Group Activities for College Students

College education plays a very important role in the development of an individual's personality. Colleges are institutions which apart from imparting quality education instill certain qualities in an individual which can help him for the rest of his life. To help develop these qualities, colleges and universities often carry out a lot of extra-curricular activities which are not only high on fun and entertainment but also help the students to gain and improve some of the most important skills. To develop a sense of unity and togetherness, colleges often carry out group activities.

The group activities complement the academic curriculum of a college and enrich the college experience of the student. Without the presence of these extra-curricular activities, the college life of a student can become quite exhausting and students may feel burned-out. These activities help in relieving academic tension while helping students expand their social circle at the same time. There are numerous ways in which group activities can be conducted.

Team Building Activities for College Students

One of the classical group activities is tug of war. This exercise helps students to work as a team and builds cooperation. In this game, students are divided into two groups so that the groups are of somewhat equal strength. Teams have to pull the center ring and this not only requires strength but certain amount of guile as well. You can conduct this game in several rounds and the team which wins most of the rounds will be declared the winner. While conducting this game make sure that you take certain precautions like the ropes should be only pulled by the hands and should not be tied up around anyone. This activity can also cause rope-burns on hands so let go the rope if it is moving through the hands.

Another group activity for college students is the blindfolded game. In this game, the students can be divided into two teams and then they can choose a leader among themselves. All the participating members are then blindfolded with the exception of their respective team-leaders. Then the groups are made to pass through an obstacle course. The blindfolded members have to help each other out while taking the instruction from their team leader. The team which is able to cross all the obstacles and reach the destination wins the game.

You can also strengthen the bonding and understanding among college students by encouraging them to participate in group dances, stage shows and various other sports activities. This helps in inculcating values in the students and challenges their comfort zones.

If you feel that you have a group of students who are finding it difficult in being comfortable with each other, then you can plan a team outing so that the students get to know each other in a better way. You can engage the students in various ice-breaking games but make sure that these ice-breaking games are not too personal. Some of the examples of these ice-breaking questions are

• Who is your role model in life?
• What is the ideal dream job for you?
• What are your hobbies and interests?
• What characteristics do you look for in someone before being friends with them?
• How would you describe yourself?

These group activities ensure that students learn the importance of working together while having fun at the same time. So, if you are someone who is at the helm of affairs as far as college students are concerned, make sure you encourage group activities among them so that they develop into confident citizens of the country.