The Blacklist: Contraband Youth Group Games
Games are the best bit of any youth group. That is, after the Bible talk, the discussion groups, having dinner and hanging out with your friends and the leaders. But some games are not appropriate for youth groups.
When choosing a youth group game, you want to think through these four things:
Safety: Ensure the game does not pose any physical risks to participants.
Respect: Avoid activities that could embarrass or demean any individual.
Inclusivity: Choose games that allow everyone to participate, regardless of their abilities.
Appropriateness: Select games that align with the values and teachings of the church.
If a game fails to meet these criteria, it’s not worth playing. Bad stuff happens. Youth get upset. Parents complain. Christ’s name is dishonoured. Youth pastor gets busted.
The Blacklist
Here are a list of games that belong on the blacklist. Drop me a line if you can think of any other games that belong on the blacklist.
Chubby Bunny
Description: Participants place marshmallows in their mouths one at a time, saying "Chubby Bunny" after each marshmallow. The goal is to see how many marshmallows they can fit before they can't speak clearly.
Reason Blacklisted: At least three people have died of suffocation by choking on marshmallows.
2. Lap-Sitting Games
Description: The game involves sitting on people’s laps.
Reason Blacklisted: Teenage boys.
3. Dizzy Bat
Premise of Game: Participants spin around a bat several times to become dizzy, then try to run to a designated point, often leading to falls.
Reason Blacklisted: People injure each other.
4. Games Involving Terrorists
Premise of Game: Any game involving terrorists or terrorism.
Reason Blacklisted: I heard a story of a youth pastor who orchestrated a kidnapping at a youth camp in Sydney with several leaders dressed up as terrorists. Most of the youth and several of the leaders thought it was real. The police were called in. Not good.
5. Games Involving Skulling
Premise of Game: Skulling a large volume of liquid.
Reason Blacklisted: People get sick. One girl I knew played a game skulling coffee, got terribly sick, and missed her state Netball grand final the next day. The family never came back to church. Also, it looked like the youth group encouraged skulling other liquids (e.g., alcohol). Not a good look.
6. Games Involving Gambling
Premise of Game: Something that involves gambling.
Reason Blacklisted: Gambling is a major problem in Australia. It fosters greed and exploitation of others, undermines stewardship, and encourages reliance on chance rather than trusting in God’s provision. It’s also a major social problem in Australia. Not worth encouraging.
7. Poison Bush
Premise of Game: Players form a circle around a designated "bush" (usually an object or marked area) and hold hands. They must try to pull others toward the "bush" while avoiding stepping into it themselves; anyone who touches the "bush" is out of the game.
Reason Blacklisted: A child at my old church got thrown into a pile of chairs and lost several teeth. He was estimated to need $25,000 of dental work over the following fifteen years.
8. Flaming Soccer
Premise of Game: Soccer ball is covered in petrol and set ablaze. Youth proceed to play soccer.
Reason Blacklisted: Risk of burning people and setting church ablaze.
9. Games Involving Beans
Premise of Game: Someone pours out beans (coffee beans, bean bag beans, other beans), and participants have to pick them all up.
Reason Blacklisted: Super annoying to clean up after.
10. Games Involving Kissing
Premise of Game: The game involves people putting their mouths on or near someone else’s mouth, whether to pass an object or, as in spin-the-bottle, to kiss them.
Reason Blacklisted: Blurred personal boundaries, promotion of unhealthy sexualisation, makes youth feel uncomfortable, and parents complain to youth pastor.
Got Anything To Add?
Let me know if you have anything to add to the list.
