Top 5 Reunion Games & Ice Breakers

Reunions. They can be excitedly anticipated or painfully dreaded; either way the first hour or so can be awkward as people shuffle in from all over. Reunions should be a great time for catching up and renewing old relationships. Getting past that awkward hour just got a little easier with our fun and easy reunion ice breaker games ideas. Check them out! (reunion games inspired by Mister Spiffy)

1.M&M’s a Plenty -Reunion Ice Breakers
Gather everyone to sit in a circle. Pass around a bag of M&M’s (for more fun, buy several bags and dump them all in a huge bowl). Instruct everyone to take as many as they want, and let them know not to eat them just yet. Once everyone has their M&M’s and is asking when they can eat them, inform the group that for every M&M they took they have to tell the group something about themselves. So all those people who dug in with both hands….”100 M&M’s!? Um, one, my name is Sam. Two… I live in Portland. Three, I…play the piano.” You get the idea. Hopefully the shy folks don’t take a big handful!

2. Finding A Perfect Match
You’ll need a handout with questions and places for signatures underneath each one. Have each person answer the questions on the blank provided (not the signature blank), and make sure they use ink so they can’t change their answers. Then get on your soapbox (yes, again) and have them mingle and find people who answered things the same. When they do, get their signatures under the answers they have in common. A good limiting rule is that you can’t have one person sign more than two of your questions. Good questions to ask:

What year were you born?
What color are your eyes?
What is your favorite baseball team?
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Can you roll your tongue?
If you had to choose from eternal youth, endless wealth, and a year’s supply of ice cream, which one would you pick?
If you could be any musician, who would it be?
What is your favorite movie?
If there was a warrant for your arrest and you had to escape the country, where would you go?
If you were in a situation where you could shoot the Taco Bell dog and throw its body in a rapidly flowing river without ever being caught, would you do it?
Have you ever done anything you shouldn’t have with a magnet and computer accessories?
Do you suffer from any of those things that prohibit you from going on roller coasters (i.e., motion sickness, back and neck pain, heart conditions, under 46 inches tall, et cetera)?
Ah, the possibilities!
The person who has all their questions signed (or at least the most, if none could find all of them) wins this reunion game.

3. I’ve Done Something You Haven’t Done
Have each person introduce themselves and say something that they have done that they doubt anyone else has (example, I para glide every weekend) If someone else speaks up and can honestly say that they have done that too (”I’ve had a kid too, mom – you’ve got grandkids, remember?”), then the person has to keep trying until they find something no one else has done.

4. I Am None Other Than George Washington Carver, Who Worked With Peanuts
Write the name of famous people on pieces of paper and tape one on each person’s back (don’t let the person know who’s name is on their back). Everyone now has to guess the person on their back by asking other people around the room yes or no questions about the person. “Did I chop down a cherry tree?” “No.” “Was I a good guy in history?” “Yes.” “Hmm. Attila the Hun?” “Ah…no.”

5. Make a Memory Jigsaw Puzzle
Create your own jigsaw puzzle using a blown-up family photo, class photo, or any picture that you prefer, and reconstruct the image as many times as you like. Choose a picture that has special meaning to you. If you do not want to destroy the picture by using it to make the puzzle, make a photocopy. Use a color copier and enlarge it to the maximum size. This way you’ll create a puzzle with the most possible pieces. Check out your local copy center for pricing and color options.

What You Need:
Large (11 x 14) family photo (or any picture blown up as large as possible)
Photocopy machine
Large piece of card stock (any color)
Thin tipped marker
White glue
Exacto knife or scissors
Large piece of cardboard (if using Exacto knife)
What You Do:

Apply a thin layer of glue across the entire back of your picture, then paste it to the piece of thick card stock. Make sure to smooth and press firmly on the surface of the picture to ensure that the image sticks, and that there are no air pockets. Trim the edges of the card stock to the shape and size of the picture pasted on it.
Once the picture is completely dry, flip it over and draw out puzzle shapes on the card stock that will be used for the puzzle pieces. Have an adult cut out the drawn shapes using an Exacto knife on a flat surface with cardboard underneath, or with a very sharp pair of scissors. Once all pieces are cut out, work on putting the puzzle back together again!
Create other puzzles following the same steps using other photos, magazine pictures, or art work you have created. This original puzzle activity makes a great gift for the holidays or to send to a friend using a photo from a special time together. Write a message on the opposite side of the picture to a friend before cutting out shapes, and they will receive two special surprises in one! Remember, printing photos from a home printer works just as well.

We hope these reunion games & ice breaker ideas help you make the most of your next reunion party. Have fun, be yourself and take some time to make up for the years that have passed between you!