All Tied Up

Material Needed: Bandanas or cloth strips, other items as needed
Time Required: 15-30 minutes, depending on the goal and number of group members
Group Size: 2-15

Purpose:

• Work as team to complete a common goal

• Arrange participants into a circle, facing each other. Ask them to hold out their arms.

• Tie the group together so that each person is tied to both neighbor's wrists.

• Now that the group is "all tied up", give them a task to do together.

Some ideas are:

• Make root beer floats for everyone

• Wrap packages with gift wrap, bows, and a card

• Eat lunch

• Make a snack

• Create an art project

• Pour a cup of water for each person in the group

• Anything else that is fun and crazy

Note: To make the task more difficult give the group a time limit.

Debrief Questions or Topics:

• Why were you successful (or unsuccessful) at completing the task?

• How did the time restrictions aid or hinder your group from completing the task?

• Did everyone in the group help to get the task done?

• What happened when someone didn't help?

• Do you ever feel like you are "tied up" with someone else when you are working with them and trying to get a job done? If so, why, and how do you deal with this feeling?

Source: 
Jones, A. (1999). Team -Building Activities for Every Group. Richland, WA: Rec Room Publishing. P. 56-57.