It's time to play a little. Let's put aside our daily worries and other problems and give ourselves a little time to relax, to gather some friends with whom to have fun in a warm and pleasant atmosphere.
Someone would say that we are too old to play. But know that this is not true. Play has no age, just the right moment, the right people and the right mood.
In fact, playing games is more than just entertainment. It is an anti-stress therapy, a cognitive training method that is very beneficial for our brain health and our mental state.
Play is a fairly broad concept in relation to an adult. What does it include:
- free use of metaphors, allegories, humor – playing with symbols;
- dance, singing, sports, some types of other creativity – to be not an outside observer, but an active player.
I'm going to introduce you to a few simple games that don't require any particular qualities from you, but are rather relaxing, fun, and extremely beneficial to your overall well-being. My friends and I use to play these games, and it's usually a lot of fun.
1. "Name with adjectives"
All participants alternately call their name with an epithet in front of it in the same letter as the name. Adjectives should only be positive. For example: generous George; happy Helen etc.
2. "How are we alike?"
Participants sit in a circle. A player enters the circle and asks: How are we alike? For example: we have the same hair color, the name begins with the same letter, we live on the same street, etc. The one who finds a similarity enters the circle and repeats the question. Game continues until everyone is in the circle.
3. "Associations" (reflections on the good and the pleasant)
The players take turns calling what they associate with: New Year, train station, holiday, good shopping, good mood, work plan for the year, one-room apartment, the airport, the profession of a designer, seascape, rainy morning, bouquet of flowers, romantic dinner etc.
4. "Phrase in a circle"
You need to read a certain phrase (for example, text from a magazine) with different intonations, with feeling: interrogative, fun, solemn, dreamy, grumpy, optimistic, scared, enthusiastic, drawn out, surprised, in a whisper, indifferent, offended, spiteful, affectionate, hurrying, sad, loud, exclamatory.
- "Group drawing" (art therapy with music therapy)
On the sound of the music, the participants start to make a drawing, they send it to the neighbor, each one adds something in the drawing, until it returns to the owner (reflection, difference of feelings, thoughts, impressions).
- "Look and guess" (physical activity)
Each participant takes a card that describes a situation without showing it to anyone. In turn, everyone describes what is written on the card with the help of facial expressions and gestures. Colleagues guess what it could be. Situation options:
- A person is in the cold rain without an umbrella.
- A person got into a traffic jam and is late for work.
- A lady's shoe heel broke.
- A person was sprayed by a car.
- A man ordered a pizza in the restaurant, but was brought something else etc.
- "The beginning and the end of the story" (laughter, smile, humor)
Players are given a card that says the beginning and end of the story. You have to come up with the middle of the story. For example: “My mom bought fish and brought it home … So, in the evening we ate by candlelight. "
- "Dancing with …" (music therapy, movement, dance)
Against the background of music, participants must dance with an imaginary object, which is drawn on the cards. For example, a dance with an umbrella. Options: with a flower, with a barrel, with a mobile phone, heels, with a cactus, with a torn heel, in a fluffy skirt, with a ball, in a hat.
Play with pleasure, enjoyment and benefit!