How can you cope with a low attention and energy level of participants? Research shows that humor, movement and fun play an important role in this. Energizers are extremely suitable for this. Energizers provide an active attitude, energy and focus. You have fun and get going. An energizer provides a connection between the rational (left) brain and the creative (right) brain, so that people are reset. You can also use energizers to strengthen the group feeling.
A few tips:
– Explain to participants why you use the energizer
– Choose an energizer that suits you well
– Do not force anyone to participate
– Participate yourself
– Fun is allowed and desirable!
1. Energizer: Jump in, Jump out!
Aim
– Get in the mood
– Reset, clear your head for what’s to come
What do you need?
– Nothing
What should you do?
– Stand with the group in a circle or in pairs next to each other
– Follow the commands: Jump in, Jump out, Jump left, Jump right.
– You also repeat the command aloud as you execute it: so on the ‘Jump in’ command, jump forward and say ‘Jump in’ out loud. Practice all commands.
What variations do you have?
– 1 st variation: perform opposite. At the command ‘Jump In’, do Jump out and still yell ‘Jump in’. At the command ‘Jump left’, do Jump right and yell ‘Jump left’.
– 2 nd variation: on command ‘Jump in’, you do Jump in but yell ‘Jump out’. Likewise for all other commands.
Trainers advise
– Finish with the first variation: so that the participants finish successfully.
– This exercise is very suitable before starting a session with the participants. By combining movement with counting, connections are made between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. As a result, participants are reset, disconnect from the previous and are recharged for what is to come.
2. Energizer: Flying objects
Aim
– Get in the mood
– Charging energy
What do you need?
– Nothing in preparation
– Some random objects from the room or from participants
What should you do?
– Have the participants stand in a circle
– Take object #1. Participants circulate the object around the circle by grabbing it with the left hand and passing it with the right hand.
– Take object no. 2. Participants throw object 2 counterclockwise, skipping one person at a time. Object no 1 is also still circulating.
– Take object #3. Have the group think of a way for object 3 to go around the circle.
– Add as many items as the group can handle.
Trainer advice
– Select the objects so that they are suitable for this exercise
3. Energizer Clap, stomp, tap
Aim:
– Get in the mood
– Reset, clear your head for what’s to come
What do you need?
– Nothing
What should you do?
– Make pairs of people facing each other, with a small space between them
– Give an example with a participant: Add up to 3, by taking turns saying a number and keep repeating (step 1)
– When each pair has mastered this, explain step 2, followed by step 3 and step 4.
Step 1: A says 1, B says 2, A says 3, B says 1, A says 2, etc.
Step 2: ‘1’ is replaced by clapping: A claps hands, B says 2, A says 3, B claps hands, A says 2, etc.
Step 3: ‘2’ is replaced by a stamp with one foot on the floor: A claps hands, B stomps on floor, A says 3, B claps hands, A stomps on floor, etc.
Step 4: ‘3’ is replaced by a tap on partner’s shoulder: A claps hands: B stomps on floor, A taps partner on shoulder, B claps hands, etc.
– Variations: Ask participants to come up with movements themselves
Trainer advice
– By combining movement with counting, connections are made between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Participants are reset, disconnect from the previous and are recharged for what is to come.
– This exercise is very suitable to apply before you start a brainstorm or an exercise that asks for creativity.