LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA• 35
Information Sheet No. 7
Additional Warm-ups and Energizers
Warm-ups, Energizers and Relaxation
Warm-ups and energizers keep the program
lively and enjoyable. Children and young people
like to do fun activities, and it is recommended
that the exercises be used whenever energy
levels may be flagging. This may happen in
afternoon sessions or after a meal or after a
particularly intense session. Sometimes children
need to ‘settle down’ if they have had vigorous
activities like sports or dance and may require
relaxation exercises before the life skills session
starts. The following exercises are just a few from
the many available. A few have been mentioned
in the sessions but they may be used elsewhere
as well. The facilitator may add exercises that
have been found useful and encourage children
and peer educators to contribute as well!
- Life Boat (team building)
Children move in a circle. Say that they are sailing
in a ship in the Sea/River X (whichever name is
familiar or local). There is a big storm and they all
must get into lifeboats before the ship sinks. Say
the facilitator will call out a number (like ‘5’), and
the children must make a group according to the
number and imagine that they are in a lifeboat.
The children should hold hands or huddle
together. If the group is formed with less than the
called out number, the whole group drowns. The
children, who do not get into a group, are ‘out.’
Continue until you have one or two left and
declare them the winners or ‘survivors.’
- Web (team work)
Children form a circle, close their eyes and
stretch out their hands. They must grasp
someone else’s hands. Next, ask the children to
open their eyes and see whose hand they are
holding. The whole group will be tangled; the
children must now untangle themselves so that
they are standing in a circle.
They must not let go of their hands while doing
this. Discuss how they felt? What was helpful?
What was not?- Cross the circle (trust, and risk)
The children form a big circle. Each child will
identify and say the name of the person standing
opposite them. Everyone must close their eyes,
and when the facilitator says ‘go,’ they must go to
the person identified and stand in their place. No
peeking allowed! There is a lot of confusion, but
children will find their way. Process the exercise.
How does it relate to real life situations? - Longest line (teamwork, cooperation,
and creativity)
Divide the children into two or three groups and
instruct them that they are to use whatever they
personally possess to make the longest line,
such as bags, handkerchiefs, shoes, scarves
(‘dupattas’). The team with the longest line wins.
Give a time limit so children work quickly. Some
children will be creative and lie down
themselves! Discuss the exercise. How do they
work as a team? What helped them? Take one
or two pieces from the line so that the ‘link’ is
broken. Ask the team what will happen. - One legged hop
Set a boundary. Tell the children that they are all
peer educators (or some group identity). Ask for
a volunteer and say that s/he is the hopping
peer educator and that s/he must find others to
build a team, as the work requires many like-