea of people who are incarcerated putting on a play might seem incongruous with the bleak, hardened view of prisons we are often presented with, the application of drama therapy techniques has proven to be a promising method of treating and rehabilitating those forgotten or shunned by society (for more general therapy techniques , see this article).

The evidence from drama therapy and theater-based programs in correctional institutions has shown often remarkable outcomes, including (Gardner et al., 2014):

• 70% of men who took part in drama workshops at Iowa’s Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility displayed significant improvements in their relationships with peers and authority figures.
• Nearly all respondents to a survey on the Theater in Prisons Project reported reduced tension in the correctional institutions, improved interpersonal and communication skills, enhanced self-confidence, and an expansion in the options people who were incarcerated felt were available to them, both inside the institution and after their release.
• Nearly 60% of participants in the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York went on to earn a degree beyond the General Education Development diploma (GED) while incarcerated and were more likely to engage in college programs overall.

Autism and drama therapy

The use of acting, role-play, movement, body language, and communication with others makes drama therapy a great fit for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Godfrey and Haythorne (2013) explored the effects of drama therapy sessions on children and young people with ASD and found benefits that fit into five themes:

• Dramatherapy sessions gave participants a safe place to explore their feelings.
• Participants felt included and made friends with their peers in sessions.
• Role-play provided participants with a short-cut to learning about and practicing social skills.
• The predictability and structure of the sessions helped participants feel less anxious.
• The positive outcomes from drama therapy sessions permeated through the entire family and support system.

Acting out real-world situations in the safety of a theater context allows children with ASD to practice their skills, and improvisation encourages them to ditch the scripts they often rely on in social situations, fostering increased flexibility in thinking and behavior and challenging their generally concrete thinking styles (McKenna, 2016).

How drama therapy can help express emotion – Anna Beck

Certification and Training – Courses, Programs, and Workshops

Depending on the country/region where they work, most drama therapists graduate with a degree in psychology, sociology, or social work; pass a licensing exam, and register with the proper authorities.

Additional specialized training must be undertaken to become a registered drama therapist  (RDT). To learn more about the process of becoming an RDT, check out the North American Drama Therapy Association’s (NADTA) information page here .

For continuing education, alternative training, or supplementation to existing training, current and aspiring RDTs can find information on NADTA’s in person and online courses by clicking here .

For another potential educational path, consider Concordia University’s master’s degree in drama therapy, which combines theater studies with various therapeutic approaches. You can find out more about the program by visiting the university’s website .

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Expand your arsenal and impact with these 17 Positive Psychology Exercises [PDF] , scientifically designed to promote human flourishing, meaning, and wellbeing.

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As noted earlier, the North American Drama Therapy Association is the largest and most active association focused on drama therapy. To explore what they do and learn more about drama therapy, you can visit their website here .

There is also a UK association for drama therapy called the British Association of Dramatherapists. You can read more about this organization and what they do here .

There are many books available about drama therapy can help you learn more. Check out this brief list of some popular and well-reviewed books on drama therapy:

1. Drama Games: Techniques for Self-Development – Tian Dayton

The theater games explained in this book can offer a way for readers to access their feelings while injecting humor into the process.

Find the book on Amazon .

2. Trauma-Informed Drama Therapy: Transforming Clinics, Classrooms, and Communities – Sajnani Nisha and David Read Johnson

The book discusses how drama therapy can be used in clinics, classrooms, and communities, to help people express themselves and process their experiences.

The authors also provide practical guidance on how to implement trauma-informed drama therapy, including information on assessment, intervention, and evaluation.

The book is geared towards drama therapists, counselors, social workers, and other professionals who work with trauma survivors.

3. Acting for Real: Drama Therapy Process, Technique, and Performance – Renée Emunah

Besides the theory and techniques of drama therapy, the book provides practical guidance on how to use drama therapy in a variety of settings.

Topics such as assessment, intervention, and evaluation are discussed, in addition to detailed case studies to illustrate the various techniques.

The author also delves into the concept of “performance” in drama therapy and how it can be used to enhance the therapeutic process.

The book is intended for drama therapists, counselors, social workers, and other professionals who use drama therapy in their practice.

4. The Drama Within : Psychodrama and Experiential Therapy – Tian Dayton

Aimed at psychotherapists, counselors, social workers, and other mental health professionals interested in using psychodrama and experiential therapy, this book is an ideal guide.

Tian Dayton explores psychodrama and experiential therapy as a way to help individuals and groups to overcome emotional and psychological challenges.

What makes the book interesting is that it provides an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of psychodrama, including the use of role-playing, action methods, and other techniques.

The author provides practical guidance on how to implement psychodrama and experiential therapy in a variety of settings.

5. Strengths-Based Drama Therapy with Groups – Kate Hoffower

This book explains how to approach drama therapy from a trauma-informed perspective and includes specific exercises.

The reason why we recommend this book is that is more user friendly than previously reviewed manuals, and in addition, specifically focuses on using drama therapy in groups.

In this piece, we learned what drama therapy is, covered a brief overview of its history, described some of the most salient techniques and exercises, and explored its potential benefits.

Drama therapy and other types of therapy that focus on the arts provide individuals with opportunities to heal, express themselves, share their story and connect with others.

Such forms of therapy have enormous potential for all who struggle but are particularly promising for those who are in greatest need of self-expression and healthy interaction.

What do you think is so compelling about drama therapy and other forms of therapy based on the arts? Have you ever participated in drama therapy as a therapist/facilitator or as a participant? What was your takeaway from the experience? We want to hear from you, so feel free to utilize that comment box below!

Thanks for reading!

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

• Blank, B. T. (2010). Theater processes therapeutic in drama therapy. The New Social Worker. Retrieved from http://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/practice/Theater_Processes_Therapeutic_in_Drama_Therapy/
• Counselling Directory. (n.d.). Dramatherapy. Counselling Directory – Art Therapies. Retrieved from https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/drama-therapy.html
• Freeling, I. (2015). Schools ENACT positive change with drama therapy. Huffington Post Blog. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/isa-freeling/schools-enact-positive-ch_b_6964602.html
• Gardner, A., Hager, L. L., & Hillman, G. (2014). Prison arts resource project: An annotated bibliography. National Endowment for the Arts: Art Works Program. Retrieved from http://www.artsevidence.org.uk/media/uploads/prisonartsresourceprojectmarch2016.pdf
• Godfrey, E., & Haythorne, D. (2013). Benefits of dramatherapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A qualitative analysis of feedback from parents and teachers of clients attending Roundabout dramatherapy sessions in schools.  Dramatherapy ,  35 (1), 20-28.
• GoodTherapy. (2015). Drama therapy. GoodTherapy. Retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/drama-therapy
• HealthPRO. (n.d.). Drama therapy. HealthPRO Natural Medicine. Retrieved from http://learn.healthpro.com/drama-therapy/
• Johnson, D. R. (1982). Principles and techniques of drama therapy. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 9, 83-90.
• Jones, P. (1996). Drama as therapy: Theatre as living. Routledge.
• Landy, R. J. (1986). Drama therapy concepts and practices. Charles C. Thomas.
• Langley, D. (2006). An introduction to dramatherapy. Sage.
• Logeman, W. (2019). Encounter: The heart of psychodramatic couple therapy. Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Psychodrama Association Journal , (28), 35-46.
• McKenna, L. (2016). Boosting social skills in autistic kids with drama. The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/06/boosting-social-skills-in-autistic-kids-with-drama/485027/
• Miller, E. (2011). Notes on “Using storytelling for therapy.” World Storytelling Institute. Retrieved from http://www.storytellinginstitute.org/72.html
• North American Drama Therapy Association. (n.d.). About NADTA. Retrieved from https://www.nadta.org/about-nadta.html
• Whipple, K. (2012). Tales of transformation: Drama therapy in hospitals. Society for the Arts in Healthcare  [Webinar]. Retrieved from https://www.americansforthearts.org/sites/default/files/webinar_WhippleDramaTherapy2012.pdf

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Hi, I was wondering if you could possibly help me? I was reading about Courtney Ackerman and the information about Psychodrama for children. I’m studying Holistic Arts Therapy at the moment and one of my assignments is asking me to create a 2 hour Psycho Drama Therapy class. As I’m interested in working with children when I graduate, I need to find some examples of ‘Psychodrama games for kids’ as my course outlines information about adults, not children. I was hoping that Courtney or yourself might possibly be able to help by sending me some examples of Psychodrama games for children so that I can incorporate such into my Psychodrama Assignment? If you could help, I would be most appreciate. I reside in Australia and I’m having great difficulty in finding any examples. Thank you. Kind regards,

M.Davenport

Hi Melissa,

Thanks for reaching out. I have found this resource which shares three free projective play exercises. This source also shares the benefits of each exercise, as well as further examples of role-play and embodiment exercises.

Alternatively, we also have another article sharing 50 different Play Therapy techniques, many of which can be used with children and would be suitable for a Psychodrama Therapy Class. See the article here.

Best of luck with your class! I hope this helped.

– Caroline | Community Manager

I would like to find sources for different but similar techniques to the following one I have used in my men’s workshops. I have not been able to find other comparable processes that came anywhere near to the powerful outcomes I have seen with this. I will describe it: It is called the Transformation Game: Setting: The group (8-10 persons) have been previously warmed up and they are familiar with each other. The facilitator begins with a sound, any sound, something deeply felt that resonates within them. As they let the feeling grow, it gets deeper and more personal; the actor gradually includes body movements, facial expressions and even very dramatic movements and expressions. When complete in the expression, the facilitator picks a person in the group, comes face to face with them and teaches them to mimic this activity. The new actor does their best to mimic the performance in all its expressions, and when satisfied with their actions they transform it into something new that they are feeling or want to feel. They perfect this performance on their own until they are satisfied and then pick someone else in the group to teach it to. This process goes on until everyone has participated. Sometimes it can go on for an hour or more, often ending in hysterics and exhaustion.

Please, if you know of powerful activities like this, refer me to them so I can use them in my work, thank you so much.

I cannot download any of the hyper links throughout the article, HELP

Hi Jeraldi,

Thank you for bringing this technical error to our attention, and sorry for the inconvenience. These links should work correctly now 🙂

– Nicole | Community Manager

This was quite helpful …I m on the path to be counsellor like u maam. Ur way of writing quite influenced me.

This is very enlightening! I enjoyed reading it. Thank you!

Very helpful.

very educative.

There is some information on this blog that is not exactly correct – in part because the information was not taken from articles BY drama therapists, but by others. For instance, while psychodrama is used by drama therapists and many of Moreno’s theories and ideas are important to drama therapists, psychodrama is an independent creative arts therapy on its own, which requires a great deal of training to practice. Drama Therapy uses fictional and nonfictional drama techniques, performance as well as group-only process-oriented situations. The founder of drama therapy in the U.S. is Austrian actress Gertrud Schattner who moved to the U.S. after WWII. A lot of the information included on drama therapy in prisons is about non-drama therapists working in prisons. One of the most successful drama therapy in school programs — besides ENACT — is the ALIVE program in New Haven and Minneapolis. The program mentioned in Lawrence, Kansas is no longer in existence as the drama therapist who ran the Therapeutic Classroom retired three years ago. Drama therapy work is done with all populations and age groups and is used as a psychotherapeutic intervention as well as a wellness method. As a side note, incorporating drama therapy into psychotherapy requires training. Because drama therapy methods are so effective at engaging clients, if you don’t understand how to utilize techniques like distancing, you can “open doors that you might not be prepared to shut,” as the great Patricia Sternberg, RDT often said.

As a response to the drama therapy process, any time you are working with a client even in a group therapy program you can open a door you may not be qualified professionally to shut say in an NA group. This is well known, but my problem is that I live in Michigan with a history of addictions therapy now working with youths that are living with bullying as well as depression in an economically stressed city. In this area or surrounding have training in the field of drama therapy because of the extent of the education as well as the having to pay back the student loans in such a low paying field. Most that have the degrees in this field are in Boston or California, with only four universities that offer the specialty. Time out for restrictions of just one organization in the last twenty years holding the requirement for the country.

Are you retired???

Hello Sally, I am a Drama teacher in Northern ireoajd- could you please give me some more information about the ALIVE program that you mention? I know it was several years ago.

Many thanks!

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Top 8 transferable skills developed through drama

BY: Sue Clarke: Subject Expert - Drama 07 October 2021

Reading time: 7 mins

We would all agree that drama can teach much more than just how to remember lines. It allows for personal development, not only by absorbing knowledge and facts about the text, but through immersion in a narrative and the experience of playing out a scenario. In addition to an uplift in social and emotional understanding, taking part in drama activities helps to build essential skills for success in wider studies, future pursuits and life in general.  

8 transferable skills developed by drama  

Drama promotes the development of relevant transferable skills, useful in other areas of a student’s academic life and beyond. We’ve selected eight of those transferable skills that can be developed through drama activities.   

• Communication
• Teamwork and leadership
• Listening and responding
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Time management

Communication  

Practical performance-based drama is all about communicating with an audience through stories, ideas and characters. By performing a text, students learn not only to remember and recite their lines, but also to interpret what a character says and the way in which those words might be spoken in order to convey layers of meaning. There will, therefore, be a focus on developing vocal communication skills such as pace, pitch and tone in conveying meaning and emotion. Similarly, students will consider a character's physicality – their non-verbal communication, the way a character moves, their gestures and facial expressions.  

Furthermore, group work in drama - by its very nature - requires students to express and articulate their ideas, ask questions and respond to the ideas of others.  

Practical drama can also provide the context for students to improve their written communication skills, whether that is in creating their own dialogue, scripts or a written creative response to the practical work undertaken.  

Confidence  

Collaborating with others to rehearse and perform short scenes in the classroom or drama studio will enable a student to develop their confidence and improve their self-esteem in a safe and fun environment. Building trust in their own abilities to stand up and talk in front of others will inevitably have a positive impact on other areas of a student’s life; from participating more in class, to actively taking on additional responsibilities.  

Find drama text activities, perfect for building confidence in students, in Trinity’s drama games resource.

Teamwork and leadership  

Practical drama is, in its very essence, a collaborative activity. Working with others can lead to greater tolerance, empathy and inclusion. Students are more able to work independently of the teacher when in groups, where they can learn from and support each other while working towards a shared goal. Leadership skills can be developed as students take responsibility for different aspects of the shared work.  

Listening and responding  

Group work invariably requires good listening skills to ensure that all the participants are heard and feel valued and included. Listening without judgement, asking questions for clarification and being able to articulate one’s own ideas in response to drama tasks will support the development of practical work. Improvisation work can be a useful tool to developing these skills as participants must listen carefully to others, enter the world of the drama and respond appropriately.  

Creativity  

By developing their own narratives and characters in response to their understanding of a text, students have the opportunity to invent something original. Imagination can bring the world into the classroom and allow students to explore and engage with that world and the characters in it, while simultaneously learning about the world in relation to themselves.

Discover games that encourage students to get inventive and deeply consider characters , dilemmas and emotions from a stimulus in Trinity’s drama games resource. 

Critical thinking and problem-solving  

Reflecting on their own practical work, and watching and evaluating the work of others allows a student to develop greater critical awareness. This process can support the ability to both give and receive constructive feedback in a receptive way. In approaching any text, there will be problems to overcome, whether that’s connected with interpretation of the text or characters, or a question of staging. Good problem-solving skills will be essential if the goal is to be achieved.  

Time management  

All performance work will have a deadline, whether that’s an opening night in the West End or show-back of the scene being rehearsed before the lesson ends. In practical drama work, students learn to work towards that deadline through managing their time effectively.  

Research  

When approaching a text, it is important to have a wider knowledge of the social, political and historical context in which the narrative is set in order to fully understand the characters being performed. Practical drama requires the student to carry out research to bring truth and credibility to a performance. Activities such as hot-seating can be an excellent way to explore that research in an active way.  

Here’s our collection of drama exercises to further develop understanding and interpretation of a text , including character and dramatic tension.

 We hope you have found our take on the top transferable skills developed by studying drama interesting. If you're a principal or teacher at a performing arts academy, you might like to take a look at our guide to keeping students motivated and engaged with their studies.

Communication Skills

Musical Theatre

Speech and Drama

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BY: James Gower

BY: John Molloy

BY: Sue Clarke: Subject Expert - Drama

Improvisation

Team building, drama games: a resource for teachers, practical drama activities to energise, focus and develop your students  , why are drama games important.

Drama games and activities allow students to have fun whilst growing in confidence and learning valuable theatrical skills. Within the structure of a Drama or English class, drama games can be used to focus students’ attention, facilitate team building, deployed as a tool for developing communication and receptive skills, or simply to foster enjoyment of drama.

This free resource groups together the most useful drama games for use with Key Stage 3 and above, as suggested by drama teachers. We've included newer games, and old favourites that are popular with students and teachers. Browse the range of drama exercises below, or use the boxes to jump directly to warm-ups, games aimed at encouraging team building, improvisation and devising, or activities designed to improve students’ understanding of texts. Click on the cards for handy, downloadable 'how-to-play' PDFs and links to videos of many of the games in action.* Games that are more inclusive of any students with movement issues are highlighted, along with those which can be adapted easily to be socially distanced, if needed. We’ve also provided links to three online sources of scripts, which you can browse for inspiration when considering a text to introduce to your students. We hope you enjoy using this resource to help deliver engaging sessions and to develop your students'  appreciation of situations and emotions, as well as their understanding of specific texts.

* Trinity does not endorse the practice or delivery of the organisations featured in the linked videos. The links are included for illustrative purposes only, to support teachers delivering the activities for the first time; they are not intended to be a replacement for instructions given by a teacher or group leader in work with students.  

Exercises to  warm-up or cool-down

Warm-up activities are a great way to energise the group, release any tension and limber up ahead of a lesson or performance.

Games that focus on unity and collaboration

These activities are designed to build community and a sense of trust within the group, supporting the team-work skills of students.

Activities to hone students’ creativity

An excellent way to explore ideas and develop performance skills. With improvisation you never know where the game might lead.

Group collaboration in response to an idea

Games that encourage students to get inventive and deeply consider characters, dilemmas and emotions from a stimulus.

Using drama to make texts relatable

Exercises to further develop understanding and interpretation of a text, including character and dramatic tension.   

Text suggestions for teachers

From Trinity’s free online Anthology to the National Theatre’s Connections plays, check out  the our  top three resources for text suggestions.   

The success of any collaborative drama activity relies on levels of energy, interaction and communication with the group. Warm-ups are a great way to build connections, release any tension or anxiety and physically prepare students. Get students’ bodies moving and their brains active with basic instructions, building up to more complex exercises and perhaps delegating responsibly for leading the activities to  students.

Keeper of the keys

An exercise that will develop students’ teamwork and strategy skills as they work together, using all their senses, to solve a shared challenge. Download game.        

Honey I love you but, I just can’t smile

A fun drama game with the main objective of trying to make members of the group laugh. Download game.  

Look up, look down

A simple yet engaging game to raise the energy amongst the group. Download game.

Elephant, palm tree, jelly

This fun  game involves quick thinking and works well as an icebreaker for new groups. Download game.

Bomb and shield

This is a quick and easy game that will get students up and moving. Download game.

Zip, zap, boing

This classic game is quick and easy and involves quick thinking and concentration to stay in the game. Download game.

Stop, go, jump, clap!

This is a very energetic game that will get your students warmed up and listening to directions, perfect to play as a warm up. Download game.

This game is great for encouraging students to demonstrate the energy and enthusiasm required for performance. Download game.

The director’s theatre

The game is a physical warm up which requires listening and quick responses. As this game requires quick movement around the space, health and safety measures may need to be considered. Download game.

This name game can be adapted to develop focus and concentration skills and can, therefore, also be an effective 'cool down' activity. Download game.

This a great warm up activity, requiring students to concentrate and be alert, it can also be a good tool for learning names. Download game.

These exercises are designed to develop confidence and group interaction skills, transferable to group rehearsals and performance. Learning how to work effectively in groups also develops collaborative communication skills which equip students for success in life and future challenges.  

Count to twenty

This is a fun drama game which encourages your students to work together. A great exercise for building group dynamics. Download game.

Group juggling  

This is a great team—building exercise, as it relies on co—operation between all students for success. You will need three juggling balls (or rolled up socks!) to play.  Download game.

Anyone who….?  

A great way for a group to get to know each other. Skills developed include listening, quick physical response and leadership. As this game requires quick movement, health and safety should be considered. Download game.

The empty chair  

In this game students must have awareness of the whole group, and their place in it, in order to be successful. Health and safety should be managed due to the physical nature of the game. Download game.

Who’s changing the movement?  

This is an adaptation of the very popular 'Wink murder' game but focusing on physical movements. Students work together to hide the identity of the ‘Leader’. Download game.

Human machine  

This classic drama game is a great activity for building teamwork and communication skills, as well as drama—focussed skills such as improvisation and creativity. Download game.

Counting one, two, three

This is a quick and easy team building activity involving counting from one to three. It sounds simple but requires lots of concentration. Download game.

Scelerisque mauris pellentesque pulvinar pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et. Viverra nibh cras pulvinar mattis.

Dandy drama teacher.

Mighty Fine School

Improvising is an excellent way to explore ideas and encourage creativity in students. Improvisation games allow students to become immersed in the moment and better relate to a situation. Responding to stimuli through improvision is also a key rehearsal skill which is assessed in many Trinity drama exams.  

This exercise will help to develop your group’s improvisation skills and is great for getting the students used to performing in front of an audience. Download game.

Object in a circle  

This exercise introduces props to be used with improvisation and encourages students to think more and more creatively as the exercise goes on. Download game.

On the bus  

This improvisation game focuses on character and ensemble performing 'in the moment'. Students need to accept another student’s 'offer' and  enter into  their imaginary world. Download game.

What are you doing?  

This is a great game for developing mime skills, and the quick thinking and responding skills needed when improvising. Download game.

I’ve got some news…

This is a fun introduction to improvisation. It works well for groups who are new to improvisation as they don’t have the pressure of producing a whole scene, they just  have to  react! Download game.

Yes, let’s....

This classic game introduces students to the important improvisation concept of agreeing  to, or  building on the suggestions or stimulus given to them. Download game.

Developing student’s confidence  

Are you looking for an accessible way for students to be recognised for their performance achievements? Trinity drama exams for groups and pairs help to build confidence and encourage students to perform to the best of their abilities in a supportive environment. Download your free guide to group assessments here.

Devised exercises do not rely on a script and as such allow students to use their inventiveness to take a concept and build upon this as a group. This flexibility encourages imagination and allows students to explore different situations and emotions.  

Titles  

This exercise involves groups working together to develop a simple scene together in a relatively short period of time. This will get your students thinking quickly and focussing. Download game.

What’s my line?

This is a rehearsed improvisation exercise that aims to stretch students’ ability to develop dialogue when devising. Download game.

My life  story

The focus of this exercise is the development of both character and narrative in devising work for performance. Students will need to have done some preparatory work on use of tableau/still image. Download game.

Flashback, flashforward

Devising activities based around ‘flashing forward’ or backward can be key rehearsal tools, encouraging young people to develop their understanding of character, story structure and text. Download game.

Using a stimulus

A good way for students to develop their understanding of a character is to place the character in a new situation and explore how they might react or behave. Try using our range of suggested stimuli with your students. Download game.

Games that focus  around  a specific text allow for students to become fully absorbed in the setting, storyline and characters. Students can relate to the narrative and understand the text when they are able to play-out and visualise this away from the page.  

Animal stories

A rehearsed improvisation exercise in which students take on animal traits (physical, vocal, personality etc.) to develop a character for both text and devised work. Download game.

I like your hat!

This is a good introduction to the drama form ‘thought tracking’ which can be used both in devised work and when exploring the inner world of a character in off-text work.   Download game.

Hot seating

This exercise encourages students to develop a deeper understanding of a character they’re trying to portray by asking them a range of questions about their character. Download game.

Status bridge

This exercise encourages students to focus on the subtleties of acting that can be used to portray something intangible such as status. Download game.

When considering scripts, either as a performance piece or stimulus for devising, it can be tricky to choose a text that captures and maintains the interest of the group for the duration of the project. To help with this, we have suggested some sources for scripts which include suggestions for different ages, group sizes and preferences.   

Trinity’s online Anthology offers short text ideas, ideal as inspiration for solo or pairs performances, whilst National Theatre’s Connection plays are longer delivery suggestions written for larger casts. A great place to browse for plays suitable for all cast sizes is Nick Hern Books’ ‘Plays to Perform’ online catalogue.  

National Theatre’s Connections plays  

Each year the National Theatre commissions ten new plays for young people to perform, from the UK's most exciting writers. There is an application process each year for youth theatre groups who would like to perform these new works. Also the scripts for previous Connections Anthologies are available for schools to browse and purchase from the  National Theatre’s online shop . Or to take part in the National Theatre’s Connections programme,  applications can be made online here.     

Nick Hern Books  

The play finder on Nick Hern Books’ ‘Plays to Perform’ catalogue is a collection of over 1,000 plays, from ground-breaking new plays to popular classics and literary adaptations The useful tool enables you to select scripts matching a variety of criteria such as age and gender of performers or size of group, as well as genre, theme or length.  You can access the resource online here.  

Introducing group assessment with Trinity drama  

At Trinity, we believe that creating dramatic work in groups is a fundamental part of an actor’s development. This is why the majority of our drama syllabus specifications have pair, group and In Production exams as options, find out more in our free guide to group assessments. Developing collaborative communication skills fundamental to group performance work will help to prepare students for their wider lives, further education and employment.  

Download a free the free sample pieces from the Anthology

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22 Unbeatable Team Building Problem Solving Activities

Problem-solving is a critical skill for professionals and with team building problem-solving activities, you can sharpen your skills while having fun at the same time.  

Updated: March 1, 2024

In the professional world, one thing is for sure: problem-solving is a vital skill if you want to survive and thrive. It’s a universal job skill that organizations seek in new potential employees and that managers look for when considering candidates for promotions.  

But there’s a problem. 

According to Payscale, 60% of managers feel that new grads entering the workforce lack problem-solving abilities – making it the most commonly lacking soft skill.  

Problem-solving skill needs to be practiced and perfected on an ongoing basis in order to be applied effectively when the time comes. And while there are tons of traditional approaches to becoming a better problem-solver, there’s another (much more interesting) option: team building problem-solving activities. 

The good news? This means learning and having fun don’t have to be mutually exclusive. And you can create a stronger team at the same time. 

16 In-Person Team Building Problem Solving Activities for Your Work Group  

1. cardboard boat building challenge, 2. egg drop , 3. clue murder mystery, 4. marshmallow spaghetti tower  , 5. corporate escape room, 6. wild goose chase, 7. lost at sea  , 8. domino effect challenge, 9. reverse pyramid  , 10. ci: the crime investigators, 11. team pursuit, 12. bridge builders, 13. domino effect challenge, 14. hollywood murder mystery, 15. code break, 16. cardboard boat building challenge, 6 virtual team building problem solving activities for your work group  , 1. virtual escape room: mummy’s curse, 2. virtual clue murder mystery, 3. virtual escape room: jewel heist, 4. virtual code break  , 5. virtual trivia time machine.

• 6. Virtual Jeoparty Social

There are a ton of incredible team building problem solving activities available. We’ve hand-picked 16 of our favorites that we think your corporate group will love too. 

Split into teams and create a cardboard boat made out of just the materials provided: cardboard and tape. Team members will have to work together to engineer a functional boat that will float and sail across water without sinking. Once teams have finished making their boats, they will create a presentation to explain why their boat is the best, before putting their boats to the test. The final challenge will have teams racing their boats to test their durability! Nothing says problem-solving like having to make sure you don’t sink into the water!

Every day at work, you’re forced to make countless decisions – whether they’re massively important or so small you barely think about them.  

But your ability to effectively make decisions is critical in solving problems quickly and effectively.  

With a classic team building problem solving activity like the Egg Drop, that’s exactly what your team will learn to do. 

For this activity, you’ll need some eggs, construction materials, and a place you wouldn’t mind smashing getting dirty with eggshells and yolks.  

The goal of this activity is to create a contraption that will encase an egg and protect it from a fall – whether it’s from standing height or the top of a building. But the challenge is that you and your team will only have a short amount of time to build it before it’s time to test it out, so you’ll have to think quickly! 

To make it even more challenging, you’ll have to build the casing using only simple materials like: 

• Newspapers 
• Plastic wrap
• Rubber bands
• Popsicle sticks
• Cotton balls

Feel free to have some fun in picking the materials. Use whatever you think would be helpful without making things too easy! 

Give your group 15 minutes to construct their egg casing before each team drops their eggs. If multiple eggs survive, increase the height gradually to see whose created the sturdiest contraption.  

If you’re not comfortable with the idea of using eggs for this activity, consider using another breakable alternative, such as lightbulbs for a vegan Egg Drop experience. 

With Clue Murder Mystery, your team will need to solve the murder of a man named Neil Davidson by figuring out who had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit the crime.

But it won’t be easy! You’ll need to exercise your best problem-solving skills and channel your inner detectives if you want to keep this case from going cold and to get justice for the victim.

Collaboration is critical to problem solving. 

Why? Because, as the old saying goes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This expression reflects the fact that people are capable of achieving greater things when they work together to do so. 

If you’re looking for a team building problem solving activity that helps boost collaboration, you’ll love Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower.  

This game involves working in teams to build the tallest possible freestanding tower using only marshmallows, uncooked spaghetti, tape, and string.  

The kicker? This all has to be done within an allotted timeframe. We recommend about thirty minutes.  

For an added dimension of challenge, try adding a marshmallow to the top of the tower to make it a little more top heavy.  

Whichever team has the highest tower when time runs out is the winner! 

If you’ve never participated in an escape room, your team is missing out! It’s one of the most effective team building problem solving activities out there because it puts you and your colleagues in a scenario where the only way out is collaboratively solving puzzles and deciphering clues.  

The principle is simple: lock your group in a room, hide the key somewhere in that room, and have them work through challenges within a set time frame. Each challenge will lead them one step closer to finding the key and, ultimately, their escape.    

At Outback, we offer “done-for-you” escape rooms where we’ll transform your office or meeting room so you don’t have to worry about:

• Seeking transportation for your team 
• Capacity of the escape rooms  
• High costs 
• Excessive planning  

That way, you and your team can simply step inside and get to work collaborating, using creative problem solving, and thinking outside the box.   

In this smartphone-based scavenger hunt team building activity , your group will split into teams and complete fun challenges by taking photos and videos around the city. Some examples of challenges you can do in this activity are:

• Parkour:  Take a picture of three team members jumping over an object that’s at least waist-high.
• Beautiful Mind:  Snap a photo of a team member proving a well-known mathematical theorem on a chalkboard.
• Puppy Love:  Take a photo of all of your team members petting a stranger’s dog at the same time.

It takes a ton of critical thinking and problem-solving to be crowned the Wild Goose Chase Champions!

Can you imagine a higher-pressure situation than being stranded at sea in a lifeboat with your colleagues? 

With this team building problem solving activity, that’s exactly the situation you and your group will put yourselves. But by the time the activity is over, you’ll have gained more experience with the idea of having to solve problems under pressure – a common but difficult thing to do. 

Here’s how it works. 

Each team member will get a six-columned chart where: 

• The first column lists the survival items each team has on hand (see the list below) 
• The second column is empty so that each team member can rank the items in order of importance for survival  
• The third column is for group rankings  
• The fourth column is for the “correct” rankings, which are revealed at the end of the activity 
• The fifth and sixth columns are for the team to enter thee difference between their individual and correct scores and the team and correct rankings 

Within this activity, each team will be equipped with the following “survival items,” listed below in order of importance, as well as a pack of matches:  

• A shaving mirror (this can be used to signal passing ships using the sun) 
• A can of gas (could be used for signaling as it could be put in the water and lit with the pack of matches) 
• A water container (for collecting water to re-hydrate ) 
• Emergency food rations (critical survival food) 
• One plastic sheet (can be helpful for shelter or to collect rainwater) 
• Chocolate bars (another food supply) 
• Fishing rods (helpful, but no guarantee of catching food) 
• Rope (can be handy, but not necessarily essential for survival) 
• A floating seat cushion (usable as a life preserver)  
• Shark repellant (could be important when in the water) 
• A bottle of rum (could be useful for cleaning wounds) 
• A radio (could be very helpful but there’s a good chance you’re out of range) 
• A sea chart (this is worthless without navigation equipment) 
• A mosquito net (unless you’ve been shipwrecked somewhere with a ton of mosquitos, this isn’t very useful) 

To get the activity underway, divide your group into teams of five and ask each team member to take ten minutes on their own to rank the items in order of importance in the respective column. Then, give the full team ten minutes as a group to discuss their individual rankings together and take group rankings, listed in that respective column. Ask each group to compare their individual rankings with those of the group as a whole. 

Finally, read out the correct order according to the US Coast Guard, listed above.  

The goal of this activity is for everyone to be heard and to come to a decision together about what they need most to survive.  

If your team works remotely, you can also do this activity online. Using a video conferencing tool like  Zoom , you can bring your group together and separate teams into “break-out rooms” where they’ll take their time individually and then regroup together. At the end, you can bring them back to the full video conference to go through the answers together. 

Many problems are intricately complex and involve a ton of moving parts. And in order to solve this type of problem, you need to be able to examine it systematically, one piece at a time.  

Especially in the business world, many problems or challenges involve multiple different teams or departments working through their respective portions of a problem before coming together in the end to create a holistic solution. 

As you can imagine, this is often easier said than done. And that’s why it’s so important to practice this ability.  

With a collaborative team building problem solving activity like Domino Effect Challenge, that’s exactly what you’ll need to do as you and your group work to create a massive, fully functional chain reaction machine. 

Here’s how it goes. 

Your group will break up into teams, with each team working to complete their own section of a massive “Rube Goldberg” machine. Then, all teams will regroup and assemble the entire machine together. You’ll need to exercise communication, collaboration, and on-the-fly problem solving in order to make your chain reaction machine go off without a hitch from start to finish. 

Being a great problem-solver means being adaptable and creative. And if you’re looking for a quick and easy team building problem solving activity, you’ll love the reverse pyramid. 

The idea here is simple: break your group out into small teams and then stand in the form of a pyramid.  

Your challenge is to flip the base and the peak of the pyramid – but you can only move three people in order to do so.  

Alternatively, rather than doing this activity with people as the pyramid, you can do another version –  the Pyramid Build  – using plastic cups instead.   

This version is a little bit different. Rather than flipping the base of a pyramid to the top, you’ll need to build the pyramid instead–but in reverse, starting from the top cup and working down. 

With this version, you’ll need 36 cups and one table per group. We recommend groups of five to seven people. Give your group 20 to 30 minutes to complete the activity. 

To get started, place one cup face down. Then, lift that cup and place the subsequent two cups underneath it. 

The real challenge here? You can only lift your pyramid by the bottom row in order to put a new row underneath – and only one person at a time can do the lifting. The remaining group members will need to act quickly and work together in order to add the next row so that it will balance the rest of the pyramid. 

If any part of your pyramid falls, you’ll need to start over. Whichever team has the most complete pyramid when time runs out will be the winner!  

The value of being able to approach problems analytically can’t be overstated. Because when problems arise, the best way to solve them is by examining the facts and making a decision based on what you know. 

With CI: The Crime Investigators, this is exactly what your team will be called upon to do as you put your detective’s hats on and work to solve a deadly crime. 

You’ll be presented with evidence and need to uncover and decipher clues. And using only the information at your disposal, you’ll need to examine the facts in order to crack the case. 

Like many of our team building problem solving activities, CI: The Crime Investigators is available in a hosted format, which can take place at your office or an outside venue, as well as a virtually-hosted format that uses video conferencing tools, or a self-hosted version that you can run entirely on your own.  

Each member of your team has their own unique strengths and skills. And by learning to combine those skills, you can overcome any challenge and solve any problem. With Team Pursuit, you and your team together to tackle challenges as you learn new things about one another, discover your hidden talents, and learn to rely on each other.

This team building problem solving activity is perfect for high-energy groups that love to put their heads together and work strategically to solve problems as a group.

Collaborate with your colleague to design and build different segments of a bridge. At the end, see if the sections come together to create a free-standing structure!   

Together as a group, see if you and your colleagues can build a gigantic “chain-reaction” machine that really works!

In smaller groups, participants work together to solve the challenge of creating sections of the machine using miscellaneous parts, and at the end, you’ll have to collaborate to connect it all together and put it in motion.

The case is fresh, but here’s what we know so far: we’ve got an up-and-coming actress who’s been found dead in her hotel room following last night’s awards show.

We have several suspects, but we haven’t been able to put the crime on any of them for sure yet. Now, it’s up to you and your team of detectives to crack the case. Together, you’ll review case files and evidence including police reports, coroners’ reports, photo evidence, tabloids, interrogations, and phone calls as you determine the motive, method, and murderer and bring justice for the victim.

You’ll need to put your problem-solving skills to the test as you share theories, collaborate, and think outside the box with your fellow investigators.

Using Outback’s app, split up into small groups and put your heads together to solve a variety of puzzles, riddles, and trivia. The team who has completed the most challenges when time is up, wins!

Can you stay afloat in a body of water in a boat made entirely of cardboard? Now that is a problem that urgently needs solving.

With this team building problem solving activity, you and your colleagues will split into groups and create a cardboard boat made out of just the materials provided – cardboard and tape.

Team members will have to work together to engineer a functional boat that will float and sail across water without sinking. Once teams have finished making their boats, they will create a presentation to explain why their boat is the best, before putting their boats to the test. The final challenge will have teams racing their boats across the water!

If you and your team are working remotely, don’t worry. You still have a ton of great virtual team building problem solving options at your disposal.

In this virtual escape room experience, your team will be transported into a pyramid cursed by a restless mummy. You’ll have to work together to uncover clues and solve complex challenges to lift the ancient curse.

You’ve probably never heard of a man named Neil Davidson. But your group will need to come together to solve the mystery of his murder by analyzing clues, resolving challenges, and figuring out who had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit a deadly crime. 

This activity will challenge you and your group to approach problems analytically, read between the lines, and use critical thinking in order to identify a suspect and deliver justice.  

If you and your team like brainteasers, then Virtual Escape Room: Jewel Heist will be a big hit.  

Here’s the backstory.

There’s been a robbery. Someone has masterminded a heist to steal a priceless collection of precious jewels, and it’s up to you and your team to recover them before time runs out.

Together, you’ll need to uncover hidden clues and solve a series of brain-boggling challenges that require collaboration, creative problem-solving, and outside-the-box thinking. But be quick! The clock is ticking before the stolen score is gone forever.

With Virtual Code Break, you and your team can learn to be adaptive and dynamic in your thinking in order to tackle any new challenges that come your way. In this activity, your group will connect on a video conferencing platform where your event host will split you out into teams. Together, you’ll have to adapt your problem-solving skills as you race against the clock to tackle a variety of mixed brainteaser challenges ranging from Sudoku to puzzles, a game of Cranium, riddles, and even trivia. 

Curious to see how a virtual team building activity works? Check out this video on a Virtual Clue Murder Mystery in action. 

Step into the Outback Time Machine and take a trip through time, from pre-pandemic 21st century through the decades all the way to the 60’s. 

This exciting, fast-paced virtual trivia game, packed with nostalgia and good vibes, is guaranteed to produce big laughs, friendly competition, and maybe even some chair-dancing. 

Your virtual game show host will warm up guests with a couple of “table hopper rounds” (breakout room mixers) and split you out into teams. Within minutes, your home office will be transformed into a game show stage with your very own game show buzzers! 

And if your team loves trivia, check out our list of the most incredible virtual trivia games for work teams for even more ideas.

6.  Virtual Jeoparty Social

If your remote team is eager to socialize, have some fun as a group, and channel their competitive spirit, we’ve got just the thing for you! With Virtual Jeoparty Social, you and your colleagues will step into your very own virtual Jeopardy-style game show—equipped with a buzzer button, a professional actor as your host, and an immersive game show platform! Best of all, this game has been infused with an ultra-social twist: players will take part in a unique social mixer challenge between each round. 

With the right team building problem solving activities, you can help your team sharpen their core skills to ensure they’re prepared when they inevitably face a challenge at work. And best of all, you can have fun in the process. 

Do you have any favorite team building activities for building problem-solving skills? If so, tell us about them in the comments section below! 

Learn More About Team Building Problem Solving Activities  

For more information about how your group can take part in a virtual team building, training, or coaching solution, reach out to our Employee Engagement Consultants.     

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And stay updated, related articles.

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18 Incredible Virtual Trivia Games for Work Teams

I love how this blog provides a variety of problem-solving activities for team building. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to foster teamwork and collaboration!

The Drama Teacher

Your Go-To Resource for Drama Education

Drama Games: 100 Important Reasons Why Your Students Should Be Playing Them

Here are 100 different reasons why fun drama games for students are a valuable learning activity. Some of these reasons are students gaining life skills, others are acting-specific skills, and some benefits promote well-being through the power of improvisational drama. If you’re not including drama games in your classroom already, it’s time to start incorporating them today. If you already have students playing drama games , this list will provide you with a healthy refresher, plus a few dozen benefits you may never have previously considered.

100 Reasons Why Students Should Play Drama Games

Enhanced creativity : Drama games encourage students to think outside the box and use their imagination, leading to increased creativity.

Improved communication skills : By engaging in dialogue and storytelling, students learn to express themselves more effectively.

Increased self-confidence : Performing in front of peers helps students build self-esteem and overcome stage fright or social anxiety.

Teamwork and collaboration : Drama games often require students to work together, fostering a sense of cooperation and mutual support.

Empathy development : Role-playing and exploring different characters in drama games help students understand different perspectives and emotions.

Problem-solving skills : Drama games challenge students to think on their feet and find creative solutions to problems.

Critical thinking: Analysing characters, situations, and plotlines helps develop students’ critical thinking abilities.

Active listening : Students learn to listen attentively and respond appropriately to their peers during drama games.

Emotional intelligence : Recognising and managing emotions is a key skill developed through drama games.

Overcoming stereotypes : Drama games can challenge preconceived notions and stereotypes by encouraging students to explore diverse roles and situations.

Physical coordination : Drama games often involve movement, helping students develop physical coordination and spatial awareness.

Focus and concentration : Students must pay attention to their surroundings, cues, and fellow actors to perform well in drama games.

Vocabulary expansion : Engaging in dialogue and storytelling in drama games exposes students to new words and phrases, enriching their vocabulary.

Performance skills : Performing in drama games helps students become more comfortable and skilled n front of an audience.

Adaptability and flexibility : Drama games require students to respond to unexpected situations, developing adaptability and resilience.

Leadership skills : Directing or leading a group during drama games can help students cultivate leadership qualities.

Time management: Students learn to manage their time effectively while preparing for and participating in drama games.

Social skills : Drama activities promote positive social interactions, helping students develop friendships and navigate social situations.

Decision-making skills : Students must make choices during drama games, refining their decision-making abilities.

Emotional expression : Drama games offer a safe space for students to explore and express their emotions.

Motivation and engagement : The fun and interactive nature of drama games can increase student motivation and engagement in the classroom.

Sense of accomplishment : Successfully participating in drama games can give students a feeling of pride and achievement.

Conflict resolution : Drama games often involve problem-solving and negotiation, helping students learn to resolve conflicts peacefully.

Perspective-taking : Role-playing in drama games allows students to put themselves in others’ shoes, fostering understanding and tolerance.

Patience development : Waiting for cues and taking turns in drama games helps students learn the value of patience.

Storytelling abilities : Students can develop their storytelling skills by creating and performing narratives during drama games.

Enhancing social perception : Drama games can help students become more adept at reading social cues and understanding others’ intentions and feelings.

Self-discipline : Drama games require students to adhere to rules and guidelines, fostering self-discipline and control.

Responsiveness : Students learn to react quickly to changes in a scene or their fellow actors, enhancing their ability to respond effectively.

Imagination expansion : Drama games stimulate the imagination, allowing students to explore new ideas and possibilities.

Active learning : Drama activities are hands-on and immersive, promoting active rather than passive learning.

Self-awareness: Participating in drama games helps students gain insight into their own strengths, weaknesses, and personal growth areas.

Respect for others : Working closely with others in drama games cultivates respect and understanding among peers.

Sense of community : Drama games can create a sense of belonging and camaraderie within the classroom.

Sequencing skills : Developing and performing scenes in drama games often requires students to think logically and arrange events in a coherent order.

Observation skills : Students learn to observe and interpret their surroundings and other people’s actions during drama games.

Cognitive flexibility : Role-playing and adapting to new situations in drama games can help students become more mentally agile and open-minded.

Emotional regulation : Drama games provide opportunities for students to practice managing their emotions in various situations.

Experimentation and risk-taking : Drama games encourage students to try new things and take risks in a safe environment.

Verbal improvisation : Thinking on one’s feet and adapting dialogue during drama games can improve students’ verbal improvisation skills.

Poise and grace : Drama games help students develop physical poise and grace through movement and gesture.

Personal growth : Through dramatic exploration, drama games can promote personal growth and self-discovery.

Enhanced mood : Participating in drama games can boost students’ mood and overall well-being by providing a fun and engaging experience.

Developing curiosity : Role-playing and storytelling in drama games can spark curiosity and interest in various subjects and topics.

Nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset : Participating in drama games can help students develop skills such as innovation, collaboration, and adaptability, which are valuable in entrepreneurship

Positive peer relationships : Drama games can foster strong bonds and positive connections among classmates.

Enunciation and articulation : Practicing dialogue during drama games helps students improve their speech clarity and projection.

Enhancing peer mentoring : Drama activities can foster peer mentoring opportunities as students help each other learn and grow.

Nurturing a growth mindset : Drama games demonstrate that skills can be developed and improved through practice and perseverance.

Developing a sense of humour: Participating in comedic scenes in improvisational drama games helps students develop their sense of humour and wit.

Conflict management : Drama games can provide a safe space for students to practice managing and resolving conflicts in a constructive manner.

Language skills : Engaging in drama games can help students improve their language usage.

Healthy competition : Drama games can foster a sense of healthy competition, motivating students to improve their skills and performances.

Voice modulation : Drama games teach students how to use their voice effectively, adjusting volume, tone, and pitch for different situations.

Developing resilience : Facing challenges and setbacks in drama games can help students develop resilience and perseverance.

Social awareness : Drama games can increase students’ understanding of social norms and conventions.

Morality and ethics : Exploring moral dilemmas and ethical choices in drama games can promote students’ understanding of right and wrong.

Mindfulness : Drama games can help students practice mindfulness and presence, enhancing their overall well-being.

Sensitivity to body language : Drama games help students become more attuned to non-verbal cues and body language in communication.

Narrative structure : Drama games can teach students about narrative structure, enhancing their understanding of storytelling techniques.

Encouraging open-mindedness : Drama games help students explore new ideas and perspectives, promoting open-mindedness and tolerance.

Self-expression : Drama games provide a platform for students to express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas creatively.

Mental agility : Drama games require students to think and react quickly, honing their mental agility and cognitive speed.

Aesthetic appreciation : Engaging in drama games can foster an appreciation for beauty and artistic expression.

Developing assertiveness : Drama games can help students practice assertiveness and standing up for themselves in a safe and supportive environment.

Appreciation for diversity : Drama games expose students to different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, fostering respect and appreciation for diversity

Coping mechanisms : Engaging in drama games can teach students healthy coping strategies for dealing with life’s challenges.

Attention to detail : Drama games teach students to pay close attention to detail in both their performances and their observations of others.

Historical context : Drama games can expose students to historical events and periods, broadening their knowledge of history.

Emotional support : Participating in drama games can provide emotional support and a sense of belonging for students.

Encouraging responsibility : Drama games can teach students the importance of taking responsibility for their actions and choices.

Developing intuition : Drama games can help students hone their intuition and gut instincts, enhancing their decision-making skills.

Learning to trust : Drama games can foster trust among peers, as students must rely on one another to create successful performances.

Breaking barriers : Drama games can help students break down personal and social barriers, facilitating open communication and understanding.

Exposure to different art forms : Participating in drama games can expose students to various forms of artistic expression, expanding their creative horizons.

Developing resourcefulness : Drama games encourage students to be resourceful and make the most of available resources.

Emotional catharsis : Drama games can provide an emotional outlet, helping students process and express their feelings.

Enhancing spontaneity : Participating in improvisational games can help students become more spontaneous and open to new experiences.

Fine motor skills : Drama activities can involve detailed movements and gestures, helping students develop their fine motor skills.

Boosting self-efficacy : Successfully participating in drama games can increase students’ belief in their abilities and their capacity to achieve goals.

Developing courage : Facing challenges and fears in drama games can help students build courage and resilience.

Nurturing a sense of wonder : Drama games can evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity, inspiring students to explore the world around them.

Understanding character motivations : Analysing character motivations in drama games can help students develop insights into human behaviour and emotions.

Developing a work ethic : Participating in drama games can instil a strong work ethic in students, as they must practice and rehearse to improve their skills.

Exposure to different genres : Improvisational drama games can introduce students to various theatrical genres, broadening their understanding of the performing arts.

Encouraging civic engagement : Drama games can inspire students to become more engaged in their communities by exploring social issues and themes.

Learning to accept criticism : Receiving feedback and constructive criticism in drama games can help students learn to accept and learn from criticism.

Empowering introverted students : Drama games can provide a safe and supportive environment for introverted students to explore their creativity and self-expression.

Encouraging inclusivity : Drama games can foster an inclusive environment, promoting understanding and acceptance among students of diverse backgrounds.

Enhancing visualisation skills : Imagining scenes, characters, and emotions during drama activities can help students strengthen their visualisation abilities.

Encouraging self-directed learning : Drama games can inspire students to seek out new knowledge and experiences independently.

Facilitating multi-sensory learning : Drama games engage various senses, accommodating different learning styles and enhancing overall learning experiences.

Developing stage presence : Participating in drama games can help students build a strong stage presence, enhancing their confidence and performance abilities.

Stress relief : Participating in drama games can provide an outlet for students to relieve stress and express emotions.

Understanding human behaviour : Exploring characters and their motivations in drama games can help students gain insights into human behaviour.

Fostering a sense of play : Drama activities can encourage students to embrace a sense of play and curiosity, which can contribute to lifelong learning and personal growth.

Enhancing creativity in other subjects : The creative skills developed in drama activities can transfer to other academic areas, promoting innovative thinking across disciplines.

Improving negotiation skills : Drama activities can provide opportunities for students to practice negotiation and compromise in various scenarios.

Learning to delegate : Participating in group drama activities can teach students the importance of delegating tasks and trusting their peers.

Now, is there any reason why your students should not undertake drama games in class ? Whether it is movement games, improv starters at the beginning of a lesson, practical problem-solving , or full-on Theatresports games with teams competing against each other, drama games are a valuable learning tool for students in any classroom.

Brilliant!!!!

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13 Best Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for the Workplace

8 mins read

by Pete Ford

Updated On Jun 21, 2024

In today's rapidly evolving business world, the ability to solve problems effectively and efficiently is paramount. While it is crucial to understand the problem thoroughly, it is equally important not to overanalyze it to the point of inaction. Instead, the focus should be on identifying actionable solutions quickly and implementing them efficiently. Effective problem solving capabilities enable teams to identify root causes, develop innovative solutions, and implement changes that drive business success. Tackling significant challenges head-on, even when the odds are not favorable, is essential for transformative results.

Moreover, cultivating a culture of problem solving fosters a sense of autonomy and empowerment among employees. As games improve problem solving skills, teams become more independent, reducing the need for constant supervision. In addition, when individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives come together to tackle challenges, the synergy created can lead to groundbreaking solutions and significant advancements for the organizations. 

Workplace Problem Solving Games and Activities:

Just as you can't learn to write a novel solely by reading about it, or to swim merely by observing others, true mastery of problem solving skills requires more than just theory. It demands immersion and action. That's why, when fostering problem solving abilities in your employees, it's essential to engage them in practical exercises that simulate real-world challenges. Through engaging in challenging fun problem solving games for adults, teams develop the skills and confidence to effectively navigate real-world challenges. 

According to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) , problem solving skills are listed among the top skills required in the workplace by 2025. The large group problem solving activities for employees mentioned below are designed to enhance the critical thinking skills , creativity, and collaborative capabilities of your teams. These activities are not just problem solving exercises for teams, they are strategic investments in building a workforce that can navigate complexities, innovate solutions, and drive the organization towards its goals. 

By engaging in structured problem solving group activities, teams learn to tackle challenges methodically and develop a proactive mindset essential for overcoming obstacles in today’s dynamic business environment.

We have carefully divided workplace problem solving activities into 3 distinct categories that cater to different aspects of problem solving skills:

• Team-Based Problem Solving Activities
• Creative Problem-Solving Activities
• Quick and Easy Problem-Solving Activities

Team-Based Problem Solving Activities:

Team-Based Problem Solving Activities form the foundation for effective problem solving within a team, emphasizing crucial elements like communication, trust, and collaboration. As Vusi Thembekwayo once remarked, “To achieve anything in business, you need relationships based on trust.” This quote underscores the significance of fostering a trusting environment where team members feel comfortable working together, leveraging each other's strengths to tackle challenges with greater efficiency and creativity.

Via Edstellar

1. A Shrinking Vessel Training Activity:

“A Shrinking Vessel” is one of the dynamic and simple problem solving exercises for team building that challenges participants to adapt quickly to changing conditions.

This is one of the team-problem solving activities that involves employees standing within a defined space that gradually shrinks, requiring them to strategize and cooperate to stay within the boundaries.

How to Conduct the “A Shrinking Vessel” Activity:

• This is one of the hands-on problem solving activities (adults can engage in) that requires a large, open area that can be marked with boundaries.
• Use tape or rope to create a large initial boundary that all employees can comfortably stand within.
• Gather all workers within the boundary.
• Explain that the boundary will gradually shrink, and that workers must remain within the shrinking area.
• Begin this problem solving activity by gradually reducing the size of the boundary every 2-3 minutes.
• Use a predetermined signal (like a whistle) to indicate when the boundary is shrinking.
• Continue to reduce the boundary until it becomes challenging for employees to stay within the area.
• End the activity when it becomes impossible for them to stay within the boundary.

Key Takeaways

Employees learn to adapt quickly to changing constraints, enhancing their ability to communicate and collaborate effectively under pressure. These problem solving, team building games fosters creativity by requiring teams to develop strategies to navigate the shrinking space, encouraging flexibility and teamwork in dynamic environments.

Video:- Shrinking Vessel

2. Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower Training Activity:

“Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower” is one of the creative, engaging  and complex problem solving activities for adults where teams use spaghetti, tape, and string to build the tallest possible structure that can support a marshmallow on top.

How to Conduct the “Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower” Activity:

• To play one of these teamwork problem solving activities, you have to gather the employees and divide them into teams.
• Provide each team with 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow.
• Ensure each team has a flat surface to work on.
• Explain that teams have 18 minutes to build the tallest free-standing structure using the materials provided, with a marshmallow on top.
• Start the timer and let teams begin constructing their towers.
• Encourage teams to experiment with different designs and structural concepts.
• Once the time is up, measure the height of each structure from the base to the top of the marshmallow.
• Announce the winning team with the tallest structure.
• Discuss the different strategies used by each of the teams and what they learned from engaging in these kinds of business problem solving exercises for adults.

Key Takeaways:

Through these creative problem solving exercises, employees enhance their skills by brainstorming and constructing innovative designs with limited resources. These problem solving exercises for groups emphasize the importance of planning, adaptability, and teamwork, as the workforce must work together to build the tallest possible tower. Through trial and error, they learn to manage constraints and effectively communicate their ideas, fostering a collaborative approach to achieving shared goals.

3. Egg Drop Challenge Training Activity:

The “Egg Drop Challenge” is an exciting problem solving activity where teams design and build a structure to protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a height.

How to Conduct the “Egg Drop Challenge” Activity:

• Divide the employees into teams and provide each team with materials such as straws, tape, newspaper, rubber bands, and plastic bags.
• Ensure each team has an egg and a designated drop zone.
• Explain that the teams have 30 minutes to design and construct a protective device for their egg using the provided materials.
• Start the timer and let the teams begin constructing their protective devices.
• Encourage teams to think creatively and test their designs.
• Drop each egg from a predetermined height (e.g., 10 feet) onto a hard surface.
• Check if the egg survives the drop without breaking.
• Discuss which designs were successful and why, focusing on the problem solving processes used.

Employees develop innovative thinking and problem solving skills by designing and building a structure to protect an egg from breaking when dropped. This activity highlights the importance of resource management, creative engineering, and teamwork as they must brainstorm, test, and iterate their designs. By analyzing the effectiveness of their structures and learning from failures, employees enhance their ability to tackle complex challenges and improve their collaborative problem solving capabilities.

4. Stranded Training Activity:

“Stranded”, similar to “Lost at Sea” problem solving activity, is a strategic survival simulation where teams must plan and prioritize essential actions and resources to ensure their survival on a deserted island.

How to Conduct the “Stranded” Activity:

• Divide the Employees into teams and provide each team with a list of hypothetical resources available on the island (e.g., rope, tarp, matches, water).
• Explain a scenario that the teams are stranded on a deserted island and must decide how to use the available resources to survive.
• Give teams 30 minutes to discuss and prioritize their actions and resource use.
• Encourage them to consider factors like shelter, water, food, and signaling for rescue.
• Have each team present their survival plan to all the teams participating in the activity.
• Encourage the teams to ask questions and discuss each plan.
• Discuss the strategies used by each team and what the teams learned about problem solving and resource management.

By indulging in critical thinking, problem solving exercises, employees enhance their strategic problem solving skills by planning survival strategies in a simulated deserted island scenario. This activity emphasizes the importance of prioritization, resource management, and adaptability in high-pressure situations. By collaborating on survival plans, employees learn to analyze available resources, make quick decisions, and work as a cohesive team to overcome complex challenges.

Creative Problem-Solving Activities:

Creative problem solving activities for adults encourage employees to think outside the box and explore innovative solutions to challenges. These team building, problem solving exercises for employees would help them to break free from conventional thinking patterns and develop a more flexible, imaginative approach to problem solving.

By fostering creativity, these team building, problem solving activities can lead to more effective and unique solutions.

5. Legoman Training Activity:

“Legoman” is a communication-focused activity where one participant describes a pre-built Lego structure, and the rest of the team attempts to recreate it based on the verbal instructions alone. This is one the creative problem solving games that emphasizes the importance of clear and effective communication.

How to Conduct the “Legoman” Activity:

• Pre-build a Lego structure and keep it hidden from the employees.
• Divide the workers into teams and provide each team with the same set of Lego pieces.
• Select one team member from each team to view the pre-built structure and describe it to their team without using their hands or showing the structure.
• Start the timer and have the describer begin giving instructions to their team.
• The rest of the teams should build the structure based solely on the verbal instructions given by their team members.
• Once the time is up, compare each team’s structure with the original.
• Discuss any discrepancies and the communication challenges faced by each team.
• Discuss what worked well and what could be improved in the communication process.

From the “Legoman” activity, employees develop their communication and collaborative problem solving skills by reconstructing a hidden Lego structure based solely on verbal descriptions. This exercise highlights the importance of precise communication, active listening, and teamwork. It also demonstrates how effective problem solving relies on clear instructions and the ability to interpret and act on those instructions accurately. By engaging in this activity, teams learn to coordinate their efforts and improve their ability to tackle complex tasks collectively.

6. Escape Room Training Activity:

“Escape Room” is an immersive team adventure that requires participants to solve a series of puzzles and find clues within a set time to "escape" from a themed room.

How to Conduct the “Escape Room” Activity:

• Create puzzles and hide clues within a designated room.
• Set up a theme and backstory to make the activity engaging.
• Divide employees into small teams.
• Explain the objective that the teams should solve all the puzzles and escape the room within a set time (e.g., 60 minutes).
• Start the timer and let teams begin solving the puzzles.
• Monitor the teams, offering hints if they get stuck.
• End the activity when a team escapes the room or when the time runs out.
• Discuss the strategies used by the teams and the importance of teamwork and critical thinking.

The “Escape Room” is one of the critical thinking and problem solving exercises that emphasizes teamwork and creative problem solving as the workforce work together to solve puzzles and find clues within a set time limit. This activity demonstrates the importance of collaboration, strategic thinking, and effective communication in overcoming challenges. Employees learn to leverage each other's strengths, think under pressure, and develop a unified approach to problem solving, making it a powerful tool for enhancing the teams’ dynamics and problem solving capabilities in the workplace.

7. Frostbite Training Activity:

“Frostbite” is a survival-themed activity where teams are tasked with building a shelter in extreme conditions, simulating a scenario where one member is incapacitated. This exercise tests the team's ability to strategize and cooperate under pressure.

How to Conduct the “Frostbite” Activity:

• Provide materials such as cardboard, tape, and blankets.
• Divide the employees into teams and assign one team member of each team the role of having "frostbite," meaning they cannot use their hands.
• Explain the scenario that teams must build a shelter that can hold all team members within a time limit.
• Start the timer and let teams begin constructing their shelters.
• Encourage teams to strategize and work around the constraint of the incapacitated member.
• Evaluate the shelters based on stability and effectiveness.
• Discuss the problem solving techniques used under pressure and the importance of teamwork.

In the “Frostbite” activity, employees have to strategize and communicate effectively to build a shelter while managing the handicap of "frostbite," a condition that limits their hands' use. These exercises to improve problem solving skills teaches employees about adaptability, resourcefulness, and teamwork under constraints.

In addition, it also teaches the value of resilience, creative problem solving, and the ability to function efficiently despite physical or situational limitations. The experience underscores how overcoming obstacles through innovative thinking and teamwork can lead to successful outcomes in challenging environments.

8. Blind Formation Training Activity:

“Blind Formation” is a team-building exercise where participants are blindfolded and must form specific shapes or patterns based on verbal instructions from their teammates. This activity focuses on enhancing communication, trust, and coordination among team members.

How to Conduct the “Blind Formation” Activity:

• Choose a large, open space where the workforce can move freely.
• Prepare blindfolds for each employee.
• Divide the employees into teams and explain to them that the objective is to form a specific shape or pattern while being blindfolded.
• Assign one or more team members from each team as guides who will provide verbal instructions to their blindfolded teams.
• Blindfold all the team members except the designated guides.
• Ensure that the blindfolds are secure and that employees cannot see.
• Start the activity by instructing the guides to direct their teammates to form the desired shape (e.g., a square, a triangle, or a circle).
• Allow 10-15 minutes for the formation process.
• Once the time is up or the shape is formed, remove the blindfolds and evaluate the accuracy of the formation.
• Discuss the challenges that the teams faced during the activity and the effectiveness of the communication strategies used.

The “Blind Formation” activity emphasizes the importance of non-verbal communication, trust, and team coordination as the employees must rely on their senses and the guidance of their teammates to form shapes or patterns while blindfolded. This exercise teaches the value of clear instructions, active listening, and the ability to adapt quickly to feedback. It highlights how effective teamwork and trust can overcome communication barriers and achieve complex tasks, fostering a collaborative and supportive team environment.

Quick and Easy Problem-Solving Activities:

Quick and easy problem solving games offer teams an efficient way to enhance their problem solving skills without requiring a significant time investment. These team-problem solving games and activities are designed to be brief yet effective, promoting quick thinking, collaboration, and efficient problem resolution.

Engaging in quick group problem solving exercises for adults would help employees to cultivate the ability to think on their feet and make swift decisions. This rapid decision-making capability is essential for driving innovation and growth, as it enables teams to iterate quickly and adapt to changing circumstances.

9. Line Up Blind Training Activity:

“Line Up Blind” is one of the simple, yet challenging and fun problem solving activities where blindfolded participants must line up in a specific order (e.g., by height, age, or alphabetical order) without verbal communication. This is one of the best problem solving games that emphasizes non-verbal communication and cooperation.

How to Conduct the “Line Up Blind” Activity:

• These cooperative problem solving activities require a large, open space.
• Explain the objective that the workers must line up in a specific order while blindfolded.
• Clarify that height is the order criteria to be followed for the activity.
• Blindfold all workers and ensure they cannot see.
• Start the activity and allow employees to communicate non-verbally to find their position in the line.
• Once the time is up, have the employees remove their blindfolds and check the accuracy of the line-up.
• Discuss the strategies used by the workers for non-verbal communication and the challenges they faced during these easy problem solving activities.

The “Line Up Blind” activity focuses on enhancing non-verbal communication, trust, and problem solving under constraints as employees must rely on alternative forms of communication and collaboration to line up by height while blindfolded. This exercise highlights the importance of clear, non-verbal cues and teamwork in solving problems when traditional communication methods are unavailable. It also emphasizes the value of trust among team members and the ability to adapt to unexpected challenges, fostering a supportive and innovative work environment.

10. Reverse Pyramid Training Activity:

“Reverse Pyramid” is a strategic activity where teams must invert a pyramid of cups following specific rules. This is one of the activities for problem solving that encourages strategic planning, teamwork, and attention to detail.

How to Conduct the “Reverse Pyramid” Activity:

• Divide the employees in teams and provide each team with a stack of cups arranged in a pyramid (base of four cups, then three, two, and one on top).
• Explain to the teams that the objective is to invert the pyramid by following specific rules (e.g., only moving one cup at a time).
• Start the timer and allow teams to begin inverting the pyramid.
• Monitor the teams to ensure they follow the rules.
• The activity ends when the pyramid is successfully inverted or the time runs out.
• Discuss the strategies used by the teams and the challenges they faced.

The “Reverse Pyramid” activity focuses on strategic thinking, collaboration, and innovative problem solving as employees work together to invert a pyramid of cups by following specific rules, requiring careful planning and coordination. This exercise demonstrates the importance of strategic planning, effective communication, and teamwork in achieving complex goals. By overcoming the challenges of the activity, workers learn to approach problems methodically, think creatively, and collaborate effectively, reinforcing the skills necessary for addressing real-world organizational challenges.

11. Move It! Training Activity:

“Move It!” is an engaging activity where teams must move an object from point A to point B using limited resources. This exercise promotes resourcefulness, teamwork, and creative problem solving.

How to Conduct the “Move It!” Activity:

• Select an object and designate a starting point (A) and an endpoint (B).
• Divide employees into teams and provide teams with limited resources (e.g., ropes, planks, cardboard).
• Explain the objective is to move the object from point A to point B using only the provided resources.
• Give teams 10 minutes to plan their strategy.
• Start the timer and allow teams to begin moving the object.
• Monitor the teams to ensure they use only the provided resources.
• The activity ends when the object reaches point B or the time runs out.
• Discuss the strategies used by each team and the problem solving processes that they followed.

As employees move an object from point A to point B using limited resources, the "Move It!" activity emphasizes the importance of resourcefulness, creativity, and collaborative problem solving. This activity promotes innovative thinking and efficient resource management by encouraging employees to think creatively. This activity helps teams develop the ability to adapt quickly, think outside the box, and effectively coordinate their efforts to overcome challenges. By engaging in this exercise, employees enhance their problem solving skills and learn to optimize the use of available resources to achieve common goals.

12. Human Knot Training Activity:

“Human Knot” is a classic team-building activity where participants form a human knot by holding hands with two different people across the circle.

How to Conduct the “Human Knot” Activity:

• Have employees stand in a circle and extend their right hand to someone across the circle.
• Repeat with the left hand, ensuring they hold hands with different people.
• Explain the objective is to untangle the human knot without letting go of hands.
• Start the timer and allow workers to begin untangling the knot.
• Monitor the workers and provide encouragement.
• The activity ends when the knot is untangled, or employees return to a single circle.
• Discuss the communication and problem solving strategies used by the employees.

The "Human Knot" activity fosters team collaboration and problem solving skills by encouraging employees to communicate effectively and work together to untangle themselves. It highlights the importance of patience, strategic thinking, and collective effort in achieving a common goal. This exercise also builds trust and strengthens interpersonal relationships within the team, essential for seamless teamwork in a professional setting.

13. Dumbest Idea Ever Training Activity:

“Dumbest Idea First” is a brainstorming activity where employees initially suggest the worst possible ideas for problem solving. Activities such as this emphasize on unconventional thinking or “out-of-the-box” thinking, that would help employees to solve complex problems in an efficient manner.

How to Conduct the “Dumbest Idea First” Activity:

• Choose a problem or challenge for the brainstorming session.
• Provide each worker with a pen and paper.
• Explain the objective is to come up with the worst possible ideas to solve the problem.
• Start the timer and allow employees to write down their dumbest ideas.
• Encourage creativity and humor.
• After 10 minutes, have the employee share their ideas with the rest of the group participating in the activity.
• Discuss why the ideas are impractical and how they can be improved.
• Encourage employees to refine the worst ideas into workable solutions.
• Discuss the creative process and the benefits of starting with the worst ideas.

The "Dumbest Idea First" activity encourages creative thinking and open-mindedness by allowing employees to voice unconventional ideas without fear of judgment. It demonstrates the value of a safe and inclusive environment where all suggestions are welcomed, fostering innovation and out-of-the-box solutions. This exercise highlights the importance of embracing diverse perspectives to drive collective problem solving and enhance team creativity.

How Problem Solving Skills Apply to Various Job Functions

1. problem solving skills for marketing teams: .

Marketing teams rely extensively on problem solving skills to navigate critical challenges. One of their primary challenges would be to enhance lead conversions, where strategic analysis of funnel metrics and identification of bottlenecks are of utmost importance. Problem-solving skills enables them to devise tailored campaigns and initiatives that address specific barriers to conversion, thereby optimizing marketing efforts for measurable business impact.

Budget limitations often restrict marketing initiatives and resource allocation. Marketing teams need to creatively optimize spending, prioritize high-impact activities, and find cost-effective solutions to achieve desired outcomes. Problem-solving abilities enable them to analyze budget constraints, explore alternative strategies, negotiate effectively with vendors, and maximize ROI on marketing investments without compromising quality or effectiveness. Edstellar’s Marketing Excellence program is meticulously designed to help organizations maximize reach, drive engagement and nurture long-lasting consumer relationships.

2. Problem Solving Skills for Sales Teams: 

Problem-solving skills enable sales professionals to navigate diverse customer needs effectively. Sales professionals often encounter conflicts or disagreements during negotiations or interactions with clients. Advanced problem solving skills enable them to navigate these situations diplomatically, resolve conflicts amicably, and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders. 

Problem-solving skills empower sales professionals to analyze market trends, identify emerging opportunities, and pivot strategies swiftly. Sales teams can utilize their skills to optimize resources effectively. Whether it's time management, budget allocation, or leveraging internal expertise, they can streamline operations and maximize efficiency in achieving sales objectives. Edstellar’s Sales Excellence program offers custom-crafted framework for organizations to amplify sales, expand profits, and enhance customer satisfaction. 

3. Problem Solving Skills for Customer Service Teams: 

Customer service teams encounter a wide range of customer issues and complaints on a daily basis. Problem-solving skills enable them to quickly analyze the root causes of these issues, identify appropriate solutions, and implement corrective actions. 

By resolving issues promptly and effectively, customer service teams enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. Not every customer issue can be resolved with a standard response. Problem-solving skills enable customer service teams to assess each situation individually, evaluate options, and tailor solutions to meet the specific needs and preferences of customers.

Satisfied customers are more likely to recommend the company to others, write positive reviews, and become loyal brand advocates. Problem-solving skills thus contribute to enhancing brand reputation and attracting new customers through word-of-mouth referrals. Edstellar’s Customer Service Excellence program is specially designed to improve customer satisfaction for an organization’s products or services.

4. Problem Solving Skills for Human Resources Teams: 

HR professionals frequently encounter conflicts among employees or between employees and management. Problem-solving skills equip HR teams to identify the root causes of conflicts, facilitate constructive dialogue, and negotiate mutually beneficial resolutions. Problem-solving skills enable HR professionals to address recruitment challenges, such as skill shortages or competitive hiring markets, by devising innovative sourcing strategies and refining candidate selection processes. 

Managing employee performance requires HR teams to address underperformance issues, set clear performance expectations, and provide constructive feedback. Problem-solving skills help HR professionals to assess performance gaps, identify underlying issues, and implement targeted improvement plans. 

Problem-solving skills empower HR professionals to address workplace issues affecting morale, such as workload imbalances or communication breakdowns. Edstellar’s Human Resource Excellence program is designed to support organizations to improve employee retention, foster a highly engaged and productive workforce and boost organizational culture.  

5. Problem Solving Skills for Operations Teams:

Operations teams are responsible for managing risks associated with supply chain disruptions, regulatory changes, or technological failures. Problem-solving skills enable them to anticipate potential risks, develop contingency plans, and swiftly address unforeseen challenges. This proactive risk management minimizes disruptions and ensures business continuity. 

Problem solving skills activities facilitate effective collaboration across these functions by fostering clear communication, mutual understanding of objectives, and alignment on strategic priorities. Problem solving skills enable them to assess resource needs, allocate budgets effectively, and optimize the use of manpower and materials. By making informed decisions based on data-driven analysis, operations teams enhance resource utilization and achieve cost savings. Edstellar’s Operations Excellence program empowers organizations to optimize workflows, reduce operational costs, enhance productivity, and ensure swift and efficient decision-making. 

6. Problem Solving Skills for Information Technology (IT) Teams:

Problem-solving skills enable IT teams to swiftly diagnose and resolve complex technical issues, minimizing downtime and ensuring seamless operations across the organization. From implementing cutting-edge technologies to enhancing cybersecurity measures, IT teams leverage their problem solving capabilities to drive innovation and stay ahead in the technological space. 

By understanding business needs, anticipating future trends, and prioritizing projects, IT teams ensure that their solutions contribute directly to achieving business objectives. These skills would be beneficial for cohesive teamwork, accelerating project delivery, and ensuring that IT solutions meet the diverse needs of the organization. Edstellar’s IT Excellence program is crafted to help organizations with key areas such as cyber security, cloud computing, and data analytics. 

As teams journey through problem solving training activities, they will discover the transformative power of practical learning experiences. It is important for employees to immerse themselves in problem solving in games to enhance their critical thinking abilities and collaboration skills. Utilizing best games to improve problem solving skills, during corporate training sessions can significantly enhance participants' ability to think strategically and work collaboratively under pressure.

Organizations can create their own business problem solving activities (corporate problem solving activities conducted for employees) by referring to this blog as examples of problem solving activities and the necessary steps to be taken during and after the events. At Edstellar, we understand the significance of honing problem solving skills in fostering organizational success.

Our courses are meticulously designed to bridge the skill gap and empower individuals to tackle challenges head-on. With a team of experienced trainers conducting problem solving training , team building exercises and guiding them, employees can gain valuable insights and practical strategies to address real-world problems effectively.

By Pete Ford

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Drama Games & Exercises

Subject: Drama

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Game/puzzle/quiz

Last updated

16 September 2019

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Aim A Power Point Presentation consisting of 30 drama games and exercises to choose from. An informal and fun way for students to develop their confidence and skills in drama. These exercises can be used as introductory warmers to the lesson, or incorporated/adapted into drama classes. Students-Develop and practice their soft-skills (negotiation, team building, communication and problem solving), through drama and theatre. Teachers- Time saving activities to choose at your leisure, that hopefully inspire ideas for your drama lessons.

Content Power Point that has games and exercises divided into three parts. Part.1=Beginner Level-Icebreakers that introduce/reintroduce students to drama (confidence builders). Part.2=Beginner-Intermediate-Games and short performances-devised or improvised (independent work). Part.3=Intermediate-Advanced-Exercises involving more complex themes and problem solving, improvisational games (independent work). All the exercises & games are explained in detail, including instructions and examples for ideas and scenarios. There is also a worksheet for one of the exercises (Scale Opinion Game) included.

About This resource would be suitable for KS3 & KS4 level. There are a variation of games and exercises that can be selected depending on ability, interest and classroom dynamic. As a drama teacher I have used all these games and exercises in various schools and have received a positive response.

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Are you looking to enhance your or your team’s problem-solving abilities? Engaging in activities specifically designed to stimulate your and your team’s critical thinking skills can be an excellent way to sharpen your problem-solving prowess. Whether you enjoy puzzles, brain teasers, or interactive challenges, these activities provide an opportunity to overcome obstacles and think creatively.

By immersing yourself in problem-solving activities, you can develop valuable strategies, improve your decision-making abilities, and boost your overall problem-solving IQ.

One key aspect of successful problem-solving is ensuring clear and effective communication, such as when teams use critical tools available online. For example, testing emails for deliverability and using an email spam checker to avoid spam filters can improve team efficiency. Try Maileroo’s free mail tester to validate your email campaigns effectively. Get ready to unlock your full potential and tackle any challenge that comes your way with these exciting activities for problem-solving.

In this article, we will explore activities for problem-solving that can help enhance your team’s problem-solving skills, allowing you to approach challenges with confidence and creativity.

What Are Problem Solving Activities?

Problem-solving activities or problem-solving exercises are interactive games requiring critical thinking to solve puzzles. They enhance teamwork & critical thinking. Examples include building towers, navigating simulated challenges, and fostering creativity and communication.

For instance, imagine a team working together to construct the tallest tower using limited materials. They strategize, communicate ideas, and problem-solve to create the best structure, promoting collaboration and inventive thinking among team members.

Some widely practiced problem-solving activities include:

• A Shrinking Vessel: Teams must fit into a shrinking space, testing their cooperation and adaptability.
• Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower: Participants build a tower using marshmallows and spaghetti, promoting creative engineering.
• Egg Drop: Protecting an egg from a fall challenges problem-solving skills.
• Desert Island Survival: Teams simulate survival scenarios, encouraging creative solutions.
• Rolling Dice: A simple yet effective game involving chance and decision-making.
• Build a Tower: Constructing a stable tower with limited resources fosters teamwork and innovation, etc.

13 Easy Activities For Problem-Solving Ideas to Enhance Team Collaboration

Team building activities offer a great opportunity to test problem-solving abilities and promote effective collaboration within a group to problem solving group activities. By engaging in these activities, teams can break the monotony of the workplace and create a more inclusive and welcoming environment.

Here are nine easy-to-implement activities that can bring substantial change to your team culture and overall workplace dynamics.

#1. Crossword Puzzles

Objective: To enhance problem-solving skills, vocabulary, and cognitive abilities through engaging crossword puzzles. 

Estimated Time: 15-20 Minutes 

Materials Needed:

• Crossword puzzle sheets
• Pens or pencils
• Distribute crossword puzzle sheets and pens/pencils to each participant.
• Explain the rules of crossword puzzles and the goal of completing as many clues as possible within the given time.
• Participants individually or in pairs work on solving the crossword puzzle by filling in the correct words.
• Encourage critical thinking, word association, and collaborative discussions for solving challenging clues.
• At the end of the time limit, review the answers and discuss any interesting or challenging clues as a group.
• Enhanced Problem-Solving: Participants engage in critical thinking while deciphering clues, promoting effective problem-solving skills.
• Vocabulary Expansion: Exposure to new words and phrases within the crossword improves vocabulary and comprehension.
• Cognitive Stimulation: The mental exercise of solving the puzzle stimulates the brain, enhancing cognitive abilities.
• Team Collaboration: If done in pairs, participants practice collaboration and communication to solve clues together.
• Achievement and Motivation: Successfully completing the crossword brings a sense of accomplishment and motivates individuals to explore more puzzles.

Tips for Facilitators:

• Provide varying levels of crossword puzzles to accommodate different skill levels.
• Encourage participants to share strategies for solving challenging clues.
• Emphasize the fun and educational aspects of the activity to keep participants engaged.

#2. A Shrinking Vessel

Estimated Time: 10-15 Minutes

• Materials Needed: A rope and a ball of yarn
• Prepare the Setting: Lay a rope on the floor in a shape that allows all team members to stand comfortably inside it. For larger teams, multiple ropes can be used, dividing them into smaller groups.
• Enter the Circle: Have all team members stand inside the rope, ensuring that nobody steps outside its boundaries.
• Shrinking the Circle: Begin gradually shrinking the rope’s size, reducing the available space inside the circle.
• Adapt and Maintain Balance: As the circle shrinks, team members must make subtle adjustments to maintain their positions and balance within the shrinking area.
• The Challenge: The objective for the team is to collectively brainstorm and find innovative ways to keep every team member inside the circle without anyone stepping outside.
• Collaboration and Communication: The activity promotes teamwork and open communication as participants strategize to stay within the shrinking circle.
• Adaptability: Team members learn to adapt swiftly to changing circumstances, fostering agility and flexibility.
• Creative Problem-Solving: The challenge encourages inventive thinking and brainstorming to find unique solutions.
• Trust Building: By relying on each other’s actions, participants build trust and cohesion among team members.
• Time-Efficient: The short duration makes it an ideal icebreaker or energizer during meetings or workshops.
• Observe and Facilitate: Monitor the team’s dynamics and offer guidance to encourage equal participation and effective problem-solving.
• Encourage Verbalization: Prompt participants to voice their ideas and collaborate vocally, aiding in real-time adjustments.
• Debrief Thoughtfully: Engage the team in a discussion afterward, reflecting on strategies employed and lessons learned.
• Emphasize Adaptability: Highlight the transferable skill of adaptability and its significance in both professional and personal contexts.

#3. Human Knots

• Objective: Improving Collaboration & enhancing Communication Skills

Estimated Time: 15-20 minutes

• Materials: None required

Procedure: 

• Organize your team into a compact circle. For more sizable teams, subdivide them into smaller clusters, with each cluster forming its own circle. 
• Direct each individual to grasp the hands of two other people in the circle, with the exception of those positioned directly adjacent to them. This action will result in the formation of a complex “human knot” within the circle. 
• Present the challenge to the group: to unravel themselves from this entanglement while maintaining their hold on each other’s hands. If preferred, you can establish a specific time limit. 
• Observe the team members collaborating to unravel the knot, witnessing their collective effort to devise solutions and free themselves from the intricate puzzle.
• Team Cohesion: The activity encourages team members to interact closely, promoting bonding and understanding among participants.
• Effective Communication: Participants practice clear and concise communication as they coordinate movements to untangle the knot.
• Problem-Solving: The challenge stimulates creative thinking and problem-solving skills as individuals work collectively to find the optimal path for untangling.
• Adaptability: Participants learn to adapt their actions based on the evolving dynamics of the human knot, fostering adaptability.
• Trust Building: As individuals rely on each other to navigate the intricate knot, trust and cooperation naturally develop.
• Set a Positive Tone: Create an inclusive and supportive atmosphere, emphasizing that the focus is on collaboration rather than competition.
• Encourage Verbalization: Urge participants to articulate their intentions and listen to others’ suggestions, promoting effective teamwork.
• Observe Group Dynamics: Monitor interactions and step in if needed to ensure everyone is actively engaged and included.
• Reflect and Share: Conclude the activity with a debriefing session, allowing participants to share their experiences, strategies, and key takeaways.
• Vary Grouping: Change group compositions for subsequent rounds to enhance interactions among different team members.

#4. Egg Drop

Helps With: Decision Making, Collaboration

• A carton of eggs
• Construction materials (balloons, rubber bands, straws, tape, plastic wrap, etc.)
• A suitable location for the activity
• Assign each team a single egg and random construction materials.
• Teams must create a carrier to protect the egg from breaking.
• Drop the carriers one by one and increase the height if necessary to determine the most durable carrier.
• The winning team is the one with the carrier that survives the highest drop.
• Decision Making: Participants engage in critical decision-making processes as they select construction materials and determine carrier designs.
• Collaboration: The activity necessitates collaboration and coordination among team members to construct an effective carrier.
• Problem-Solving: Teams apply creative problem-solving skills to devise innovative methods for safeguarding the egg.
• Risk Management: Participants learn to assess potential risks and consequences while making design choices to prevent egg breakage.
• Celebrating Success: The victorious team experiences a sense of accomplishment, boosting morale and promoting a positive team spirit.
• Provide Diverse Materials: Offer a wide range of construction materials to stimulate creativity and allow teams to explore various design options.
• Set Safety Guidelines: Prioritize safety by specifying a safe drop height and ensuring participants follow safety protocols during construction.
• Encourage Brainstorming: Prompt teams to brainstorm multiple carrier ideas before finalizing their designs, fostering diverse perspectives.
• Facilitate Reflection: After the activity, lead a discussion where teams share their design strategies, challenges faced, and lessons learned.
• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize the significance of teamwork in achieving success, acknowledging effective communication and cooperation.

As a teamwork activity, Egg Drop can help team members solve problems through collaboration and communication.

Each team can design and customize their own balloons and can display their team logo, slogan, or elements related to team culture through custom balloons . Awards can also be set up, such as the most creative balloon design, the strongest frangipani structure, etc., to increase the motivation for competition and participation. 

After the activity, team sharing and feedback can be conducted to allow everyone to share their learning experience and feelings about teamwork.

This combination allows team members to experience the importance of teamwork in creativity and practice, and strengthen team cohesion by completing challenges and sharing experiences.

#5. Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower

Helps With: Collaboration

Estimated Time: 20-30 Minutes

Materials Needed (per team):

• Raw spaghetti: 20 sticks
• Marshmallow: 1
• String: 1 yard
• Masking tape: 1 roll
• Tower Construction: Instruct teams to collaborate and utilize the provided materials to construct the tallest tower possible within a designated time frame.
• Marshmallow Support: Emphasize that the tower must be capable of standing independently and supporting a marshmallow at its highest point.
• Prototype and Iterate: Encourage teams to engage in prototyping and iteration, testing different design approaches and refining their tower structures.
• T eamwork and Communication: Promote effective teamwork and communication as team members coordinate their efforts to build a stable and tall tower.
• Evaluation Criteria: Evaluate each tower based on its height, stability, and the successful placement of the marshmallow at the top.
• Collaboration: Participants collaborate closely, sharing ideas and working together to design and construct the tower.
• Innovative Thinking: The activity encourages innovative thinking as teams experiment with different strategies to build a stable tower.
• Time Management: Teams practice time management skills as they work within a specified time limit to complete the task.
• Problem-Solving: Participants engage in creative problem-solving to address challenges such as balancing the marshmallow and constructing a sturdy tower.
• Adaptability: Teams adapt their approaches based on trial and error, learning from each iteration to improve their tower designs.
• Set Clear Guidelines: Clearly explain the materials, objectives, and evaluation criteria to ensure teams understand the task.
• Foster Creativity: Encourage teams to think outside the box and explore unconventional methods for constructing their towers.
• Emphasize Collaboration: Highlight the importance of effective communication and teamwork to accomplish the task successfully.
• Time Management: Remind teams of the time limit and encourage them to allocate their time wisely between planning and construction.
• Reflect and Share: Facilitate a discussion after the activity, allowing teams to share their design choices, challenges faced, and lessons learned.

Objective: To engage participants in the strategic and analytical world of Sudoku, enhancing logical thinking and problem-solving abilities. 

Estimated Time: 20-25 Minutes 

• Sudoku puzzle sheets
• Pencils with erasers
• Distribute Sudoku puzzle sheets and pencils to each participant.
• Familiarize participants with the rules and mechanics of Sudoku puzzles.
• Explain the goal: to fill in the empty cells with numbers from 1 to 9 while adhering to the rules of no repetition in rows, columns, or subgrids.
• Encourage participants to analyze the puzzle’s layout, identify potential numbers, and strategically fill in cells.
• Emphasize the importance of logical deduction and step-by-step approach in solving the puzzle.
• Provide hints or guidance if needed, ensuring participants remain engaged and challenged.
• Logical Thinking: Sudoku challenges participants’ logical and deductive reasoning, fostering analytical skills.
• Problem-Solving: The intricate interplay of numbers and constraints hones problem-solving abilities.
• Focus and Patience: Participants practice patience and attention to detail while gradually unveiling the solution.
• Pattern Recognition: Identifying number patterns and possibilities contributes to enhanced pattern recognition skills.
• Personal Achievement: Successfully completing a Sudoku puzzle provides a sense of accomplishment and boosts confidence.
• Offer varying levels of Sudoku puzzles to cater to different skill levels.
• Encourage participants to share strategies and techniques for solving specific challenges.
• Highlight the mental workout Sudoku provides and its transferable skills to real-life problem-solving.

Helps With: Communication, Problem-solving, & Management

• A lockable room
• 5-10 puzzles or clues
• Hide the key and a set of clues around the room.
• Lock the room and provide team members with a specific time limit to find the key and escape.
• Instruct the team to work together, solving the puzzles and deciphering the clues to locate the key.
• Encourage efficient communication and effective problem-solving under time pressure.
• Communication Skills: Participants enhance their communication abilities by sharing observations, ideas, and findings to collectively solve puzzles.
• Problem-solving Proficiency: The activity challenges teams to think critically, apply logical reasoning, and collaboratively tackle intricate challenges.
• Team Management: The experience promotes effective team management as members assign tasks, prioritize efforts, and coordinate actions.
• Time Management: The imposed time limit sharpens time management skills as teams strategize and allocate time wisely.
• Adaptability: Teams learn to adapt and adjust strategies based on progress, evolving clues, and time constraints.
• Clear Introduction: Provide a concise overview of the activity, emphasizing the importance of communication, problem-solving, and time management.
• Diverse Challenges: Offer a mix of puzzles and clues to engage various problem-solving skills, catering to different team strengths.
• Supportive Role: Act as a facilitator, offering subtle guidance if needed while allowing teams to independently explore and solve challenges.
• Debriefing Session: Organize a debriefing session afterward to discuss the experience, highlight successful strategies, and identify areas for improvement.
• Encourage Reflection: Encourage participants to reflect on their teamwork, communication effectiveness, and problem-solving approach.

#8. Frostbite for Group Problem Solving Activities

Helps With: Decision Making, Trust, Leadership

• An electric fan
• Construction materials (toothpicks, cardstock, rubber bands, sticky notes, etc.)
• Divide the team into groups of 4-5 people, each with a designated leader.
• Blindfold team members and prohibit leaders from using their hands.
• Provide teams with construction materials and challenge them to build a tent within 30 minutes.
• Test the tents using the fan to see which can withstand high winds.
• Decision-Making Proficiency: Participants are exposed to critical decision-making situations under constraints, allowing them to practice effective and efficient decision-making.
• Trust Development: Blindfolding team members and relying on the designated leaders fosters trust and collaboration among team members.
• Leadership Skills: Designated leaders navigate the challenge without hands-on involvement, enhancing their leadership and communication skills.
• Creative Problem Solving: Teams employ creative thinking and resourcefulness to construct stable tents with limited sensory input.
• Team Cohesion: The shared task and unique constraints promote team cohesion and mutual understanding.
• Role of the Facilitator: Act as an observer, allowing teams to navigate the challenge with minimal intervention. Offer assistance only when necessary.
• Clarity in Instructions: Provide clear instructions regarding blindfolding, leader restrictions, and time limits to ensure a consistent experience.
• Debriefing Session: After the activity, conduct a debriefing session to discuss team dynamics, leadership approaches, and decision-making strategies.
• Encourage Communication: Emphasize the importance of effective communication within teams to ensure smooth coordination and successful tent construction.
• Acknowledge Creativity: Celebrate creative solutions and innovative approaches exhibited by teams during the tent-building process.

#9. Dumbest Idea First

Helps With: Critical Thinking & Creative Problem Solving Activity

Estimated Time: 15-20 Minutes

Materials Needed: A piece of paper, pen, and pencil

• Problem Presentation: Introduce a specific problem to the team, either a real-world challenge or a hypothetical scenario that requires a solution.
• Brainstorming Dumb Ideas: Instruct team members to quickly generate and jot down the most unconventional and seemingly “dumb” ideas they can think of to address the problem.
• Idea Sharing: Encourage each participant to share their generated ideas with the group, fostering a relaxed and open atmosphere for creative expression.
• Viability Assessment: As a team, review and evaluate each idea, considering potential benefits and drawbacks. Emphasize the goal of identifying unconventional approaches.
• Selecting Promising Solutions: Identify which seemingly “dumb” ideas could hold hidden potential or innovative insights. Discuss how these ideas could be adapted into workable solutions.
• Divergent Thinking: Participants engage in divergent thinking, pushing beyond conventional boundaries to explore unconventional solutions.
• Creative Exploration: The activity sparks creative exploration by encouraging participants to let go of inhibitions and embrace imaginative thinking.
• Critical Analysis: Through evaluating each idea, participants practice critical analysis and learn to identify unique angles and aspects of potential solutions.
• Open Communication: The lighthearted approach of sharing “dumb” ideas fosters open communication, reducing fear of judgment and promoting active participation.
• Solution Adaptation: Identifying elements of seemingly “dumb” ideas that have merit encourages participants to adapt and refine their approaches creatively.
• Safe Environment: Foster a safe and non-judgmental environment where participants feel comfortable sharing unconventional ideas.
• Time Management: Set clear time limits for idea generation and sharing to maintain the activity’s energetic pace.
• Encourage Wild Ideas: Emphasize that the goal is to explore the unconventional, urging participants to push the boundaries of creativity.
• Facilitator Participation: Participate in idea generation to demonstrate an open-minded approach and encourage involvement.
• Debriefing Discussion: After the activity, facilitate a discussion on how seemingly “dumb” ideas can inspire innovative solutions and stimulate fresh thinking.

This activity encourages out-of-the-box thinking and creative problem-solving. It allows teams to explore unconventional ideas that may lead to unexpected, yet effective, solutions.

#10: Legoman

Helps With: Foster teamwork, communication, and creativity through a collaborative Lego-building activity.

Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes

• Lego bricks
• Lego instruction manuals

Procedure :

• Divide participants into small teams of 3-5 members.
• Provide each team with an equal set of Lego bricks and a Lego instruction manual.
• Explain that the goal is for teams to work together to construct the Lego model shown in the manual.
• Set a time limit for the building activity based on model complexity.
• Allow teams to self-organize, build, and collaborate to complete the model within the time limit.
• Evaluate each team’s final model compared to the manual’s original design.
• Enhanced Communication: Participants must communicate clearly and listen actively to collaborate effectively.
• Strengthened Teamwork: Combining efforts toward a shared goal promotes camaraderie and team cohesion.
• Creative Problem-Solving: Teams must creatively problem-solve if pieces are missing or instructions unclear.
• Planning and Resource Allocation: Following instructions fosters planning skills and efficient use of resources.
• Sense of Achievement: Completing a challenging build provides a sense of collective accomplishment.
• Encourage Participation: Urge quieter members to contribute ideas and take an active role.
• Highlight Teamwork: Emphasize how cooperation and task coordination are key to success.
• Ensure Equal Engagement: Monitor group dynamics to ensure all members are engaged.
• Allow Creativity: Permit modifications if teams lack exact pieces or wish to get creative.
• Focus on Enjoyment: Create a lively atmosphere so the activity remains energizing and fun.

#11: Minefield

Helps With: Trust, Communication, Patience

Materials Needed: Open space, blindfolds

• Mark a “minefield” on the ground using ropes, cones, or tape. Add toy mines or paper cups.
• Pair up participants and blindfold one partner.
• Position blindfolded partners at the start of the minefield. Direct seeing partners to verbally guide them through to the other side without hitting “mines.”
• Partners switch roles once finished and repeat.
• Time partnerships and provide prizes for the fastest safe crossing.
• Trust Building: Blindfolded partners must trust their partner’s instructions.
• Effective Communication: Giving clear, specific directions is essential for navigating the minefield.
• Active Listening: Partners must listen closely and follow directions precisely.
• Patience & Support: The exercise requires patience and encouraging guidance between partners.
• Team Coordination: Partners must work in sync, coordinating movements and communication.
• Test Boundaries: Ensure the minefield’s size accommodates safe movement and communication.
• Monitor Interactions: Watch for dominant guidance and ensure both partners participate fully.
• Time Strategically: Adjust time limits based on the minefield size and difficulty.
• Add Obstacles: Introduce additional non-mine objects to increase challenge and communication needs.
• Foster Discussion: Debrief afterward to discuss communication approaches and trust-building takeaways.

#12: Reverse Pyramid

Helps With: Teamwork, Communication, Creativity

Materials Needed: 36 cups per group, tables

• Form small groups of 5-7 participants.
• Provide each group with a stack of 36 cups and a designated building area.
• Explain the objective: Build the tallest pyramid starting with just one cup on top.
• Place the first cup on the table, and anyone in the group can add two cups beneath it to form the second row.
• From this point, only the bottom row can be lifted to add the next row underneath.
• Cups in the pyramid can only be touched or supported by index fingers.
• If the structure falls, start over from one cup.
• Offer more cups if a group uses all provided.
• Allow 15 minutes for building.

Teamwork: Collaborate to construct the pyramid.

Communication: Discuss and execute the building strategy.

Creativity: Find innovative ways to build a tall, stable pyramid.

Clarify Expectations: Emphasize the definition of a pyramid with each row having one less cup.

Encourage Perseverance: Motivate groups to continue despite challenges.

Promote Consensus: Encourage groups to work together and help each other.

Reflect on Failure: Use collapses as a metaphor for overcoming obstacles and improving.

Consider Competitions: Modify the activity for competitive teams and scoring.

#13: Stranded

Helps With: Decision-making, Prioritization, Teamwork

Materials Needed: List of salvaged items, paper, pens

• Present a scenario where teams are stranded and must prioritize items salvaged from a plane crash.
• Provide teams with the same list of ~15 salvaged items.
• Instruct teams to agree on an item ranking with #1 being the most important for survival.
• Teams share and compare their prioritized lists. Identify differences in approach.
• Discuss what factors influenced decisions and how teams worked together to agree on priorities.
• Critical Thinking: Weighing item importance requires analytical thinking and discussion.
• Team Decision-Making: Coming to a consensus fosters team decision-making capabilities.
• Prioritization Skills: Ranking items strengthen prioritization and justification abilities.
• Perspective-Taking: Understanding different prioritizations builds perspective-taking skills.
• Team Cohesion: Collaborating toward a shared goal brings teams closer together.
• Encourage Discussion: Urge teams to discuss all ideas rather than allow single members to dominate.
• Be Engaged: Circulate to listen in on team discussions and pose thought-provoking questions.
• Add Complexity: Introduce scenarios with additional constraints to expand critical thinking.
• Highlight Disagreements: When priorities differ, facilitate constructive discussions on influencing factors.
• Recognize Collaboration: Acknowledge teams that demonstrate exceptional teamwork and communication.

Now let’s look at some common types of problem-solving activities.

Types of Problem-Solving Activities

The most common types of problem-solving activities/exercises are:

• Creative problem-solving activities
• Group problem-solving activities
• Individual problem-solving activities
• Fun problem-solving activities, etc.

In the next segments, we’ll be discussing these types of problem-solving activities in detail. So, keep reading!

Creative Problem-Solving Activities

Creative problem solving (CPS) means using creativity to find new solutions. It involves thinking creatively at first and then evaluating ideas later. For example, think of it like brainstorming fun game ideas, discussing them, and then picking the best one to play.

Some of the most common creative problem-solving activities include:

• Legoman: Building creative structures with LEGO.
• Escape: Solving puzzles to escape a room.
• Frostbite: Finding solutions in challenging situations.
• Minefield: Navigating a field of obstacles.

Group Problem-Solving Activities

Group problem-solving activities are challenges that make teams work together to solve puzzles or overcome obstacles. They enhance teamwork and critical thinking.

For instance, think of a puzzle-solving game where a group must find hidden clues to escape a locked room.

Here are the most common group problem-solving activities you can try in groups:

• A Shrinking Vessel
• Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower
• Cardboard Boat Building Challenge
• Clue Murder Mystery
• Escape Room: Jewel Heist
• Escape Room: Virtual Team Building
• Scavenger Hunt
• Dumbest Idea First

Individual Problem-Solving Activities

As the name suggests, individual problem-solving activities are the tasks that you need to play alone to boost your critical thinking ability. They help you solve problems and stay calm while facing challenges in real life. Like puzzles, they make your brain sharper. Imagine it’s like training your brain muscles to handle tricky situations.

Here are some of the most common individual problem-solving activities:

• Puzzles (jigsaw, crossword, sudoku, etc.)
• Brain teasers
• Logic problems
• Optical illusions
• “Escape room” style games

Fun Problem-Solving Activities

Fun problem-solving activities are enjoyable games that sharpen your critical thinking skills while having a blast. Think of activities like the Legoman challenge, escape rooms, or rolling dice games – they make problem-solving exciting and engaging!

And to be frank, all of the mentioned problem-solving activities are fun if you know how to play and enjoy them as all of them are game-like activities.

Team Problems You Can Address Through Problem Solving Activities

Fun problem-solving activities serve as dynamic tools to address a range of challenges that teams often encounter. These engaging activities foster an environment of collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, enabling teams to tackle various problems head-on. Here are some common team problems that can be effectively addressed through these activities:

• Communication Breakdowns:  

Activities like “Escape,” “A Shrinking Vessel,” and “Human Knots” emphasize the importance of clear and effective communication. They require teams to work together, exchange ideas, and devise strategies to accomplish a shared goal. By engaging in these activities, team members learn to communicate more efficiently, enhancing overall team communication in real-world situations.

• Lack of Trust and Cohesion:  

Problem-solving activities promote trust and cohesiveness within teams. For instance, “Frostbite” and “Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower” require teams to collaborate closely, trust each other’s ideas, and rely on each member’s strengths. These activities build a sense of unity and trust, which can translate into improved teamwork and collaboration.

• Innovative Thinking:  

“Dumbest Idea First” and “Egg Drop” encourage teams to think outside the box and explore unconventional solutions. These activities challenge teams to be creative and innovative in their problem-solving approaches, fostering a culture of thinking beyond traditional boundaries when faced with complex issues.

• Decision-Making Challenges:  

Activities like “Onethread” facilitate group decision-making by providing a platform for open discussions and collaborative choices. Problem-solving activities require teams to make decisions collectively, teaching them to weigh options, consider different viewpoints, and arrive at informed conclusions—a skill that is transferable to real-world decision-making scenarios.

• Leadership and Role Clarification:  

Activities such as “Frostbite” and “Egg Drop” designate team leaders and roles within groups. This provides an opportunity for team members to practice leadership, delegation, and role-specific tasks. By experiencing leadership dynamics in a controlled setting, teams can improve their leadership skills and better understand their roles in actual projects.

• Problem-Solving Strategies:  

All of the problem-solving activities involve the application of different strategies. Teams learn to analyze problems, break them down into manageable components, and develop systematic approaches for resolution. These strategies can be adapted to real-world challenges, enabling teams to approach complex issues with confidence.

• Team Morale and Engagement:  

Participating in engaging and enjoyable activities boosts team morale and engagement. These activities provide a break from routine tasks, energize team members, and create a positive and fun atmosphere. Elevated team morale can lead to increased motivation and productivity.

The incentives of event prizes can further stimulate the enthusiasm and participation of team members. The choice of prizes is crucial, as it can directly affect the attractiveness and participation of the event. Among them, Medals are essential prizes.

Medals are symbols of honor awarded to winners and represent the value and achievement of an event.

Medals also have a motivational effect, they encourage team members to pursue higher achievements and progress.

Medals are artistic and aesthetic. They are usually designed by designers according to different occasions and themes and have high collection value.

By incorporating these fun problem-solving activities, teams can address a variety of challenges, foster skill development, and build a more cohesive and effective working environment. As teams learn to collaborate, communicate, innovate, and make decisions collectively, they are better equipped to overcome obstacles and achieve shared goals.

The Benefits of Problem Solving Activities for Your Team

#1 Better Thinking

Problem-solving activities bring out the best in team members by encouraging them to contribute their unique ideas. This stimulates better thinking as team managers evaluate different solutions and choose the most suitable ones.

For example, a remote team struggling with communication benefited from quick thinking and the sharing of ideas, leading to the adoption of various communication modes for improved collaboration.

#2 Better Risk Handling

Team building problem solving activities condition individuals to handle risks more effectively. By engaging in challenging situations and finding solutions, team members develop the ability to respond better to stressful circumstances.

#3 Better Communication

Regular communication among team members is crucial for efficient problem-solving. Engaging in problem-solving activities fosters cooperation and communication within the team, resulting in better understanding and collaboration. Using tools like OneThread can further enhance team communication and accountability.

#4 Improved Productivity Output

When teams work cohesively, overall productivity improves, leading to enhanced profit margins for the company or organization. Involving managers and team members in problem-solving activities can positively impact the company’s growth and profitability.

How Onethread Enhances the Effect of Problem Solving Activities

Problem-solving activities within teams thrive on collaborative efforts and shared perspectives. Onethread emerges as a potent facilitator, enabling teams to collectively tackle challenges and harness diverse viewpoints with precision. Here’s a comprehensive view of how Onethread amplifies team collaboration in problem-solving initiatives:

Open Channels for Discussion:

Onethread’s real-time messaging feature serves as a dedicated hub for open and seamless discussions. Teams can engage in brainstorming sessions, share insightful observations, and propose innovative solutions within a flexible environment. Asynchronous communication empowers members to contribute their insights at their convenience, fostering comprehensive problem analysis with ample deliberation.

Centralized Sharing of Resources:

Effective problem-solving often hinges on access to pertinent resources. Onethread’s document sharing functionality ensures that critical information, references, and research findings are centralized and readily accessible. This eradicates the need for cumbersome email attachments and enables team members to collaborate with precise and up-to-date data.

Efficient Task Allocation and Monitoring:

Problem-solving journeys comprise a series of tasks and actions. Onethread’s task management capability streamlines the delegation of specific responsibilities to team members. Assign tasks related to research, data analysis, or solution implementation and monitor progress in real time. This cultivates a sense of accountability and guarantees comprehensive coverage of every facet of the problem-solving process.

Facilitated Collaborative Decision-Making: Navigating intricate problems often demands collective decision-making. Onethread’s collaborative ecosystem empowers teams to deliberate over potential solutions, assess pros and cons, and make well-informed choices. Transparent discussions ensure that decisions are comprehensively comprehended and supported by the entire team.

Seamless Documentation and Insights Sharing:

As the problem-solving journey unfolds, the accumulation of insights and conclusions becomes pivotal. Onethread’s collaborative document editing feature empowers teams to document their discoveries, chronicle the steps undertaken, and showcase successful solutions. This shared repository of documentation serves as a valuable resource for future reference and continuous learning.

With Onethread orchestrating the backdrop, team collaboration during problem-solving activities transforms into a harmonious fusion of insights, ideas, and actionable steps.

What are the 5 problem-solving skills?

The top 5 problem-solving skills in 2023 are critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and data literacy. Most employers seek these skills in their workforce.

What are the steps of problem-solving?

Problem-solving steps are as follows: 1. Define the problem clearly. 2. Analyze the issue in detail. 3. Generate potential solutions. 4. Evaluate these options. 5. Choose the best solution. 6. Put the chosen solution into action. 7. Measure the outcomes to assess effectiveness and improvements made. These sequential steps assist in efficient and effective problem resolution.

How do you teach problem-solving skills?

Teaching problem-solving involves modelling effective methods within a context, helping students grasp the problem, dedicating ample time, asking guiding questions, and giving suggestions. Connect errors to misconceptions to enhance understanding, fostering a straightforward approach to building problem-solving skills.

So here is all about “activities for problem solving”.No matter which activity you choose, engaging in problem-solving activities not only provides entertainment but also helps enhance cognitive abilities such as critical thinking, decision making, and creativity. So why not make problem solving a regular part of your routine?

Take some time each day or week to engage in these activities and watch as your problem-solving skills grow stronger. Plus, it’s an enjoyable way to pass the time and challenge yourself mentally.

So go ahead, grab a puzzle or gather some friends for a game night – get ready to have fun while sharpening your problem-solving skills!

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Top 22 Virtual Problem-Solving Activities to Strengthen Any Team

We live in a fast-paced environment where challenges often arise, both personally and professionally.

Especially in today’s workplace, professionals have to deal with social, ethical, and organisational problems.

This is where problem-solving skills come into play.

Strong problem-solving tactics can improve creativity and help team members make efficient and informed decisions.

While every professional might not be a natural born problem-solver, there are a lot of resources to help develop these skills.

In this article, we’ll go over the definition of problem-solving activities, their main benefits, and examples that can be put into practice in the workplace.

What Are Problem-Solving Activities?

These activities require problem-solving skills, which help find solutions for difficult situations.

Like any other skill, these tactics are best learnt through practice.

To make problem-solving activities worth the ride, participants have to be open-minded, listen to others, and accept alternative ideas and solutions.

An agile mindset can also be beneficial when participating in such activities because they’re based on understanding, collaborating , learning and staying flexible.

As problem-solving games are group activities, participants must be willing to collaborate and embrace agility and flexibility.

Another critical aspect is creating the mindset that there are no winners or losers.

The goal of these activities is to share strategies and learn from each other, rather than compete against one another.

The Four P’s to Problem-Solving

By following the four P’s in the problem-solving guide, one can resolve almost any problem that comes along.

Problem-solving activities begin with a discovery phase, where the problem is identified.

This is the step where you understand, dissect, and learn about the problem you’re trying to solve.

Until the problem has been well defined, you can’t move forward and prepare to form the right solution.

After you’ve analysed the problem, you have to develop several courses of action to solve the issue.

This is the phase where you generate several possibilities to ultimately decide on the best course of action for your problem.

After the problem has been defined and resolutions have been listed, it’s time to take action.

This is the step where you find the best approach and implement a plan that needs to be followed with precision.

You need to first visualise your plan and then execute it.

When the problem has been solved, you need to evaluate the plan and assess whether it could be improved for future situations.

While you should do your best to solve the issue, the truth is that there is always room for growth.

Reviewing and checking for room for further improvement is essential because it can help you achieve even greater results in the future.

Benefits of Developing Problem-Solving Skills in the Workplace

Employees are often asked to think outside the box for projects or find alternative solutions for work problems.

Problem-solving tactics are a great way to practice valuable skills relevant in the workplace.

There are a lot of situations where processes and workflow in organisations need improvement. Or, when deadlines are tight, team members have to find ways to deliver on time.

These are the exact scenarios that can be overcome if the team is able to turn problems into actionable solutions.

After all, performance is closely related to employee efficiency as achieving companies’ goals on time is crucial to success.

Having team members with good problem-solving skills means they can use critical thinking to make better decisions and ultimately increase business productivity and growth.

There are a wealth of advantages that problem-solving activities can bring to teams.

Here are a few benefits you can expect from employees well equipped with problem-solving skills:

Better risk management

Simply put, risk management skills help people know what could go wrong, assess risks, and finally take action to solve an issue.

Some people are very good at handling risk, while others are afraid of risky situations.

Whichever way your team members are naturally inclined, problem-solving techniques are here to help.

Participating in problem-solving tasks trains the mind to handle stressful situations better.

It’s impossible to avoid risk, and this is why it’s essential to be confident that your team knows how to handle risk and turn it into opportunity.

Better thinking

Team problem-solving techniques stimulate better thinking by pushing people to find progressive alternatives.

Better thinking also develops analytical skills, which help people find logical explanations for problems and identify practical solutions.

Better communication skills

As mentioned earlier, problem-solving activities are group tasks that can only be performed if participants work together.

Humans are competitive by nature which can be problematic when trying to create a cohesive team. Problem-solving skills nurture understanding and collaboration within a company.

By solving problems together, employees learn how to better communicate and listen to others.

Having transparent and effective communication improves engagement and productivity and leads to better relationships .

Increased team cohesion

If your team already has good communication skills , this will likely lead to increased team cohesion .

Regardless of your business’s profile or size, success comes from having a united team.

Team cohesion reduces anxiety, brings motivation, and increases employee satisfaction.

Being on a cohesive team means that employees work together for the same goal, and everyone contributes to the group’s overall success.

People are social creatures, so it’s imperative that everybody feels heard, understood, and included.

Efficiency / increased productivity

Exercising problem-solving activities can boost performance and workplace productivity, leading to overall growth and profits.

Having solid problem-solving skills equips employees with the ability to find efficient solutions promptly.

By reducing the time spent solving specific problems, companies benefit from improved workplace productivity , leading to better profit margins.

Problem-solving activities foster creativity and encourage team members to express their ideas.

Creative thinkers know how to find the balance between analytical skills and innovative solutions, thus providing new perspectives.

No matter how well-established company processes are, there are always situations that require alternative ways of thinking.

Creative thinking skills boost people’s confidence in putting forth unique ideas.

List of the Top 22 Virtual Problem-Solving Activities

Virtual problem-solving activities for teams are meant to challenge participants to think outside the box and find solutions to problems while also having fun. Remember that these exercises should be playful and enjoyable.

Here is a list of virtual problem-solving activities that teams of any size can play:

• Dumbest Idea First
• Brainstorm Ideas
• End in Mind
• Stop, Start, Continue
• Idea Mock-Ups
• Be a Character
• Crossword Puzzles
• Online Escape Rooms
• Murder Mysteries
• Virtual Hackathons
• Treasure Hunts
• Moral Challenge
• Improv Games
• Poem/Story Challenge
• What Would You Do?
• Lost at Sea
• Coworker Feud
• Virtual Code Break
• War of the Wizards
• Ultimate Game Show

Online problem-solving activities can be played through video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Webex, etc.

Let’s take a closer look:

1. Dumbest Idea First

Dumbest Idea First, as the name suggests, is a problem-solving exercise in which participants are asked to think of the dumbest possible solutions to the problem presented.

After all ideas have been presented, look through the list.

You might be surprised to find that some ideas are not as dumb as first thought!

Helps with : creative problem-solving .

2. Brainstorm Ideas

One of the most common problem-solving activities is brainstorming ideas with your team.

Brainstorming ideas’ objective is to generate as many ideas as possible.

After the list is complete, team members review them and decide which is most suitable for the given scenario.

There are a lot of methods to aid the brainstorming process.

You can play word games, create a mood board, play improv games, or even doodle.

Helps with : lateral thinking.

3. End in Mind

The End in Mind technique is an excellent activity for solving group problems that require participants to start with the end.

In this exercise, you have to backtrack, finding solutions for the issue.

It challenges team members to think of the “what,” “why,” and “how” of a problem, thus coming up with alternative approaches.

Helps with : analytical thinking.

4. Stop, Start, Continue

“Stop, Start, Continue” is a technique used for delivering or requesting feedback.

This problem-solving activity consists of a list of three categories that each member has to think about:

• Stop: three things that the team should stop doing
• Start: three things that the team should start doing
• Continue: three things that the team should continue doing

This exercise aims to solve problems in new ways while also having fun.

Helps with : team cohesion, critical thinking.

5. Idea Mock-Ups

Idea mock-ups are processes in which solutions to problems are found via mock-ups.

It’s a virtual solving problem activity as you can use images from the internet that can be easily shared with the team members.

This exercise aims to have players try out a bunch of different scenarios until the perfect match for the problem is found.

6. Be a Character

Have you ever dreamed of being a character from a movie or a book? Then this is the perfect exercise for you.

By playing this group game, participants impersonate a character and approach problems through that person’s mindset.

Helps with : creativity , thinking outside the box.

7. Idea Trial

The Idea Trial is another fun virtual problem-solving activity that encourages participants to find solutions for a particular problem.

Players need to present their ideas to the “court.”

They can go through the entire process, such as opening and closing statements, and call witnesses to support their ideas.

Helps with : risk management, communication skills.

8. Crossword Puzzles

Everybody has heard of crossword puzzles, but not everyone has thought of transforming them into a virtual problem-solving activity.

All you have to do is use an online crossword puzzle to create a custom puzzle for your team.

To make it more exciting and engaging for your team, you should consider your company’s niche and your teammates’ interests.

Helps with : critical thinking.

9. Online Escape Rooms

Like in-person escape rooms, their online counterpart requires participants to escape rooms and work together to solve puzzles virtually.

Digital escape rooms provide two alternatives for players: either a Zoom room led by a host or from a specialised website.

These are significant virtual problem-solving activities that are both fun and challenging.

Helps with : cooperation, communication.

10. Murder Mysteries

Murder mysteries are story-based problem-solving activities that require participants to take on the roles of suspects and detectives.

The aim of the game is to identify the killer by searching for clues and occasionally solving small puzzles.

These group exercises are complex because they require players to be observant and search for hidden clues using logic.

Luckily for you, there are many options for playing murder mystery games online .

Helps with : observation, logical thinking.

11. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where a group of people pitch a product or service in a given period.

Even though it originated in the programming world, hackathons can be easily applied to any industry.

Virtual hackathons refer to the online version of these events, where participants work together via online meeting software to design solutions.

These are great virtual team problem-solving activities because they don’t require much organisational work.

You just have to announce the event’s theme, explain the problem when the hackathon begins, and set a timeline.

Helps with : efficiency, cooperation.

12. Treasure Hunts

Like escape rooms or murder mysteries, treasure hunts are group games that require players to find hidden objects by following a trail of clues.

Treasure hunts are fun problem-solving activities that teach participants how to collaborate and communicate with each other.

They can have specific themes or be a more general hunt.

Helps with : communication, cooperation.

13. Moral Challenge

While most group problem-solving activities focus more on finding alternative problem resolutions, moral challenges lean more towards ethics.

These group techniques are just as important as the others as not all problems are factual; some are ethical.

Moral challenge exercises are better played in a group because each participant can represent a different opinion or moral belief.

The moral issue becomes harder to resolve and implicitly forces team members to find common ground.

Moral challenges are equally important in decision-making processes as rational thinking.

Some of the most well-known moral challenges online are the Moral Machine or the Dilemma .

Helps with : communication skills.

14. Improv Games

Improv games have their roots in acting and comedy and are group activities designed around participants’ acting without a script, or improvising.

These problem-solving activities force players to keep the story going in an entertaining and logical way.

This kind of group exercise helps build collaborative skills while boosting team members’ confidence.

Helps with : collaboration, imagination.

15. Poem/Story Challenge

If most of the problem-solving activities mentioned are based on logical thinking, the poem/story challenge revolves around writing skills.

While not all businesses rely on this, it’s still an excellent exercise for groups, as it stimulates the imagination and improves public speaking.

All you have to do is ask participants to create a story or a poem using a limited word bank.

After they have crafted their stories, they read them aloud in front of the group.

Helps with : creativity, public speaking.

16. What Would You Do?

“What Would You Do?” is a hypothetical problem-solving activity that challenges your team to brainstorm ideas and react to different scenarios.

To play this game with your team members, prepare some problem-solving stories in advance, then read them one by one.

Participants have to say what they would do in these circumstances.

Helps with : lateral thinking, imagination.

17. Lost at Sea

Lost at Sea, also known as Stranded at Sea, is a team-building activity that encourages interaction and teamwork.

Give participants a scenario where they’re stranded on an island with just a handful of objects.

To increase their chances of survival, they need to rate the objects based on their utility.

Players should work individually first and then together to decide which objects are most important.

If multiple groups play this game, the moderator can ask each group to compare their individual and collective rankings.

They should also consider why any scores differ.

At the end of the game, players reflect and feedback on their choices.

Helps with : decision making, collaboration, critical thinking.

18. The Hunt

Its purpose is to challenge players to collaborate under pressure as they compete for glory.

This is a virtual problem-solving activity suitable for a business of any size.

It works best played in small teams of four or five, so players have the opportunity to interact with one another.

Helps with : team decision making, lateral thinking, creativity.

19. Coworker Feud

This game is a new take on the classic game show Family Feud, and it consists of multiple rapid rounds.

The players are asked to provide fast answers to a fun assortment of questions the host presents.

The aim is to guess the five most popular answers to win points for the round.

The team with the most points is declared the winner of the game.

Helps with : fast-thinking, communication.

20. Virtual Code Break

Virtual Code Break is a virtual team-building activity specially designed for remote players.

Its purpose is to challenge players to think outside the box, improve problem-solving skills, and leverage their own and each other’s skills.

This game uses an intelligent video conferencing solution so that teams of all sizes can play from anywhere globally.

Players compete against each other by answering trivia questions and solving riddles and puzzles.

Helps with : better thinking, collaboration.

21. War of the Wizards

War of the Wizards is a 90-minutes virtual team-building activity that promises to be both fun and creative.

To play this game, participants roleplay as powerful wizards to conquer evil forces through the power of storytelling.

They have to play mini-games and competitions, develop their characters, and make decisions together to win.

Helps with : teamwork, imagination.

22. Ultimate Game Show

In this 90-minute virtual event, players bond together as a team while playing different quizzes to win the final prize.

This competition works for hybrid teams, as well as for fully remote teams.

Helps with : collaboration, fast-thinking.

Plenty of organisations face daily challenges that affect team productivity and get in the way of attaining business goals.

While it’s impossible to avoid those situations, there are many ways to train team members to work collaboratively to resolve problems effectively.

Problem-solving activities act as educational tools that bring all participants closer as a team and help them develop problem-solving skills. By nurturing solution-generating capabilities, your team learns to communicate better, act fast in risky situations, and find creative solutions.

The virtual problem-solving activities listed in this article are excellent practices for real-life conflict resolution that can benefit everyone within an organisation.

Stefan is a Co-Founder and a President of Brosix. His many years experience as a programmer, give him an unique perspective to lead the team and build Brosix in a way to best serve the customers.

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Home » Games » 17 Fun Problem Solving Activities & Games [for Kids, Adults and Teens]

17 Fun Problem Solving Activities & Games [for Kids, Adults and Teens]

Everyone should learn problem solving, as it is important in both our personal and professional lives. Problems occur all around us and many people react with spontaneous emotion. Instead, effective use of problem solving skills can lead to rational thinking, a component of any successful endeavor.

Creative problem involves using one or more of the basic steps of problem solving in exercises designed to challenge the thinking. Problem solving activities work for every age group. In this article, we will present problem-solving activities for adults and kids. We will also provide you with group and team building problem solving ideas.

Table of Contents

There are four basic steps in problem solving:

• define the problem
• generate possible solutions
• evaluate and select possible solutions
• implement solutions

Problem solving activities use one of more of these steps.

Group Problem Solving Activities

Group activities provide an effective way to learn problem-solving skills. The following list of activities present problem solving skills in the form of games, a non-threatening and fun way.

Divide your group into teams of equal numbers. Give each team a ball of yarn. Instruct the teams to create a web using only the yarn. Once the teams have finished (you may have to set an amount of time for completion), switch the teams around so that every team has a web other than their own. Each team then blindfolds one team member. The goal is for the blindfolded individual to unwind the web following the verbal instruction of their teammates. In order to be successful, team members must concentrate, and give/follow directions. The first team that has dismantled the web wins this game.

To Do Scavenger Hunt

This scavenger hunt game involves solving a list of problem activities. Begin by dividing your group into teams. Give each group a list of to do activities. The list should begin with some simple tasks, with increasingly more difficult activities. Some suggested activities are:

• Write a one hundred word poem on a given theme.
• Find an object readily available in the area in which you are playing
• Drink a whole can or glass of a liquid
• Solve a Sudoku or cross word puzzle
• Write out all the lyrics of a song (a Christmas carol works well at holiday time)

The team that completes all the activities first, wins.

Impromptu Skits

Prior to playing this game, write down a few appropriate situations that deal events in the venue in which you are playing. For example, for a group involved in customer service, use dealing with an angry customer on the phone. If you have a large group, divide them into teams of six to eight members. Have each group choose a folded piece of paper on which you have written the subject of a skit they must create.  Give a set amount of time to prepare the skit and then have each team present their skit to the group. If you have a small group, have each person create one side of a conversation dealing with the problem for presentation to everyone.

Block Duplicating

Build a model out of building blocks. Provide each group member (or divide into teams for a large group ) enough blocks to duplicate the model. Set a specific amount of time for completing the duplicated model. The team that is the first to finish – or gets the furthest on completing their model – wins. The more difficult the original model, the longer this task will take.

Team Building Problem Solving Activities

When choosing team building problem solving activities, make sure the game you use suits the group of people – their ages and interests. The activities we have listed will help with not only problem solving, but also build decision making, collaboration, and listening skills.

Tower Building

Although there are many variations to this game, this one using spaghetti and marsh mellows is our favorite. Divide you group into teams with an equal number of players. Provide each team with an equal amount of spaghetti and marsh mellows. The goal is to see which team can build the highest tower within a set amount of time.

Personalized Crossword

For this game to be effective, you need one or more teams of 8 to 10 people. Have each team list the first and last names of their group members. The goal is to create a crossword puzzle with clues composed of hints about the person, for example, if only one team member has red hair, the two clues for her first and last name could be, “Red hair,” and “Ginger.” It should take each team 20 to 30 minutes to complete their puzzle. When all the teams are finished, trade puzzles so that every team has a different one. Make sure you provide a list of names for the puzzle solvers.

Picture Pieces Puzzle Game

Prepare for this problem solving activity by choosing a well-known picture or cartoon full of detail. Cut the picture into equal sized squares and give one to each member of the group. You will need as many pieces as you have participants. Additionally, give each person a pencil, ruler for help enlarging the picture, colored markers, and a clean sheet of paper. Instruct them to make the puzzle piece five times larger.

Problem Solving Activities for Adults

Divide your group into two teams. Line up the two teams front to back. Have the two groups face each other. Using chalk, spray paint, or masking tape (depending on the play surface) mark a square space for each person to stand on with one extra empty space between the two facing rows. You may also use a piece of paper for each person. The goal is for the two facing lines of players to change places.

Place these restrictions on movement:

• Only one person may move at a time.
• A person may not move around anyone facing the same direction.
• A person may not move backward.
• A person may not move around more than one person on the other team at a time.

Playing Card Mix-up

Divide your group into teams of six to eight participants. Give each team two decks of cards randomly mixed together. Tell the group they must sort them out without talking. As they working at the task, after a few minutes, change the way in which they are doing so using one of the following:

• If a team is sorting by suits from ace to king (4 stacks), tell them to collect the suits together by number (13 stacks).
• If a team begins by collecting the suits together, i.e. all the ones, twos, threes, etc., tell them to sort the suits from ace to king.

The team(s) that do so successfully by the end of a given time (depending on the size of your group) share what methods they used to accomplish the task.

Blindfolded games are always fun and provide the perfect challenge for adult problem solving. We have provided two for you.

Blind Formations

Have your group of adults put on blindfolds and form a large circle. Tie the ends of a rope together and lay in it a circle in the middle of the group, close enough that each person can reach down and pick up the rope. Tell them they must create a shape – a square, triangle, pentagon, etc. If you have a very large group, divide them into teams and provide a rope for each team. Let them compete to see who forms a particular shape quickest.

Line up Blind

Blindfold everyone and number the group by whispering a number to each individual beginning at one. Tell them to line up in numerical order without talking. Variations are many, with some of the favorites not requiring the whispering step being to line up according to height, birthday, surname, color of hair, etc.

Balloon Tower

Divide you group into teams of three and provide ten balloons and four 3-foot long strips of masking tape for each team. The object of this problem solving activity is to build the tallest freestanding tower in ten minutes. They can break the balloons if they wish. However, they may not use any additional materials and the tower must be built on a table or the floor. If you wish, you may add the following instructions:

• No talking.
• Each team member may use only one hand.
• One team member may not touch the materials and only give directions.

You can use one or more of these limitations in 60-second intervals. The first team to complete their tower wins this challenge.

Problem Solving Activities for Kids

The purpose of problem solving activities for kids is to get kids to think about a problem in a different way and have fun while solving it. Children will develop their creativity as they seek to implement a solution.

Walking the Plank

For this problem solving activity for older kids or teens, you will need four 2×6 boards. Divide your group into two teams with an equal number of children on each team. Place two of the four boards end to end on the ground or floor. Set the other two parallel to the first two about two or three feet apart. The goal is for each team to pass one board forward while standing on the other board in single file. If someone steps off a board, the team must start over. The team that succeeds in passing the boards a set number of times, or reaches a predetermined spot is the winner.

“Laser” Web

Use a large ball of string to create a giant web from one end of a room to the other. The goal is for individuals or teams to move through the web without touching the string. If they do so, they have been “zapped by a laser” and must try again. For greater suspense and for older players, use blindfolds or turn off the lights, allowing players to touch the string, but not pull it down or out of its original shape.

Group Drawing

Divide your group of kids into teams of three. Each person on the team has a one of the following roles:

• Drawer . The drawer attempts to recreate a pre-drawn design they cannot see. They take directions from the talker. They stand with their back to the talker and viewer and may not talk.
• Talker . The talker describes the design to the drawer, without seeing the design. They may question the viewer. They may not use hand gestures.
• Viewer . The viewer sees the design. However, they are not allowed to talk and must communicate nonverbally to the talker.  Additionally, they must not draw the design in the air or actually show the design with their gestures.

The activity ends when the viewers say they are satisfied with the drawings. You may wish to award a prize to the best drawing.

Prior to playing this game, write on individual slips of paper the names of animal pairs, one name on each slip. Distribute the slips of paper to each group, instructing them not to share which animal name they received. The kids then move around performing activities their animal might do. The goal is for the kids to get into pairs successfully in a set amount of time without talking or making any noises. Suggest the following activities:

• Cleaning or grooming
• Eating and drinking
• Walking or running

Alphabet Game

Have your players sit or stand in a circle. The goal is to shout out words in alphabetical order. Give the kids one of the following categories (or choose your own):

If a player takes longer than five seconds to think of a word, they are out. The last player remaining wins the game.

People achieve more when they solve problems and make decisions together. Our problem solving activities teach participants how to work out a solution, a talent useful in many different environments. Problem solving:

• Improves team work
• Helps participants address complex situations
• Utilizes different thinking styles
• Increases creativity
• Collectively leads to decision making
• Teaches both negotiation and cooperation

After completing a problem solving activity, encourage participants to discuss what process(es) they used in the exercise. Even kids are able to participate in such discussions. Also ask what was learned and if they have any opinions about how they could have solved the problem more efficiently.

Team-building exercises can improve problem solving and decision making in a new or established team. They work with every age group and in many different environments. Use our exercises to help solve problems and have some fun doing so.

Susan majored in English with a double minor in Humanities and Business at Arizona State University and earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Liberty University. She taught grades four through twelve in both public and private schools. Subjects included English, U.S. and world history and geography, math, earth and physical science, Bible, information technologies, and creative writing.

Susan has been freelance writing for over ten years, during which time she has written and edited books, newspaper articles, biographies, book reviews, guidelines, neighborhood descriptions for realtors, Power Point presentations, resumes, and numerous other projects.

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Thanks for your help!!

excellent ideas – thanks !

Excellent ideas.

Thank you. My students have requested we do team-building activities; I thought we would start with problem-solving.

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11 Most effective decision-making games for work

A thriving business empowers employees to make smart decisions since these directly impact daily operations. What can leaders do to help their teams make better decisions?

One thing that smart managers and leaders do is facilitate effective decision making techniques , and you can do this with fun decision making games in the workplace. Such games encourage critical thinking and problem solving while instilling a culture of accountability. They’re the perfect addition to your next team-building retreat or company meeting. Let’s take a look at some of the most entertaining decision making games out there. 

11 Decision making games for your workplace

1. phone booth.

This game is great for small teams of 4-6 people, so if you have larger groups you’ll want to break them up. You also need to create separate “phone booths” for each team, where they won’t be in direct contact with each other. You can do this with various partitions or cardboard pieces. Ideally, the booths should fit everyone, and they won’t hear or be able to chat with the other groups. Set a timer for about 20 minutes, and give the teams a problem to solve. For example, you might want to say “Find some new ways to increase customer satisfaction.” Each team will spend some time on this problem (remember, while not speaking to other teams). At the end of the designated time, have the teams come together and discuss their strategies. Then hold a discussion for everyone where you talk about what worked well and what didn’t. How did everyone work together? Did the best ideas float to the top? Did a natural leader emerge in discussions? If you want to enhance the team-building aspect of this game, you can have the teams work together to build their phone booth before getting started. 

2. Shout Out

In this game, members collaborate and contribute by shouting out some ideas. You’ll need some sort of white board or flip chart, and plan for 3 - 10 people in a group. First come up with a problem that you want to discuss. For example, “How can we reduce waste in our production process?” or “How can we bring that new product to market one week faster?” Give each person the opportunity to yell out an idea so that the whole group can hear. Once everyone has had a chance to speak, ask the group to come to a consensus on the best option, and then hold a discussion about it. Why is it the best idea? What makes it workable, etc? Also, did everyone feel listened to? How did the results from this process differ from just speaking to each other? This gives your employees a chance to learn more about problem solving processes and cooperation, in addition to potential solutions to real business issues. For more communication games and activities, visit our blog .

3. Desert Survival

The ability to make quick decisions (that are actually good) is highly coveted in most businesses. You want people around you who can quickly understand a situation and make choices, all while cooperating with others. This activity is a good first step toward honing those skills. To start, you’ll need to make a list of items necessary for survival. In your list, include anything you think you would want if stranded on a desert island - no item is too small or unimportant, just brainstorm everything a person might need. Then, divide larger groups into teams of 10 or less. Hand out the list and tell them they need to narrow down the list to only 5 items. They must come to a consensus on these items. Set a timer for just 5 minutes so they feel some pressure. At the end of the exercise, you can hold a discussion about how each group reached their consensus. This is also a great opportunity for management to observe the natural leaders in each group, which can be really helpful knowledge for delegation down the road. 

4. Trading post

Understanding pricing and its effects on supply and demand is a natural skill in the business world. This game can help your employees to focus on this area in new ways. You can do this game for any length of time, so it’s perfect for fitting into most agendas. Start with two groups, a pile of fake money, and some simple items to trade like paper clips or pencils. Each group should have their own money and supply of items. The groups will need to decide what things cost and come up with trade terms. Then, they should get busy buying, selling, and trading. At the end of the exercise, bring everyone together and see who came out ahead. Why did one group do better than the other? What did everyone learn? Supply and demand are pretty simple economic concepts that most people know, but this is a fun reminder and refresher. 

5. Resource scramble

In this game, teams will have the opportunity to practice some critical thinking and problem solving skills (as well as collaboration). Put people into groups of no more than 8, and give everyone a basket of simple supplies. For example, markers, paper clips, glue, and clay - things you have around the office are fine. Provide each team with a problem and have them use their set of resources to solve it. Obviously this game works better if the resources could actually be applied to the problem, so you might want to suggest something like “Design a new logo” or “build a prototype of a new seasonal product”. Ideally, the group will come up with a few solutions and decide on their favorite, but they may only produce one if everyone is in agreement and timing is tight. 

6. Ranking race

Thinking critically - and quickly - is a highly coveted skill in the professional world. This game calls for creating a ranking system, which is a natural way of thinking through information and categorizing it. It’s a really versatile exercise since no materials and very little prep time are required. Start by getting people into groups of no more than 10. Then, set a timer and give each group a list of items to rank, such as the best local restaurants or top movies of the year. Task each group with coming up with their own ranking system. When the timer goes off, everyone should present their final rankings. They can describe to the group how they came up with their ranking system and why the items are weighted the way that they are. Have teams make notes if they find a certain ranking system particularly helpful - maybe that’s a matrix that more people can use in the workplace going forward. For more team-building games with no materials , quick office games , or indoor team-building activities, make sure to follow our blog . 

7. Traffic light project management

Anyone who has managed a project before - or even worked as part of one - understands the importance of deadlines and status check-ins. This activity helps to drive those points home and give everyone practice on sorting through tasks and understanding progress. Teams can have any number of people, but it is a good idea to break large groups into smaller, more workable ones. Come up with a certain goal that you want them to meet. For example, hitting a certain sales quota within a quarter, or finding a less expensive office space to lease. The team should start by documenting all of the tasks that need to be done in order to meet the goal. When all of their tasks are written down, they should go through them and assign them a red, yellow, or green traffic light. The light colors represent things that are not done (and need to be done), the yellow represents items that are already in progress but not finished, and green means that task is already completed. Then they should use this light system to prioritize tasks. This provides a powerful visual when managing projects and can be applied to most initiatives that have multiple phases or tactics. 

8. Six thinking hats

If you want your team to focus on coming up with more creative solutions, this activity can help. You’ll need to organize people into groups of no more than 10, and have several different color paper hats. Each hat represents a different perspective. Here are some sample colors and what they correlate to: 

• White: Facts and information
• Red: Emotions and feelings
• Black: Critical analysis
• Yellow: Benefits and positives
• Green: Creativity and alternatives
• Blue: Big picture thinking

Give each group a problem to solve and tell them to approach the issue from their unique “hat” perspective. Using these different philosophies, the group should come up with a solution that works for everyone and takes all of these positions into account. You can have a debrief where everyone discusses the process and what they found most challenging. If you have time, you can always add a second or even third round where people switch their hats and approach a new issue from a different perspective. This is also a great exercise for managers to observe closely. It’s a great way of seeing how people think and where their strengths lie. 

9. SWOT analysis

This is more of an activity than a game, but still a really helpful one in most corporate environments. You’ll need space for taking notes, like a whiteboard or note pads. You can have any number of people on a team, so just divide groups according to what works for your event. Give each group a problem or project to analyze. They should complete a proper SWOT analysis, which consists of documenting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Each team can present their analysis following their work. This is a great way to brush up on some broad business and analysis skills that can be used in any workplace. 

10. Dot voting

Does your team tend to go off on tangents and get into circular discussions when talking about projects or issues? Meetings that devolve into unrelated conversations are a big challenge in many workplaces. You can practice these skills with this exercise, dot voting. To do it, all you need to do is present the issue and then have everyone suggest ideas for a solution. Write them down on the white board so everyone can see. Then, hand out sticky notes and have everyone place their papers under the ideas they like best. You might let them choose only one, or up to 3. Once everyone has had their turn, you will have an obvious visual that shows which of the ideas was most popular. This is a great tactic that can be used in many different meetings, discussion, and brainstorming sessions. 

11. Effort and impact scale

This is another exercise that can be applied in so many ways in most workplaces. It provides a strong visual of the effort required and the potential impact of various solutions. You’ll start by drawing a matrix on a white board that everyone can see clearly. Create four quadrants by drawing lines from the mid-point of each scale. Have everyone write their ideas or solutions on a sticky note. They should have a single sticky note for each entry. Next, collect the sticky notes and read them out loud to the group, one by one. Then hold the sticky note over the quadrant you made, and ask the larger group “Is the effort required to implement this idea higher or lower?” Depending what the group says, move the paper along the scale. Then, ask them if the potential impact could be higher or lower. Repeat this process until all of the sticky notes are placed somewhere on the matrix. At this point, you’ll have a visual of which ideas can make the most impact, with the lowest effort - and those are your winners. You can also take things a step further and prioritize the ideas, too. 

Include decision making games in your next team retreat

Work retreats and team-building events are the perfect opportunities to bring out some decision making games. Many of these ideas require very little preparation and don’t need a lot of people, so they are perfect for filling that empty 30-minute slot in your agenda. Or, you can put more thought into this portion of your event and broaden the time allotted for these activities. Either way, decision making games are perfect for improving collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking on your team.

If you’re not sure where to start in putting together a powerful agenda for your next team-building retreat , let us help. 

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Watching game shows like 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune' can boost cognitive health, say experts

Ken Jennings is shown hosting "Jeopardy!" He took over in Dec. 2023 as permanent main host. He holds the record for the longest winning streak on "Jeopardy!" with 74 consecutive wins. (Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images)

After summer reruns, game shows will be airing fresh episodes of your favorites this month. 

Whether it’s watching participants "come on down" on "The Price Is Right," solving word puzzles on "Wheel of Fortune" with new show host Ryan Seacrest, or proving your trivia smarts against friends and family on "Jeopardy!" — the benefits you’re reaping can go beyond entertainment. 

Game shows can boost your problem-solving skills , improve memory and strengthen your mind, according to experts.  

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Here’s more about why watching game shows is truly more than just fun and games .

How do game shows boost mind health?

You may not realize it, but when you interact with the game shows you’re watching, your mind is actually processing information and working. 

"Game shows have a number of cognitively stimulating features that could provide cognitive benefits," said Glen R. Finney, M.D., FAAN, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.

He is also director of the Memory and Cognition Program with Geisinger Health in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 

7 HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT COULD HELP REDUCE RISK OF DEPRESSION, SAYS STUDY: ‘ENORMOUS BENEFITS’

He noted that game shows often require contestants and those playing along at home to pay close attention, to quickly process information provided for the game, and to either problem-solve or recall knowledge, or both, to answer the game show task. 

"This engages numerous networks in the brain in an engaging and enjoyable way, which also enhances learning," added Finney.  

"We know that engaging in regular cognitive activities like this that challenge you can boost mental acuity."

Can game shows boost memory acuity? 

Watching game shows may help access previous information you’ve previously learned, in the case of shows like "Jeopardy!" 

" As we age , we actually tend to hold onto the long-term semantic memory or memory for general knowledge that we previously learned," said Ashley Curtis, PhD, assistant professor and director of the Cognition, Aging, Sleep and Health Lab at the College of Nursing at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. 

"What we start to lose as we age is the ability to access this information quickly," she said.

"What game shows like ‘Jeopardy!’ can do is to train and improve the ability to access this stored memory information more quickly, which could prove beneficial in everyday life, particularly for older adults."

How can game shows help overall mood?

There’s also some evidence showing that playing along with these types of game shows can improve cognitive and social engagement, which is known to be associated with better overall mental health , said Curtis.

You can watch with friends and family , or can connect via a webchat while playing. 

And, if you live in a place where others reside, such as a residential facility for older adults, shared interactions can also prove beneficial to your cognitive health. 

"Yes, the virtual and potentially in-person shared social interactions and engagement that occur while playing along with these types of game shows have been associated with better psychological well-being ," Curtis told Fox News Digital. 

What about intergenerational benefits? 

If you’re a grandparent who plays game shows with your grandchildren, or a family who watches game shows together, Curtis noted that "there is some emerging evidence showing that intergenerational engagement, which could potentially be achieved through shared TV game play, may lead to several important benefits for both older and younger individuals."

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This includes, said Curtis, "reductions in anxiety and general loneliness, increased self-esteem and even increased physical activity levels ."

Although she noted there’s limited research regarding the cognitive benefits of these intergenerational interactions, she said that "some emerging evidence suggests this activity can also provide some improvement to more complex cognitive functions."

"More rigorous research needs to be conducted in this area to conclusively determine the range of these benefits," she said. 

What can you do to augment your game-show interest? 

If you see a topic on "Jeopardy!" that interests you — such as American literature — or are intrigued by a trip to Italy in the "Showcase Showdown" on "The Price Is Right," consider diving deeper into that subject or destination. 

Find a classic book to read, research Italian recipes — or learn about the culture in new places.

"Research shows that active, rather than passive, mental activity is most beneficial for our overall health," Curtis told Fox News Digital. 

"So, keeping both your brain and body active is beneficial to our mental and physical health as we age."  

And, if traveling to new places you see on TV game shows is within your budget, plan that, too.

"Although the research in this area is still inconclusive, there is some emerging evidence suggesting that in older adults (aged 65 and up), increased levels of leisure travel can promote better cognitive functioning and decrease the risk of developing dementia as well as depression," she also said.

Read more from FOX News Digital

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Watching game shows like ‘jeopardy’ and ‘wheel of fortune’ can boost cognitive health, say experts.

After summer reruns, game shows will be airing fresh episodes of your favorites this month. 

Whether it’s watching participants “come on down” on “The Price Is Right,” solving word puzzles on “Wheel of Fortune” with new show host Ryan Seacrest, or proving your trivia smarts against friends and family on “Jeopardy!” — the benefits you’re reaping can go beyond entertainment. 

Game shows can boost your problem-solving skills, improve memory and strengthen your mind, according to experts.  

Here’s more about why watching game shows is truly more than just fun and games.

How do game shows boost mind health?

You may not realize it, but when you interact with the game shows you’re watching, your mind is actually processing information and working. 

“Game shows have a number of cognitively stimulating features that could provide cognitive benefits,” said Glen R. Finney, M.D., FAAN, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.

He is also director of the Memory and Cognition Program with Geisinger Health in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 

He noted that game shows often require contestants and those playing along at home to pay close attention, to quickly process information provided for the game, and to either problem-solve or recall knowledge, or both, to answer the game show task. 

“This engages numerous networks in the brain in an engaging and enjoyable way, which also enhances learning,” added Finney.  

“We know that engaging in regular cognitive activities like this that challenge you can boost mental acuity.”

Can game shows boost memory acuity?

Watching game shows may help access previous information you’ve previously learned, in the case of shows like “Jeopardy!” 

“As we age, we actually tend to hold onto the long-term semantic memory or memory for general knowledge that we previously learned,” said Ashley Curtis, PhD, assistant professor and director of the Cognition, Aging, Sleep and Health Lab at the College of Nursing at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. 

“What we start to lose as we age is the ability to access this information quickly,” she said.

“What game shows like ‘Jeopardy!’ can do is to train and improve the ability to access this stored memory information more quickly, which could prove beneficial in everyday life, particularly for older adults.”

How can game shows help overall mood?

There’s also some evidence showing that playing along with these types of game shows can improve cognitive and social engagement, which is known to be associated with better overall mental health, said Curtis.

You can watch with friends and family, or can connect via a webchat while playing. 

And, if you live in a place where others reside, such as a residential facility for older adults, shared interactions can also prove beneficial to your cognitive health. 

“Yes, the virtual and potentially in-person shared social interactions and engagement that occur while playing along with these types of game shows have been associated with better psychological well-being,” Curtis told Fox News Digital.

What about intergenerational benefits?

If you’re a grandparent who plays game shows with your grandchildren, or a family who watches game shows together, Curtis noted that “there is some emerging evidence showing that intergenerational engagement, which could potentially be achieved through shared TV game play, may lead to several important benefits for both older and younger individuals.”

This includes, said Curtis, “reductions in anxiety and general loneliness, increased self-esteem and even increased physical activity levels.”

Although she noted there’s limited research regarding the cognitive benefits of these intergenerational interactions, she said that “some emerging evidence suggests this activity can also provide some improvement to more complex cognitive functions.”

“More rigorous research needs to be conducted in this area to conclusively determine the range of these benefits,” she said. 

What can you do to augment your game-show interest?

If you see a topic on “Jeopardy!” that interests you — such as American literature — or are intrigued by a trip to Italy in the “Showcase Showdown” on “The Price Is Right,” consider diving deeper into that subject or destination. 

Find a classic book to read, research Italian recipes — or learn about the culture in new places.

“Research shows that active, rather than passive, mental activity is most beneficial for our overall health,” Curtis told Fox News Digital. 

“So, keeping both your brain and body active is beneficial to our mental and physical health as we age.”  

And, if traveling to new places you see on TV game shows is within your budget, plan that, too.

“Although the research in this area is still inconclusive, there is some emerging evidence suggesting that in older adults (aged 65 and up), increased levels of leisure travel can promote better cognitive functioning and decrease the risk of developing dementia as well as depression,” she also said.

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We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

33 Problem-Solving Products You’ll Feel So Smart For Owning

It's giving Jimmy Neutron levels of genius.

BuzzFeed Staff

1. A set of two  ice pop holders  that deserve a standing ovation RIGHT NOW. Come on, everyone, give it up 👏 👏 👏 . The lil' cup will catch all the ice pop juice that'd normally be all over your kiddo's arms, and then they can drink up the drippings with the built-in straw. I'm not saying your little one  won't  find a way to still somehow get their ice pop all over their clothes *but* it'll be way less likely. 

Pop No Drop is a small biz!

Check out a TikTok of the ice pop holder in action.

Promising review: "This has two different slots to put an ice pop, to accommodate different size sticks. You can put the stick far enough down that it is held in place well, which is quite important with silly little kids using these, waving them around all over the place. It catches drips well, and my son loves being able to use the straw to drink any drops it's caught! Great product, will likely buy more!" — Tom

Get a set of two from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four color combinations).

2. A  "frywall"  you maaaay have seen on Shark Tank. This nifty lil' gadget will help contain all the grease that normally splatters everywhere on your counters *and* help you avoid being popped by oil. Thank you to the angel who created this cuz it definitely fell from heaven. 

Promising review: "This product does EXACTLY what it advertises. How rare is that?? I fried chicken using it, and when I was done, you could not even tell I had used the stove. It also protected my hands and forearms from random splatters that burn. As to cleaning, I just rinsed it and threw it in the dishwasher, and it came out just fine. This product is awesome." — Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for  $21.95  (available in four colors).

3. A  stylish travel belt  to securely fasten your bag to your rolling suitcase. It's adjustable, and it comes in tons of cute designs that'll make it hard to choose just one.

Cincha Travel is a small BIPOC-owned biz based in Oakland, California that specializes in adjustable vegan leather travel belts. The brand donates 100 airline miles for each purchase to help reunite migrant families.

Promising review: "Such a simple yet brilliant solution for the ever-falling bag when trying to juggle all your luggage. It definitely made traveling less stressful ." — Samantha

Get it from Cincha  (available in 21 styles) or Amazon  (available in 16 styles) for $39.99.

4. A  key alarm  so that losing your keys is NEVER the reason you're late and pissed off first thing in the morning again. If you're a bit forgetful and lose your keys, phone, wallet, or purse pretty much on a daily basis, this alarm should be in your cart. And get this: Reviewers even attach 'em to their pets! 

It is both iOS- and Android-compatible, is water-resistant, and can find your key out of Bluetooth range by showing you — through an app — your last Bluetooth tracked location. It can *also* be used to find your phone even when it's on silent by just double clicking the Tile! 

Promising review: "I love this product, I'm always losing my keys and these help a lot. One time, I lost my phone at Target after putting it down but after walking around the store and pressing my Tile I was able to hear my phone go off from 50 feet away. These are lifesaving for people who constantly are looking for their things." — Lanelle

Get it from Amazon for  $23.99  (available in two colors and in multipacks).

5. Or an  Apple AirTag  to keep your anxiety at bay while flying. I mean, who  doesn't  fear their bag being lost? People with AirTags, that's who! Attach it to your suitcase, wallet, pet, or whatever you're afraid to lose, and use the Find My app to always be able to see where it is. 

You can put the AirTag on Lost Mode and receive a notification when it's been detected by the Find My app. 

Promising review: "A must-have for travel! I had never used these on a trip over two million miles by plane. However, after a recent trip to Europe, I will never leave home without them again. They saved me when my bags were placed on a connecting flight. Upon arrival, when my bags never showed, I went to the airline's lost baggage center. They could not tell me where my bags were. I had to show them that they were sitting in Terminal E at the Atlanta airport. They are now part of every piece of luggage we own. " — Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $27.98 .

6. A hand-powered chopper  that'll take away the hard part of chopping up veggies — the cutting part, of course! Crank the little lever thingy up like a lawn mower and let it do the work because we loveeee not doing work!  

See it in action on TikTok  here . 

Promising review: "This chopper is amazing!! I love cooking, but I used to absolutely HATE chopping onions...until someone gave me this chopper! Now I simply have to quarter the onion, throw it in the chopper, pull the handle about 10–15 times, and they're ready to be used! No more teary eyes or spending a long time chopping onions. The cup is big enough to fit a whole onion...I think the capacity is three cups. There's tons of other uses to this as well...you can chop pretty much anything from herbs, veggies and fruits, to making salsa and guacamole." — Valjulia

Get it from Amazon for $21.43+ (available in three colors).

7. A reversible satin bonnet  to wear to bed so you can protect your luscious curls through the night. Wave goodbye to bedhead cuz this baby will help reduce friction and keep your hair soft and hydrated. Plus it's adjustable so no matter how big or small your head is (big head baddie over here 🙋🏽‍♀️) it'll fit! 

And btw, these are good for everyone, no matter what hair texture ya got!

Promising review: "I have a large head and curly hair. I’ve tried SO many bonnets! This is hands down my very favorite bonnet I’ve ever had!! I love it! It fits! It isn’t too tight or too loose! It stays on my head all night and does NOT give me a headache or hurt at all! I have chronic migraines, and this does not aggravate my head at all! I’m so glad I found this bonnet!" — jennifer hansel

Get it from Amazon for  $12.99  (available in 15 colors).

8. A  ChomChom pet hair remover roller  that'll pick up fur and lock it inside the roller for an easy peasy cleanup. And this reusable baby doesn't lose its effectiveness after use! If you gotta clean your couch every single day and you absolutely hate it, add this to your cart and thank me later. 

ChomChom Roller   is a Massachusetts-based small biz creating an eco-friendly, reusable alternative to sticky lint rollers. 

Promising review:  "I have a golden retriever, and the shedding is out of control. My fabric sofa is constantly covered in hair and I finally decided to try this after reading an article about popular TikTok products.  The reviews do not lie; this thing works magic!! I wish I had taken a before and after picture because the difference is noticeable.  I watched the video tutorial before I tried it to ensure I was using it properly and everything he says is true, you do really have to put your arm to work with vigorous back and forth movement! However, I find it's a great arm workout, and it works wonders." — Joanne Ertel

Get it from Amazon for  $24.99  (available in two colors).

9. A  Good Molecules eye gel  with a cult following cuz of how well it freakin' works. It'll help quickly minimize swelling and puffiness, so you won't look *nearly* as tired as you feel. You'll look awake even when you're hanging on by a thread and iced coffee. 

Good Molecules is a small biz that creates simple, effective skincare products using science-backed ingredients.

Promising reviews: "I love this product and have noticed a huge difference when using it consistently. I am on the younger side and don’t have the worst under-eye bags, but on those occasional mornings when my eyes are puffy with somewhat visible dark circles, this product definitely does the trick! Honestly love all the Good Molecules products." — Hayden Smith

"Saw this on TikTok and decided to give it a try since the price was amazing. OMG, buy it. I’ve always had dark circles under my eyes and now fine lines and crow's-feet. While this doesn’t completely eliminate my dark circles, the fine lines are really diminished . It wears extremely well under makeup and doesn’t feel cakey, or like there’s a ton of product on. " — K.Grant

Get it from Amazon for $5.99 . 

10. Plus, a  hydrating eye stick  that has a cutie little polar bear design and a ~cooling and calming~ effect. It'll fight dark circles and fine lines while *also* delivering moisture without oils. Sensitive skin friends, you'll love this as much as Kordell loves Cheez-Its. 

Promising review: "I HAD to write a review. I use this in the morning and night after my whole face routine and putting on moisturizer. I don't have dark bags. However, my under-eyes do get a bit puffy, and I was noticing fine lines.  DUDE, those fine lines are fading. Last night I went to a party and woke up looking like the crypt keeper, and this stuff normalized my creepy zombie eyes in about 20 minutes. It's $9. Do yourself a favor and buy it." — Jasmine Deatherage

Get it from Amazon for $9.90+  (available in three formulas and multi-packs).

11. And an  under-eye brightener  ~enriched~ with shea butter and hyaluronic acid to give your dark circles a more radiant look. The pinkish tint helps balance out the blueish tint under your eyes as if you said a spell to make your dark circles *poof* away.

The color adaptive formula is designed so one of two shades will work on any skin tone. 

Promising review: "Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it." — Placeholder

Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in two shades). 

12. A  digital luggage scale  because every time you go to the airport and weigh your luggage, it's a pound overweight, and you have to pay those ridiculous baggage fees, and it is so stressful every time. Your future self will thank you so much for this. Hook this bad boy to your luggage handle, lift it up, and the LCD display will let you know how many more outfits you can cram into your suitcase without going over the weight limit.

You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements. 

Promising reviews: "This scale works and was accurate on four flights.  The first flight was a test at 46 pounds, and Delta scales said it was 46 pounds. The next two flights were at 49 pounds, and both United and Delta found it to be 49 pounds. The bag on the fourth flight weighed 49 but the United scale found it to be 48 pounds. Four different airports and scales proved that this scale is a good, low-cost, must-have item for air travel ." — Robert

"Love it! Lightweight and easy to read!  It even gives you the climate temperature (not that I need it, but it's a neat feature). It reads in both kg and lbs . Definitely recommend if you're a frequent traveler and have weight requirements on luggage." — Patricia Velasquez

Get it from Amazon for $8.99  (available in four colors and as a pack of two). 

13. A game-changing dishwashing spray  that'll make kitchen cleanup much easier. Grease and caked-on food, be gone!

Check out a TikTok of the Dawn Powerwash Spray to see it in action! 

Here's what BuzzFeed Shopping editor  Elizabeth Lilly   has to say about this spray: "I live in an apartment without a dishwasher, and I honestly use that as an excuse to order takeout food instead of cooking. But, as soon as I got my hands on a bottle of this stuff (regular Dawn is my go-to dish soap, BTW), I put it to use on both a saucepan I used to make homemade enchilada sauce *and* the casserole dish I baked those enchiladas, which had a ton of caked-on food. It really does work like it says it does! Like, scary well." 

Get the starter pack from Amazon for $16.19  (includes one spray and three refill bottles; also available in other multipacks, refill packs, and single-packs, and three scents).

14. A set of three  itty-bitty dermaplaning razors  to remove any unwanted peach fuzz or facial hair. Still, be totally careful because you're using a blade on your face, but honey, these results! Dermaplaning can help your makeup look even more flawless and help your skincare products absorb a liiiiittle better.

This tool also helps soften skin by gently exfoliating as you use it!

Check out this  TikTok  with tips from a dermatologist. 

Promising reviews: "I LOVE this product. Recently, I had my face dermaplaned at my esthetician’s office (50 bucks!!), and I was shocked with the results. Of course, a few weeks later, peach fuzz was growing back, and so I researched how I could do it myself. I do it on dry skin, and I take my time finding the right angle. I go with the direction of the hair growth, and afterward, I have  hair-free, exfoliated, soft skin . I’ve never used anything before for my peach fuzz, so I can’t compare, but if the estheticians are using them, it must be effective, and my experience confirms that ." — Rose

"I saw these on TikTok and was skeptical, but they work so well. I use them for any facial peach fuzz and to shape my eyebrows, and they're perfect ." — Megan Kopiko

Get a set of three from Amazon for $5.99  (available in a nine-pack).

15. A bag of Firecracker-flavored  Liquid I.V. electrolyte drink mix  that'll help replenish your electrolytes so that you can quickly hydrate on those dreaded mornings when you're hungover from the night before's happy hour. It can also be used if you're simply dehydrated after workouts or sweaty activities and to help with muscle cramps. This stuff will help you rehydrate fast!  

The Firecracker flavors include cherry, lemon-lime, and raspberry!

I know it seems like this stuff would have fairy dust sprinkled in it, but it actually contains vitamins B3, B5, B6, B12, and vitamin C and claims to enhance rapid absorption of water and key ingredients into the bloodstream. Depending on your situation, water may be enough to rehydrate you! You can learn more about when and how to use electrolyte drinks  here.

Promising review: "Liquid I.V. does an amazing job hydrating. I purchase their product for 40+ employees who work in a construction-related industry. Hydration is so important while working in the hot Georgia sun, and this product aids in this 100%. Now, let’s talk about the firecracker flavor! When we brought these for our crew, ages 23–60, all of their eyes lit up, and they were super excited. Many of them did not know this flavor existed. Quite honestly, I didn’t either until I came across them on Amazon. They all loved the flavor. In particular, the ones who were older kept telling me it tasted like their childhood. Seriously, who hasn’t stood outside an ice cream truck ordering the Firecracker Popsicle?" — Disney Diva

Get a 16-pack from Amazon for $24.17  (available in a three-pack).

16. A pack of 36  Hero Cosmetics acne patches because a pimple is NOT ruining our day, babe! These patches use hydrocolloid material to help absorb all the gunk and tea tree oil and salicylic acid to speed up the pimple-healing process without picking or popping. Abracadabra, psh, what pimple? 

Promising reviews: "When I ordered this product, I admit, I didn't think it would work. I have adult acne and visit a dermatologist regularly. My chin area is especially bad. I used one the first night I received them. It's acne sorcery. I honestly could not believe it worked. Pimple was gone overnight, and a flat surface remained. I do not know how they get this pimple magic to work, but I am sold and have literally texted all the people in my life. It's complete magic! Do it, I promise you will be shocked!" — Heather L.

"Such a great product! I heard about it on TikTok and had to try it. I leave them on when I sleep, and the blemish is smaller and smoother when I take them off. Obsessed." — Renee K.

Get a 36-pack of the small patches from Amazon for $11.97 .

17. A packing checklist  so you never get on your vacation and realize that you forgot your deodorant. Or if you just have trouble making packing lists, this one has literally just about everything under the sun already listed for you, so you don't make a list and realize underwear was somehow not on that list.

Promising review: "We LOVE this! We travel frequently and have two children. As any parent knows, packing for yourself and your children can be overwhelming (especially for trips longer than a few days ). I have found this list to be a lifesaver, and I also give it as a gift for other traveling families. It is easy to plan, organize, and list out items that are easily forgotten. You can also list the quantity of each item needed. It has a variety of clothing options and space to add more. Overall, wonderful purchase and has likely saved me many forgotten items!" — I-really-bought-this

Get it from Amazon for $7  (available in three styles).

18. A  defining brush  that'll smooth your hair effortlessly, prevent frizz, and create well-defined clumps of curly perfection. If you thought your coils looked good before, just *wait* until this baby is done with 'em. 

Promising review: "At the start of 2024, I began my curly hair journey, fully switching to pro-curl products — diffusers, balms, creams, etc. My hair had a healthy but light waviness UNTIL I got this Define EdgeLift Brush by Bounce Curl. THIS BRUSH WORKS! I actually have spiral curls when I use this styling brush on my hair. This is not a drill. This is the real deal! I have gone from wild hair lady to strangers complimenting me wherever I go, which is just a nice added bonus to finally liking my hair at 40+ years old. =) Thanks, Bounce Curl!" — Hannah

Get it from Bounce Curl for  $26.99  (available in two colors).

19. An exfoliating mitt  to scrub-a-dub-dub that dead skin off. It'll seriously look like you shed a layer like a chameleon by the time this thing finishes removing any self-tanner, old skin, and whatever else could be caked on. Plus, your skin will be soooo smooth. Like, baby butt smooth.  

Dermasuri is a small biz that specializes in skincare and personal care products. 

To use, soften skin with warm water for five to ten minutes, and then scrub wet *without* the use of soap. 

Promising reviews:  "If you think you’ve ever actually exfoliated before, you haven’t. These make self-tanner come off SO easily,  and it’s literally GROSS how much skin came off of me. I’ve never felt my skin be this soft in my life.  Make sure you follow instructions and don’t use soap first! Absolutely a must-have for anyone who uses fake tans, or anyone who has dry skin!" — AJM

"Seriously thought this thing was a hoax and just another failed TikTok trend, but my jaw hit the floor when I used this because of how much dead skin and whatever the heck else came off my body!! My body feels so fresh and clean after using this product! So easy and so worth it!!" — Lauren

Get it from Amazon for  $14.99  (also available in a two-pack). 

20. A jewelry-cleaning stick so you can dazzle people with your jewelry. The second I'm proposed to, I'm gonna be overly annoying about showing it off and for it to SPARKLE?! *gasp* I'm gonna be unstoppable. Thanos probably used this stick to keep the Infinity Stones shiny.

Promising review:  "I absolutely love this product.  I saw it on TikTok and figured I would give it a try. My grandmother passed away almost eight years ago, and she left me her first engagement ring in her will.  I have tried so many jewelry cleaners, toothpaste, and toothbrushes; you name it, I tried everything except for sending it away to get cleaned. Today, I cleaned my ring with the Diamond Dazzle Stik.  My ring is just as shiny as it was when my grandfather bought it for my grandmother many, many years ago . I will definitely use this on all my jewelry. Highly recommended!" — Heather

Get it from Amazon for $9.48+  (available in two styles and in multipacks).

21. A jar of the TikTok-famous  Pink Stuff  that's totally worth ALL the hype. Your jaw will be on the floor once you see what this cleaner can do. This paste plays no games when it's time to get tidy.

Promising review: "I was heartbroken when I saw that my daughters had written on the dresser with Sharpie! I tried so many different chemicals and nothing worked! I found this on TikTok and said, 'Welp, let me try my luck and see if it really works!' And let me tell you,  I am still shocked at how amazing this product works!!!! Yayyyy, I'm so soo soo happy to see my dresser white again!!!! 😭😭😭 Thank youuuu!!!!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS IN THE HOUSE!!!! " — Gabriela Portillo Solorio

Get it from Amazon for $5.29  (available in three sizes).

22. A set of  Sea Bands , which target an acupressure point on your wrists to help eliminate nausea. Whether you're worried about getting seasick on your cruise or know your upcoming road trip is gonna have you ready to hurl, these babies are here to help. 

Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center .

Promising review: "These were awesome! My entire family suffers from motion sickness, especially carsickness. My little one gets sick in the car on a regular car ride through the city. So, I knew that a long road trip was going to be a disaster. I was amazed at how well these bands worked for everyone! Not one single person complained about being sick for 12 hours in the car. At one point I did have one child remove their bands because they said they were getting too tight. But after only a few minutes without them, a headache started to come on, so they immediately put them back on, and the relief was instant. I have suffered for decades, and now I know better. I will never travel without mine again! " — 1SmartCookie

Get a set of two from Amazon for $7.85+  (available in six colors and a two-pack).

23. A bottle of TikTok-famous  Elizavecca hair treatment  that contains ceramides and collagen to help give your hair shine and make it smooth in just five minutes, no spell required! Keeping you flawless even if you don't have much time or don't feel like doing your hair.

Promising reviews: "Not gonna lie, I was skeptical that this could help me. A few months ago, I decided I could bleach my hair. I burnt it to such a crisp that I’ve literally been wearing it up under a cap. That worked when it was winter, but now it’s warm, so I needed a solution. I saw this product highly recommended on other sites, and the reviews were good. So, I ordered a tube. I've used it twice now, and OH. MY. LANTA . For months, my hair has felt like crunchy noodles, ready to snap at a moment's notice. After one treatment (left in about 15 minutes after shampoo, before conditioner), my ends feel soft!! After the second time washing with it, it actually moves like  it’s not damaged, and it is visibly SO much healthier . Like seriously, idk how they bottled witchcraft, but I’m going to continue to use this product even when my hair grows out. An absolute magical miracle potion! I seriously prepared myself to explain to the world that it doesn’t work. But instead, I have the healthiest hair I’ve had since being a home hairdresser. 10/10 for less than $10. Picture from left to right (blonde above): my hair before using this, my hair after the first treatment, and my hair after the second treatment. — Beth

"Amazing — truly as good as TikTok said it is. I had to quarantine a few months ago, and I ended up experimenting (frying) my hair out of boredom. I used this mask one time, and the difference it made was ASTRONOMICAL (lol). Seriously, though, this stuff is good. Keep in mind it’s a mask you def need to rinse out!" — Kristy B.

Check out BuzzFeed's full  review of the Elizavecca hair treatment  for more deets!

Get it from Amazon for $7.40 .

24. A pack of six  Keurig cleaner pods you can simply put through a cycle on the machine to get rid of all the gross crud and built-up coffee grinds in there. The first cleaning might take a few extra pods, BUT use them weekly, and your Keurig will be easier to clean. You'd be surprised how much better your coffee takes after your Keurig is clean as new!

Promising review:  "I had no idea that cleaning a Keurig was a thing. I bought these because I saw them on TikTok, believe it or not. I wanted to give it a go because my Keurig isn’t that old, and I didn’t think it would do anything. IT WORKS SO WELL ! My Keurig wasn’t as nasty as some I’ve seen, luckily. I would highly recommend it. It  keeps everything running correctly and clean ." — Lauren

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.95  (also available in 12- and 18-packs).

25. A citrus-scented, foaming car upholstery cleaner  since you spilled coffee on your seat three times last week. Skip expensive car detailing prices and make those stains disappear like *magic*. 🪄 

Check out a  TikTok of the car upholstery cleaner  in action. 

Promising review: "So I had a spot on my dash that I wanted to clean and grabbed this stuff because I figured my car could use some TLC over the years. Well, I went to clean one small part and ended up almost detailing the entire inside of both front and back driver and passenger side doors. It worked so well, so fast, and smelled so good that I couldn't stop . My car looks brand-new!" — Michael

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $23.98  (available in a gallon size).

26. A painless, mint-flavored teeth-whitening pen  that may give you results after the first use since this is obvi sorcery. You'll be able to blind people with your smile with the help of this little magic pen that'll remove the stains on your teeth. Someone cue Chip Skylark cuz after seeing your smile, you'll be singing 🎶 my shiny teeth and meeee 🎶.

Promising reviews: "Hardly ever do I review, but this time, sheesh! This product blew me away after only three uses! First off, it's easy to use! I've tried a ton of products for teeth whitening, and all have been either inconvenient to use or make you wear a mouthguard, etc. This is a PEN/brush! Hold it like a writing pen and twist it up for the solution; the solution feeds through onto the brush (which is actually the size of a tooth), and you just brushstroke on dry teeth as you are smiling! It dries on, and you rinse off. Magical! I've seen a noticeable difference after only using this for three days!! My husband even said, 'WOW, your teeth look amazingly white.' I'm a smoker/tea drinker/coffee drinker, too ! I noticed the difference but never said a word to my husband about it.  He's a firm believer that nothing like this ever works...LOL. Well, boy, oh boy, this product changed his mind instantly ! He already swiped my other pen and has been using it, too. We see the difference and are very satisfied. What's even more awesome is the price!  Remarkable difference, and it lasts ! If I could give this 1,000 stars, this would have earned 1,001, know what I mean?!" — Lisa Edwards

"I bought this on a whim when I saw someone review it on TikTok. After using it several times over the course of a week, I immediately noticed the difference in the color of my teeth. I'm a smoker and a heavy coffee drinker. I'm finding that this product will be a lifesaver in terms of what my smile looks like. I would definitely recommend!!" — Mully

Get it from Amazon for $11.95  (available in multipacks).

27. A  two-pack of dip clips  to make dunking your nuggets and fries in the car *so* much easier. This  Shark Tank- approved little baby clips right onto your car vent and holds your sauce, so on those days when you gotta eat in your car, you don't have to worry about making a mess or struggling to dip your food in your fave sauce. Seriously, the best. 

Saucemoto  is a small biz founded in 2017.

OK, besties, so I have not stopped bragging about my little chicky nuggy dip clip since I got it Christmas 2021. This is by far one of my favorite things I've ever received. I LOVE chicken nuggets. I wanna be a chicken nugget, but I did not like trying to dunk my nuggets while in the car. This thing is so convenient for days that I don't have much time to eat and just have to grab something quick and keep going. Get yourself one if you're nugget-obsessed and overly busy like me; everyone who's seen it in my car has gotten one for themselves and not regretted it!

Promising review: " This is the greatest invention . I’m in my car a lot and anytime I order any fast food I always have to order dip, doesn’t matter what I’m eating. This thing came in handy not only for me but for my son, too . Perfect for me because it comes with two holders, and I like at least two dips at a time. I know I’m making this out to sound like it’s a billion-dollar invention, but I just love it.  It’s a very handy thing to have in your car . I’m forever spilling my sauces all over the place because there is nowhere to put them, and then I saw this and knew I just had to try it. It’s a total game changer in my car . Thanks to whoever invented this. It’s GREAT!! " — Denise

Get a two-pack from Amazon for  $9.99  (available in three colors and 4- and 6-packs).

28. A handy  bath ducky  that'll let you know right away if your little one's bath is too hot. Plus I mean, 🎶 rubber ducky, you're the one, you make bath time lots of fun 🎶 . 

The word "HOT" appears on the duck when the temperature of the water is above 104 degrees.

Promising review: "I have always found the same issue with bath toys that have holes due to water getting trapped inside, making it difficult to clean, therefore, mold growing inside. However, with this bath toy, it isn't an issue, and the temperature-changing aspect on the bottom makes for convenience! It also isn't that expensive, which is undoubtedly a plus, especially when it comes to kids' bath toys that last. So, I highly recommend getting this product since it is cheap, easy to clean, and helpful in checking the water temperature!" — Abbie Fish

Get it from Amazon for $3.19  (also available in a two-pack).

29. A sheet of 100  adhesive, sound-dampening bumpers  so you aren't woken up every morning by the sound of your partner slamming the cabinet doors in search of a coffee mug. Now they can slam away without waking up everyone else in the house. 

Promising review: "The best thing I have ever bought for my kitchen. Say goodbye to the heinous noise of slamming cabinets. My mother is notorious for just letting go of the cabinets and letting them slam shut, so before she came to visit, I installed these, and I couldn't have been happier.  They keep the noise to a minimum and likely help to improve the longevity of the cabinet doors by reducing the impact. They are easy to install (although time-consuming for all the cabinets in the kitchen), and mine have not fallen off after five months of use.  When installing, I pressed them onto the cabinet hard for a 30 count before letting go. I think this is required to make them long-lasting. My father installed these at his home after he visited, and his fell off because he just placed them on the cabinets like a sticker. After installing a second with the same method I used, he has not had any fall off." — Dave Carlson

Get it from Amazon for  $7.99 .

30. A  ring tightener  for your fave piece of jewelry that just doesn't seem to fit anymore. You know the one I'm talkin' about — the one that spins on your finger and constantly falls off. If you've been waaay too close to losing your engagement ring, snag this for a cheap, easy fix rather than spending a ton on getting it resized. 

Promising review: "I have teeny fingers and have lost rings because they were too loose. This product is a lifesaver — easy to use and so comfortable. I am delighted that I can wear all the rings I loved but was scared of using in case I lost them!" — Pan Mittle

Get it from Amazon for  $5.79 .

31. A portable hair tie hub  so you can toss your hair up whenever you need to. We've definitely all had that *oh, crap, did I not bring a scrunchie?* moment or have had to ask everyone around us for one, but not anymore! Next time the sun starts to sun extra hard (I swear it's taking its job WAY too seriously this summer) don't ~sweat it~, this bb will make it so that you'll always be able to throw your locks into a messy bun. 

Hair Tie Hub is a small biz that specializes in hair tie organizing keychains. Each carries three hair ties and can easily attach to gym bags, purses, keys, and more! 

Promising review : "If you're anything like us, you are always forgetting a hair tie. Adding this to my keychain has been very useful. We are never having to scrounge around a purse or the car for one when we need it." — Family

Get it from Amazon for $8.99  (available in three colors). 

32. A jar opener  because yesterday you tried to open a jar of Trader Joe's chili crunch and ended up burning your pot stickers cuz ya couldn't get it open. Or wait, was that me? Def was, let me add this to my cart. Grab a hold of the lid with this bad boy, twist, and show that pickle jar who's boss. Limited mobility? Weak grip? Meet your new kitchen bestie. 

Promising review: "I have had a difficult time trying to open a large Costco-sized jar of marinated artichoke hearts. To the point that I was sorely tempted to ask my neighbor to open it, a neighbor I don't know well (which seemed to be a little old lady thing to do.) And then I opened up the Amazon envelope and with very little effort, this jar-opening tool opened the jar with amazing ease!! I mean, really!! Whoever invented this is pretty darn clever. I recommend it for anyone whose hand strength has lessened but whose yearning for independence (and artichoke hearts or similar food items) is strong. " — Nancy C.

Get it from Amazon for $6.99+  (available in 15 colors and styles).

33. A Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer  that'll cut your drying time in half and give you a blowout so good you'll probably be able to convince everyone you're a hairstylist. A blow-drying brush sounds like a win to me.

The brush's design smooths the hair, and the round edges create volume — leaving you with bomb hair without having to go to the salon. It also has three heat and speed settings and a cooling option.

See it in action on  TikTok !

Promising review: "I adore my new 2-in-1 Revlon styling tool!! I have very coarse, thick, frizzy hair. I have been damaging my hair with a flat iron for years — it's bad for my hair and takes me forever to finish. This tool does not tangle my hair at all! It's so easy to use and a lot quicker than using a blow dryer first, then a flat iron . I have told several friends and relatives about this product. It also leaves my hair shiny and smooth!! " — Brandi

Get it from Amazon for  $41.99+  (available in seven colors).

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Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity. 

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Colorado 'never got it together' vs. Nebraska, Deion Sanders says

Colorado coach Deion Sanders says his team needs to be able to handle the pressure that comes with big moments in big games. (1:11)

• Covers the Big 12
• Joined ESPN in 2012
• Graduate of the University of Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. -- After his team's first loss of the season and second-lowest scoring output of his tenure, Colorado coach Deion Sanders was left wondering how to get his offense back on track.

The Buffaloes were shut out in the first half, struggled to protect quarterback Shedeur Sanders and finished with 16 rushing yards in their 28-10 road loss to Nebraska on Saturday night.

Colorado (1-1) fell behind quickly against a foe it beat 36-14 last season and trailed 14-0 when Sanders threw an interception from his own end zone that Nebraska cornerback Tommi Hill returned for a 7-yard touchdown, a turnover he called a "rookie mistake." Colorado ran 11 plays in the first quarter for a net gain of minus-2 yards.

"The way we started is just not indicative of who we are," Deion Sanders said, "and we just never got it together."

Facing frequent pressure, Shedeur Sanders threw for 244 yards and one score on 23-of-38 passing. He was sacked five times, and the Buffaloes went 4-of-14 on third-down conversions. He did not finish the game, exiting for the final four minutes of the fourth quarter as a precaution after a helmet-to-helmet hit.

Sanders told reporters afterward he was "a little banged up" but OK and praised Nebraska's defensive line for its performance.

"Protections were a problem," Deion Sanders said. "You know, I'm trying to be polite and say it, because you know I can say the same thing you're thinking, but if I say it, you'd say I'm throwing my guys up under the bus. I'm not doing that whatsoever. Protections were a problem. We gotta figure out a way to prevent that and do a better job with that."

Colorado couldn't get much done in the run game to take pressure of its passer. Its running backs combined for five carries for 16 yards through three quarters and failed to convert two fourth-and-1 rushing attempts.

The Buffaloes finished last in the FBS in rushing yards in 2023 with 827 through 12 games. They threw for 445 yards and rushed for 59 in their 31-26 win against North Dakota State to open the season. After rebuilding the offensive line primarily with transfer portal additions, Deion Sanders acknowledged his team needs to figure out how to execute a consistent run game.

Asked why it was so difficult for Colorado's offense to respond to Nebraska's defense, he replied, "I have no idea. If we would've known that answer, I think we would've responded quicker. It's like we just never got it going until it was too late."

The Buffaloes trailed 28-0 at halftime after Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola fired a pass over the middle to running back Rahmir Johnson that Colorado linebacker LaVonta Bentley nearly intercepted. Instead, the ball popped up in the air and fell to Johnson, who ran off for an 18-yard score.

"When stuff like that happens, you just gotta take your hat off and say, 'Oh Lord, it's not our day, baby,'" Deion Sanders said. "Because that stuff just don't normally happen. That was crazy. Heck of a play."

Colorado's defense didn't give up another score the rest of the way and forced five consecutive punts in the second half. Sanders was pleased that his team kept competing, but there were far too many mistakes throughout, including nine penalties for 104 yards and a blocked field goal attempt, to put together a rally.

Shedeur Sanders said his team will go back to the drawing board and work to get it right. The Buffaloes are back on the road next Saturday against in-state rival Colorado State , which took the Buffaloes to overtime in 2023, before their return to Big 12 conference play begins Sept. 21 against Baylor .

Against one of the toughest schedules in the conference, they're going to need a lot more offensive balance -- and a lot more points.

"We have a tremendous offense," Deion Sanders said. "We should be able to move the ball on anyone. We should be able to protect with the experience that we have offensively. We just couldn't get it going today."