The Blanket Game is a wonderful ice breaker game that helps the players of all ages to get to know each other well and learn names. It is an especially funny game to play with kids, so be prepared to have your kids in fits of giggles by the end of it!
Features of Blanket Game
| ★ Game Name | Blanket Game |
| ★ Group size | medium to large |
| ★ Age | any |
| ★ Type | active |
| ★ Skill | memory |
| ★ Place | indoor and outdoor |
| ★ Time | up to 10 – 15 min |
| ★ Preparation | yes |
| ★ Materials | blanket |
Aim of the Game
The aim of the Blanket Game is to correctly identify the player that is standing behind the blanket. The team who correctly names the person behind the blanket wins a point. At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins.
Group Size
This game is too easy if you play with a small group as players will quickly learn the names of the other players. Therefore, this game is best for large groups of players who don’t yet know each other, preferably around 20 people.
If you have more than around 30 people (15 people per team), have 30 people play at the front of the room and the other people watch. Then, switch players around so that everybody can have a go playing.
Preparation and Materials
The only equipment you need to play the Blanket Game is a large blanket. It needs to be big enough so that when it is held up you won’t be able to see the person standing or sitting behind it. You can also use something like a curtain if you can’t find a blanket big enough.
How to Play the Blanket Game
Split the group into two teams and have the teams stand opposite each other. Get all of the participants to say their names one by one to the group. Then, get one player from each team to volunteer to hold the blanket up. These two people hold the blanket up between the two teams so that the two groups cannot see each other.
One person from each team then steps forward and stands directly behind the blanket. Count to three and on three, tell the two volunteers to drop the blanket.
Each team has to correctly say the name of the individual standing forward on the opposite team and the first team to get it right wins a point. Keep going until all players have stepped forward and the team with the most points at the end wins.
Alternative Variations
If everybody already knows each others names, you could get them to all say a fact about themselves. For example, if they have a pet, what their favorite sports team is, or how many siblings they have.
When the blanket drops, the opposite team then has to try to remember the fact that the individual said earlier and say it outloud to the group.
You could also play the game blind. Instead of dropping the blanket, the individual who has stepped forward has to say their fact outloud. The opposite team then has to recall the name of the person. Drop the blanket to see if they got it right!
This is one of the best group games for learning names and facts in a fun way. Try this with a new group of kids and see how fun the game is, and how hilarious it is when the kids get it wrong!