Exclusives
At Trainers Warehouse, we search far and wide for unique office products and educational tools that make learning more innovative, effective, and fun. When you see the EXCLUSIVE banner, you'll know that Trainers Warehouse developed this product with thought and care to meet the needs of teachers and trainers from around the globe. For 30 years, we've dedicated ourselves to creating educational products that promote participation, enhance retention, and are suitable for adult learners. We hope you love them as much as we do!
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194 products
194 products
Gyrobi -- The fidget toy that twists, spins and rotates!
We know that when our "floating attention is dedicated to a mindless task, the rest of our attention can focus better on meetings, training sessions or phone calls. Good fidget toys are quiet, look good to the eye and feel good in your hands. Gyrobi Squared is a great spinner toy that provides both!
You can hold it comfortably and spin the colorful plastic squares in fascinating ways with the touch of a finger. Gyrobi brings together the science of gyroscopes and the pleasure of absent-minded fidgeting.
Each Gyrobi is 3.5" square, sold as individual units.
Watch the demo below of the original ROUND Gyrobi!
Enrich the "sensory diet" of your learners. Our "fiddles" may look like toys to the untrained eye, but they are truly serious learning tools. Kinesthetic learners will focus better and absorb your material more quickly if they have something to do with their hands.
Click here to view FREE Facilitation Notes for using Fiddles in the Classroom!
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Energize your group with your very own Pipeline Game. Give each participant one short length of half pipe and challenge the group to deliver a ball down the pipes from the starting point to the finish line. A successful pipeline team building activity requires participating groups to exercise excellent communication, creativity and teamwork.
TRANSFORM GROUPS INTO WELL-FUNCTIONING TEAMS WITH A PIPELINE CHALLENGE
- Energize a group
- Build communication skills
- Practice group problem solving
- Practice goal setting
Pipeline Game -- also known as Pipeline Challenge or Gutter Ball - is effective with kids, teenagers and adults, and can be played indoors or out. Choose this activity when you need to energize the group into a team, or to emphasize the importance of each member's actions in a team.
FEATURES
- 12 high-quality, sturdy 15.25" half-pipes; Each pipe has an inside diameter of 2-1/2 inches
- 3 balls (marble, ball bearing, golf ball)
- Handy nylon storage bag
- Facilitation notes on how to play and process the exercise
DEBRIEFING SUGGESTIONS
As with most team building games, the Pipeline Game will be most effective if you take the time fully debrief the experience. Start with questions that specifically address the dynamics that played out during the game. Understand what happened and how the experience made each player feel. After that, shift your questions and conversation to the real-world learning that can be applied from the game. Consider handful of questions to debrief the pipeline team building activity, such as:
- How well did the group cope with this challenge?
- What, if any, goals did your group set? How? Did you succeed?
- What skills did it take to be successful as a group?
- What creative solutions were suggested and how were they received
- How can you compare this challenge to other situations (e.g., at school, home or work)?
Group Size: 8 to 12 ideal, but can be done with 6 to 14
Time: ~15-60 mins
FAQs for Pipeline Game (Pipeline Challenge / Gutter Ball)
Q: What do participants do in the Pipeline Game?
A: Each person holds a short half-pipe and the group works together to roll a ball from a start point to a finish line—without dropping it—by coordinating movement, spacing, and handoffs.
Q: What’s the ideal group size?
A: Ideal for 8–12 participants, but it can work well with 6–14 depending on space and how challenging you make the course.
Q: How long does it take to run?
A: Plan for 15–60 minutes, depending on the complexity of the challenge and how much time you spend debriefing.
Q: What skills does this activity build?
A: Communication, teamwork, creativity, problem solving, and goal setting—plus the big takeaway that every person’s actions affect the whole team’s success.
Q: What’s included in the kit?
A: 12 sturdy 15.25" half-pipes (inside diameter 2.5"), 3 balls (marble, ball bearing, and golf ball), a nylon storage bag, and facilitation notes with instructions and debrief suggestions.
Q: Can it be played indoors or outdoors?
A: Yes. It works well indoors or outdoors—just adjust the course and spacing for the environment.
Q: How should I debrief the exercise?
A: Start with what happened (team dynamics, emotions, communication), then connect it to real work/school life. Helpful prompts include goals set, coping strategies, skills used, creative ideas tried, and parallels to real situations.
Use fidget toys in your classroom -- or your office -- to improve focus, reduce stress, and create a playful environment!
SwingOs is a Trainers Warehouse exclusive "fiddle" (a.k.a. fidget toy). It's quiet and tactilely interesting. Bright colors, quiet action and mindless "fiddlebility" make SwingOs the perfect fidget toy. The 3 rings are seamlessly attached to each other, and rotate around each other in surprising and various ways. Grip the rings, or slip a finger in any of them, and swing away with abandon.
FEATURES
- Completely silent
- Colorful
- Washable
- Mindless
- Not too distracting
- 3 rings swivel around and around!
Each ring about 2" diam.
Enrich the "sensory diet" of your learners. Our "fiddles" may look like toys to the untrained eye, but they are truly serious learning tools. Kinesthetic learners will focus better and absorb your material more quickly if they have something to do with their hands. Trainers Warehouse offers the most interesing and well-stocked fidget warehouse anywhere. All of their tools are great picks to energize classrooms, workplaces, and learning centers. Visit Trainers Warehouse for all your corporate training needs.
Click here to view FREE Facilitation Notes on using FIDDLES in the classroom!
Enrich the "sensory diet" of your learners. Our "fiddles" may look like toys to the untrained eye, but they are truly serious learning tools. Kinesthetic learners will focus better and absorb your material more quickly if they have something to do with their hands.
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Explore ethical guidelines and discuss right-from-wrong decisions.
Workplace Ethics Thumball focuses on how you distinguish right from wrong. Is your idea of ethical obligations and responsibilities the same as your colleagues, friends and family? The Ethics Thumball raises questions and fosters discussion about individual and organizational norms and ideals, regarding making and breaking rules, fostering ethical leadership, whistle blowing, bending the truth, and more.
Look under your thumb and share your reaction to whatever prompt lies beneath it. Thumball™ is a soft 6" stuffed ball with loads of applications!!
Have rich conversations about the types of people you look to as a moral compass; how you'd handle different situations; what integrity, rules, ethics, and fairness mean to you; and how your organization or team handles ethical issues.
WORKPLACE ETHICS THUMBALL PROMPTS
The Workplace Ethics Thumball prompts will foster discussion around these important topics:
- Role models for ethical leadership
- Meaning of integrity, ethics, "rules," and "doing the right thing"
- Dealing with lies or behaviors you disagree with
- The impact of broken promises, disagreement, and transparency
- Costs of speaking up or blowing the whistle
[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]
** TIPS **
FACILITATION SUGGESTIONS:
Your goal is to make conversations about ethics interesting and productive, without judgement or finger pointing. To explore these touchy questions most effectively, remind your group that there are no right answers. Be transparent about these goals and explain your interest in opening discussion and having rich conversations -- about morals, handling sticky situations, evaluating fairness, and exploring the organizational practices that enable or inhibit ethical behavior.
Take turns circulating the ball by passing, rolling, tossing and catching. Ask recipients to respond to the prompt under their right thumb. Because each prompt can lead to an interest dialogue, you may choose any one of these facilitation techniques:
- Have each recipient answer the question with the first thought that comes to their mind.
- After one recipient responds, invite others to share their replies to the same prompt.
- Toss the ball to select one on discussion prompt to focus on for your entire meeting.
- Ask players to anticipate what answer will be given by another player.
©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.
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- All about Silver Series Thumballs
- Tips & Suggestion on Facilitating Thumball Experiences
- How Deep to Discuss
- 7 Tips to formulate great questions
- More tools for great conversations
- Discover Your Thumball Style
- How Deep to Discuss Infographic
- Ground Rules Signs
- Tips for facilitating difficult situations
Host your game show with panache! These buzzers have new and improved graphics and electronics.
With the push of a button, let teams know if their answer is right or wrong. The green buttons sounds a "BING BING." Press the red button for a loud "BZZZ!"
The perfect accompaniment for Q&A sessions, these buttons are fun, easy, and loud enough to hear from the back of the classroom! Measures 3.5" diam.; 2 AAA batteries included in each. Convenient on/off switch on bottom of each unit.
View Video demo, below! [note: button graphics have been updated since the video was made]
We heard you! Our most popular fiddle "Loopeez" now comes in a compact smaller size for smaller hands. Introducing Loopez Jr – the perfect mindless "fiddle" for endless hours of fiddling without much physical or mental effort. Plus, they're virtually silent!
Endlessly flip the colored plastic pieces around and around the dual axes of the rings. The colored curved pieces are molded to fit perfectly in one hand or two. For larger hands, try Original Loopeez.
You won't believe how satisfying this feels in your hand!
2.5" long x 1" wide, when lying flat.
Comes in 3 color schemes, packed randomly. Price is for each Loopez Jr.
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Team Development Thumball® Set (with Free Mesh Bag) is a ready-to-run bundle of soft, tossable conversation balls loaded with prompts that build trust, communication, and collaboration in corporate retreats, business workshops, or workplace training. Facilitate icebreakers, coaching conversations, and debriefs by simply tossing, catching, and answering the prompt under your thumb—no prep, no slides, just real dialogue that strengthens teams. The stitched panels and durable stuffed vinyl are designed for heavy use.
HOW IT HELPS TEAMS
- Fast engagement: the toss-catch mechanic reduces anxiety and gets everyone talking
- Better communication: printed prompts spark stories, perspectives, and active listening
- Psychological safety: low-risk questions build comfort before tackling tougher topics
- Scalable & flexible: works for stand-ups, workshops, off-sites, classrooms, and retreats
- Zero tech, high impact: portable tools that facilitate face-to-face conversation
- Enhances emotional intelligence, listening, and conflict resolution.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Curated Team Development Thumball® set (multiple conversation balls with printed prompts)
- Free mesh carry bag for storage and quick transport
- Quick-start facilitation tips (toss–catch–answer, pass option, timeboxing, debrief ideas)
The Team Development Thumball Set puts almost 200 content-rich discussion prompts at your fingertips. Whether your team knows each other well, or are just forming new bonds, you're sure to find topics that will build appreciation and understanding. Each ball is easy to use! Just toss one of the 6 balls, then ask the recipient to look under their thumb and respond to the prompt. With this playful tool, your group will be able to explore:
- What makes your colleagues feel HAPPY?
- How do your TEAM DYNAMICS enable or inhibit success?
- Are you sensitive to Issues of DIVERSITY and INCLUSION?
- Is your team in sync when it comes to values and ETHICS?
- What's causing STRESS and how can it be managed?
- How you can promote positive LEADERSHIP?
The Team Development Thumball Set is conveniently packaged in a large mesh bag, which allows you to carry them around comfortably and stay organized.
Each Silver Series Thumball™ (6" stuffed vinyl ball) looks like a cool soccer ball but is pre-printed with 32 questions/discussion prompts that have been vetted by subject matter experts. They are suited for adults and teens alike! Following are more details about each of the popular Silver Series Thumballs in the Team Development set:
- The Get Happy at Work Thumball prompts help create a more positive workplace by allowing colleagues to share goals, discuss challenges, and build relationships. Focusing on Positive Emotion, Engagement, Meaning, Accomplishments, and Relationships, the prompts help surface sources of happiness as they draw out individuals' personal qualities, work challenges, professional goals, and organizational dynamics. By putting a positive spin on important discussion topics, the Get Happy at Work Thumball helps promote optimism, identify areas for organizational improvement and build a happier workplace.
- The Team Dynamics Thumball enables conversations that promote team spirit and boost flagging energy. Teams are everywhere – at work, at home, at school, on and off playing fields. From board rooms to church basements, we're thrown together with people we may or may not know well, and are challenged to achieve great results. Is your team performing to the max? How do you support each other? How do you develop consensus and manage disagreements? Team Dynamics Thumball is a playful way to raise these critical questions so that your teams can reach their full potential.
- The Be a Leader Thumball gets the conversation going about what skills great leaders possess, and guides players through a bit of introspection as they consider their own leadership strengths or opportunities for improvement.
- The Diversity Thumball is a fun training tool that tackles a difficult topic with smarts and sensitivity. We live in a diverse world. Some differences are visible, like skin color, gender, height or weight, physical challenges and age. Others may not be visually apparent, but still affect how individuals feel or are treated: ethnicity, socio-economic position, sexual orientation, use or non-use of alcohol, allergies, intellect, depression and other emotional diseases.
- The Workplace Ethics Thumball raises questions and fosters discussion about individual and organizational norms and ideals, regarding making and breaking rules, fostering ethical leadership, whistle blowing, bending the truth, and more. It helps in having rich conversations about the types of people you look to as a moral compass; how you'd handle different situations; what integrity, rules, ethics, and fairness mean to you; and how your organization or team handles ethical issues. How do you distinguish right from wrong? Is your idea of ethical obligations and responsibilities the same as your colleagues, friends and family?
- The Stress Management Thumball helps you explore the causes of stress and the various ways you might manage its impact. Teams can discuss what affects their stress level, how they can help each other out, how they can better manage their own approach to stress, and more.
Note: Specific Thumball® titles in the set may vary; each ball is focused on teamwork, leadership, and communication themes.
WHEN TO USE
- Kickoffs & new team formation
- Manager training & leadership development
- Retrospectives & after-action reviews
- Onboarding, cross-functional meetups, and offsites
- Icebreakers, energizers, and closing reflections
HOW TO FACILITATE
- Invite a volunteer to start; toss the Thumball® across the room.
- When caught, the player reads the panel under their thumb and shares a brief response.
- Toss to another person and repeat. Offer a “pass” option to keep psychological safety high.
- Debrief: capture patterns, insights, and next steps for the team.
FAQS
Q: What makes Thumball® different from typical icebreakers?
A: Prompts are printed on the ball, so no prep is needed. The playful toss reduces pressure, encourages participation, and keeps energy high.
Q: How many people can play?
A: Ideal for groups of 6–25. For larger groups, use multiple balls or run parallel circles.
Q: How long does a round take?
A: 5–15 minutes for a quick opener; 20–40 minutes for deeper discussion and debrief. It's good to model what sort of answers you're looking for. If an answer isn't thorough, feel free to say, "tell me more..."
Q: Who is this for?
A: Team leaders, facilitators, trainers, educators, and coaches who want a quick, effective way to strengthen team dynamics.
Q: How do I care for the balls and bag?
A: Wipe clean with a soft cloth. Store dry in the mesh bag to keep everything together between sessions.
©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.
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Getting Acquainted Thumball® Set (with free mesh bag) is perfect for icebreakers, new employee introductions, team onboarding, or building company culture. For many trainers, it's their go-to icebreaker for building relationships and sparking authentic conversation. Each set includes 6 Silver Series Thumballs (6″ stuffed vinyl balls), each pre-printed with 32 unique prompts—for a grand total of nearly 200 engaging questions. Whether your group is meeting for the first time or already knows each other, these soft, tossable conversation balls with prompts to share identity, values, and first connections.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 6 Thumballs: What Makes You YOU, Common Ground, Session Openers, Which Are You & Why?, Shaped by Our Past, Getting to Know You - see below for more information about each of the balls included in the set.
- 32 prompts each = almost 200 conversation starters
- Free large mesh bag for easy transport and visibility
KEY BENEFITS
- Fast connections: Toss it around and watch dialogue unfold—no prep needed. Strengthens trust and common ground in new or cross-department teams.
- Built for meaningful sharing: Suitable for both light-hearted and deeper conversations.
- Portable & organized: Mesh bag keeps everything together and ready for action.
- Trainer-endorsed: All prompts crafted by Trainers Warehouse experts for engaging conversations.
HOW TO FACILITATE
- Start with one Thumball—toss it to a participant.
- They read the prompt under their thumb and share their response.
- Pass or toss to someone else.
- Option to debrief by asking “What surprised you?” or “What resonated most?”
FAQS
Q: Is this set good for me if my group wants to have deeper conversations?
A: If you want to go deeper into different topics, we might suggest the Team Dynamics Thumball Set or the Emotional Intelligence Thumball Set.
Q: Who benefits most from this set?
A: While the set is ideal for facilitators, trainers, instructors, or event hosts who want to deepen connections between participants and make conversation easier, the real beneficiaries are the participants who are able to learn more about each other (and maybe even themselves).
Q: When would I use these?
A: They're perfect for employee orientation programs, team lunches, first week introductions, and more!
Q: How do I care for the Thumballs and bag?
A: Wipe the Thumballs clean with a damp cloth. Let them dry before storing. The mesh bag is lightweight and washable if needed.
180 CONVERSATION PROMPTS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, FRIENDSHIPS, AND MUTUAL RESPECT!
Whether your group already knows each other well or is just meeting for the first time, the Getting Acquainted Thumball Set will have a perfect set of discussion prompts. The set of 6 Silver Series Thumballs offers almost 200 discussion topics to stimulate conversation. Choose a ball that will help stir up simple conversation or develop deeper, more meaningful relationships. The balls are super easy to use! Just toss it to another player and ask the recipient to look under their thumb and respond to the prompt. With this playful tool, you'll:
- Learn what makes your teammates unique with WHAT MAKES YOU YOU
- Find COMMON GROUND with others in your group
- Open your group up to more meaningful sharing with SESSION OPENERS?
- Learn where folks fall on a variety of continuums with WHICH ARE YOU AND WHY?
- Understand how others were SHAPED BY THEIR PAST
- GET TO KNOW friend, family or colleagues a little better
The Getting Acquainted Thumball Set is conveniently packaged in a large mesh bag, which allows you to carry them around comfortably and stay organized.
Each Silver Series Thumball™ (6" stuffed vinyl ball) looks like a cool soccer ball but is pre-printed with 32 questions/discussion prompts. They are suited for adults and teens alike! Following are more details about each of the popular Silver Series Thumballs in the Getting Acquainted set:
- Use the What Makes You YOU Thumballto help your team learn more about the people around them and dig a little deeper than typical, superficial icebreakers questions.
- The Common Ground Thumball prompts help players discover shared experiences and interests. As you try to generate conversation to build new friendships and relationships, a key challenge is finding “common ground.” This ball offers a fun way to uncover these commonalities.
- The Session Openers Thumball is a great way to set the groundwork for deeper conversations. It was developed to help groups scratch below the surface and explore motivations, goals, and what makes you tick.
- On the Which are You and Why? Thumball each prompt offers an “either/or” choice so that players can share where they'd put themselves on the spectrum –Lake or Ocean; Whisper or Yell; Words or Pictures; Lead or Follow; etc.—making this a fun and unusual icebreaker.
- The Shaped by Our Past Thumball brings to light each person's personal history. After all, we are who we are today because of our lifetime of experiences. Encourage your group to share details of their past -- school, friends, family, hobbies, challenges, and more!
- The Getting to Know You Thumball asks probing questions that get to your phobias, wishes, and favorite moments. For individuals who know each other pretty well already, it's an excellent way to dig a little deeper and learn something more!
©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.
COMPARE THUMBALL® SETS
| Set | # of Balls | Included Thumballs | Focus / Themes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Development Set | 6 | Get Happy at Work, Team Dynamics, Diversity, Workplace Ethics, Stress Management, Be a Leader | Collaboration, leadership, workplace culture, resilience | Corporate training, retreats, leadership workshops |
| Getting Acquainted Set | 6 | What Makes You YOU?, Common Ground, Session Openers, Shaped by Our Past, Getting to Know You, Which Are You & Why? | Introductions, rapport-building, personal storytelling | Kickoffs, onboarding, classrooms, networking events |
| EQ (Emotional Intelligence) Set | 6 | Emotional Intelligence, Building Trust, What Makes You YOU?, Common Ground, Developing Resilience, Getting to Know You | Self-awareness, empathy, resilience, trust-building | Leadership development, coaching, EQ workshops |
| Sessions Set | 3 | Session Openers, Session Review, Session Closers | Icebreakers, reflection, session wrap-ups | Trainers, facilitators, classroom instructors |
| Diversity & DEI Set | 2 | Diversity, DEI | Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging | DEI workshops, community conversations, team development |
| Just for Fun Set | 6 | Favorites, Would You Rather, Which Are You & Why?, What Makes You YOU?, Shaped by Our Past, Energy Break | Fun icebreakers, energizers, and lighthearted sharing | Breaks, youth programs, student groups, casual team events |
| Wellness Set | 6 | Stress Management, Get Happy at Work, Developing Resilience, Change Management, Emotional Intelligence, Energy Break | Wellness, resilience, change, stress management | HR wellness programs, health initiatives, mindfulness workshops |
Note: Each Thumball® is a soft 6-inch stuffed ball with 32 conversation prompts. Every set comes with a free mesh bag for storage and portability.
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Let your students, team, or co-workers know they're appreciated for the efforts they make and the risks they take to learn and grow. With our 70-piece collection of Kudos Cards, you can now distribute these happy-looking notes to anyone who demonstrates a great achievement, positive attitude, helpful contribution, or even makes a small effort that deserves recognition.
Make it a habit of catching people by surprise with unsolicited positive feedback. You'll reap the rewards of improved engagement and personal pride. Best of all, you'll set an example for others to do the same, creating a culture of appreciation!
Each 3.5" x 2" card is printed on one side with the motivational message, leaving the back side blank for a personal message:
- HIGH FIVE
- Token Of Appreciation
- YOU ROCK
- KUDOS
- You Did Something REMARKABLE
- YOU GOT CAUGHT Doing Something Good
- AWESOME you did great!
Set includes 10 each of 7 cards.
Super Deluxe Fiddle Set – 48-piece collection delivers “a little bit of everything” in fidget tools—perfect for training rooms, workshops, and medium-sized groups. With a wide array of stretchy, squeezable, flexible, and tactile fiddles, this set of quiet fidget toys for training supports relaxation, focus, and energy release—and comes in a durable draw-string storage bag.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- 48 assorted fiddles—mix of stretch, flex, squeeze, shape, mold, twist, and more
KEY BENEFITS OF PROFESSIONAL FIDGETS FOR MEETINGS
- Variety-packed: Tailored to every tactile preference in the group
- Engagement support: Helps users stay both attentive and calm during sessions
- Ideal for medium-sized groups: Great for workshops, classrooms, and breakout sessions
- Portable & durable: Draw-string bag keeps everything together and ready to go
FAQS
Q: How does this compare to other fiddle sets?
A: At 48 pieces, the Super Deluxe sits between the 24-piece Deluxe and the massive 84-piece Kitchen Sink sets—offering both variety and manageability for medium groups.
Q: What kinds of fidget motions are included?
A: Expect a dynamic mix—stretch, flex, twist, squeeze, mold, and manipulate across both large and small items, and both gentle and more engaging textures.
Q: How do I clean them?
A: Most pieces are plastic and dishwasher-safe; for delicate items, lightly wipe with a sanitized cloth.
Q: Can this fit into existing training kits?
A: Yes—the draw-string bag is portable and compact enough to tuck into tote cases or be stored on a shelf.
Q: Who benefits most from this set?
A: Facilitators, trainers, teachers, HR professionals, and learners themselves —anyone working with medium-sized groups who want versatile tactile tools to improve focus, relieve stress, and boost engagement. While children also benefit from fidget tools, Trainers Warehouse focuses on creating a professional fidget set for meeting attendees.
WHY TRAINERS WAREHOUSE FIDGETS?
This super-versatile 48-piece collection has a little of everything. That is... everything that meets our Trainers Warehouse criteria for an excellent fidget toy! It must be:
- Durable
- Have an interesting motion: stretching, flexing, squeezing, shaping, molding, etc.
- Look good but not so good that it becomes a distratction
- Build relaxation and focus in learning events and meetings
- Help your group feel more at ease!
- Not be too loud or distracting to other learners.
This terrific set comes in its own durable draw-string plastic storage bag and weighs about 5 lbs.
(Substitutions occasionally necessary).
Click here to view FREE Facilitation Notes on using FIDDLES in the classroom!
Enrich the "sensory diet" of your learners. Our "fiddles" may look like toys to the untrained eye, but they are truly serious learning tools. Kinesthetic learners will focus better and absorb your material more quickly if they have something to do with their hands.
MORE RESOURCES
The goal of this lively, playful game is to get as many of your team's blindfolded players through the minefield as quickly as possible, without stepping on any of the booby traps. Success requires excellent communication, trust, leadership and team coordination.
- Build trust and develop communication skills
- Practice process improvement
- Low-cost and loads of fun
- Perfect for 10-30 players
- Includes everything you need for a successful facilitation
HOW IT'S PLAYED
Goal: To get as many of your team’s players through the maze as quickly as possible without stepping on any of the obstacles/booby traps within the time limit.
Scoring: Teams gain one point for every player that moved completely through the maze without stepping on any of the obstacles/booby traps.
Winning: The team with the most points accumulated at the end of the game.
Timing: 5 to 7 minutes per round, 2 to 3 rounds per game. Expect approximately 45-55 minutes per average game
MATERIALS INCLUDED
- 24 Felt squares
- 10 Cones
- 8 Half-Pipes
- 1 Roll of Painters Blue Tape
- 20 Blindfolds
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The focus of this game is on building trust and managing complex tasks. To the degree that teams plan strategically and coordinate efforts, they can improve, collaborate and compete efficiently. Separate "rounds" are suggested for:
- Competitive Mode
- Collaborative Mode
- Inter-team Collaboration Mode
Debrief the experience to focus on topics of: Trust, Communication, Listening, Big team/Small team Collaboration, Leadership, Strategic Planning, Systems Integration, Creative Problem Solving
FACILITATION TIPS & GUIDELINES
Each team will need about 25 to 30 square feet of space to operate the program effectively. You can play indoors or out. If outside, always try to find level ground to avoid unfair play. Safety Check: Be sure to ask if anyone has any physical limitations that might prevent them from enjoying the game. If so, assign those players to act as “Strategic Observers” and carefully observe the results of players actions and behaviors and make direct honest constructive comments.
Timing will look something like this:
- Introduce game: 5-10 minutes
- Strategic planning I: 5-10 minutes
- Round 1 of Maze walking: 5-7 minutes
- Strategic planning II: 5-7 minutes
- Round 2 of Maze walking: 5-7 minutes
- Optional round three for strategizing and maze walking: 10-15 minutes
- Debrief: 15-30 minutes
Complete Facilitation Notes
The 10-page guide includes the following:
- Facilitator instructions
- Team set-up
- Number of players per team
- Number of teams on a single maze
- Player Rules
- Suggested "map" for creating the maze
- Debrief questions for Collaborative, Competitive, or Inter-team play
UNZIP-it!™ AND START TALKING ABOUT TOPICS THAT MATTER!
It's time to open up the conversation and talk about the unspeakable! Pop a bunch of pertinent questions into the UNZIP-it!™ zipper mouth and pass the pouch from player to player. Unzip the playful pocket and pull out a discussion topic to spark conversation and build relationships. Invite recipients to pull out a topic, read it to the group and respond.
Stuff the pocket with the deck of 30 cards. Each deck contains the same prompts as its namesake Thumball (you can customize any blank cards with your own discussion prompts)
UNZIP-it!™ WITH THE COMMON GROUND DECK
As you try to generate conversation and build new friendships and relationships, a key challenge is finding “common ground” experiences and interests that you share with others. This deck helps to uncover these commonalities. (Click on the card images above to see the prompts)
COMMON GROUND PROMPTS
The Common Ground discussion prompts help build new friendships and relationships, by helping you explore experiences and interests that you share with others.
Prompts will help players to delve into new topics that draw out commonalities and shared experiences, for instance:
- Time: Ways to spend free time, weekends, vacations, etc.
- Favorites: Favorite foods, activities, apps, show, books
- People: Family and friends who impact your life
- Growth: Goals, talents, or skills you'd like to develop
- Moolah: What you'd spend money on
- You: claims to fame and more...
The inscription on the back says it all:
Feeling shy about speaking out?
Or, not sure what to talk about?
It's easy now to start the flow,
And have discussions bloom and grow.
Unzip the pouch and pick a topic,
Big and broad, or microscopic,
A prompt that doesn't dig too deep,
Or one that makes you take a leap.
Go ahead, reach in and pick it,
Read the prompt and then UNZIP-it!
Pocket: 8” x 6”
Cards: 3.5” x 2.5”
[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]
** TIPS **
Facilitation Suggestions:
Take turns circulating the UNZIP-it!™ Ask players to answer the prompt they've pulled out of the pouch
If you want to kick it up a notch, try these creative twists:
- Ask players to anticipate what answer will be given by another player.
- Have players recall answers given by previous responders, before adding their own answer.
- Ask first recipient to select a question panel to which all players must respond or contribute.
- Ask listeners what they think the prompt was.
©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.
UNZIP-it!™ AND START TALKING ABOUT TOPIC THAT MATTERS!
It's time to open up the conversation and talk about the unspeakable! Pop a bunch of pertinent questions into the UNZIP-it!™ zipper mouth and pass the pouch from player to player. Unzip the playful pocket and pull out a discussion topic to spark conversation and build relationships. Invite recipients to pull out a topic, read it to the group and respond.
Stuff the pocket with the deck of 30 cards. Each deck contains the same prompts as its namesake Thumball (you can customize any blank cards with your own discussion prompts)
UNZIP-it!™ WITH GETTING TO YOU KNOW PROMPTS
Learn more about yourself and others with the Getting to Know You deck open-ended team building activity. It's the perfect conversation starter for icebreakers, energizers, team building, and more. (Click on the pink card images above to see the prompts)
GETTING TO KNOW YOU DISCUSSION PROMPTS
The prompts on the Getting to Know You Deck are intended to be thoughtful, yet easy-to-answer. They'll help spark conversation and allow players to learn more about one another. Prompts focus around topics such as:
- Experiences: memorable moments in your life
- People: Family and friends who have impact your life
- Most favorite and least favorite: Gifts, ages, sounds, chores
- Activities: pastimes, hobbies, bucket list items, travel
- Hopes, Fears and Wishes: the details that make you unique
The inscription on the back says it all:
Feeling shy about speaking out?
Or, not sure what to talk about?
It's easy now to start the flow,
And have discussions bloom and grow.
Unzip the pouch and pick a topic,
Big and broad, or microscopic,
A prompt that doesn't dig too deep,
Or one that makes you take a leap.
Go ahead, reach in and pick it,
Read the prompt and then UNZIP-it!
Pocket: 8” x 6”
Cards: 3.5” x 2.5”
[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]
** TIPS & FACILITATION SUGGESTIONS **
Take turns circulating the UNZIP-it!™ Ask players to answer the prompt they've pulled out of the pouch
If you want to kick it up a notch, try these creative twists:
- Ask players to anticipate what answer will be given by another player.
- Have players recall answers given by previous responders, before adding their own answer.
- Ask first recipient to select a question panel to which all players must respond or contribute.
- Ask listeners what they think the prompt was.
©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.
UNZiP-it!™ and start talking about topics that matter!
It's time to open up the conversation and talk about the unspeakable! Pop a bunch of pertinent questions into the UNZiP-it!™ zipper mouth and pass the pouch from player to player. Unzip the playful pocket and pull out a discussion topic to spark conversation and build relationships. Invite recipients to pull out a topic, read it to the group and respond.
Stuff the pocket with the following deck of 30 pre-printed cards. Each deck contains the same prompts as its namesake Thumball (you can customize any blank cards with your own discussion prompts)
Pocket: 8” x 6”
Cards: 3.5” x 2.5”
[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]
UNZiP-it!™ With Session Openers Deck Prompts
The prompts on Session Opener are intended to build relationships and tease out session goals, so that facilitators can get their learning sessions off to a good start. To this end, prompts primarily cover these three categories:
- Getting to Know You - dreams, peeves, wishes, decisions, frustrations, talents
- Learning Styles - best teachers, preferred learning methods, learning goals
Work Styles - proudest accomplishments, creative contributions, strengths
The Session Openers deck helps people get beyond knowing each other and contains deeper questions about motivations, goals, and what makes people tick. The most compelling reason to break the ice is to create a stress-free environment, optimized for learning. (Click on the green card images above to see the prompts)
The inscription on the back says it all:
Feeling shy about speaking out?
Or, not sure what to talk about?
It's easy now to start the flow,
And have discussions bloom and grow.
Unzip the pouch and pick a topic,
Big and broad, or microscopic,
A prompt that doesn't dig too deep,
Or one that makes you take a leap.
Go ahead, reach in and pick it,
Read the prompt and then UNZIP-it!
** TIPS **
Facilitation Suggestions:
Take turns circulating the UNZIP-it!™ Ask players to answer the prompt they've pulled out of the pouch
If you want to kick it up a notch, try these creative twists:
- Ask players to anticipate what answer will be given by another player.
- Have players recall answers given by previous responders, before adding their own answer.
- Ask first recipient to select a question panel to which all players must respond or contribute.
- Ask listeners what they think the prompt was.
©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.
Look under your thumb and share!
The Building Bridges Thumball™ focuses on issues of trust. Discuss factors that contribute to the development of trust, and building trusting relationships in the process. Simply toss the ball and ask the recipient to share a reaction to whatever prompt lies under their thumb. Thumballs are soft-sided 6" stuffed balls. They look like a soccer ball but are soft and safe for indoor use.
Trust allows us to take risks, open up, and look for mutually beneficial solutions when conflicts occur. Trust gives us peace of mind when we need to rely on one another, and comfort to share our vulnerabilities. Like a bridge, trust also brings people together and deepens relationships. Then, with strong relationship, we enjoy emotional support, confidence, reduced stress, good health, and happiness. Building trust starts with communication - asking the right questions and taking the time to listen.
BUILDING TRUST THUMBALL PROMPTS
The Building Bridges Thumball provides 32 discussion prompts, engineered to foster respect and develop shared understanding about our commonalities, values, and sensitivities. Trust allows us to take risks, open up, and look for mutually beneficial solutions when conflicts arise. Building trust starts with communication - asking the right questions and taking the time to listen.
Discuss...
- Causes of trust and distrust
- People you entrust with secrets
- Impact of promises, apologies, and lies
- Ways to make others feel safe
- Dealing with mistakes and resistance
- Being genuine
- and more!
[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]
** TIPS & Facilitation Suggestions **
Expect to adapt your use of this tool to the needs and experience of your group.
Some may be able to give quick or pat answers to a prompt; others might want to take some time to discuss or brainstorm best practices; still others might benefit from delving into a conversation about how trust impacts relationships in order to discuss why it's important.
If a player finds a prompt particularly difficult, invite them to take a PASS, ASK A FRIEND, or request a DISCUSSION about why it matters.
Options:
- Discuss similarities or differences in replies.
- Have everyone respond to the same prompt.
- Discuss the long-term implications of various actions.
©Trainers Warehouse 2023 – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.
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EQ Thumball® Set is an emotional intelligence training game that helps teams and classrooms build self-awareness, empathy, and trust. This team-building icebreaker ball sparks conversation with every toss, turning abstract EQ concepts into interactive learning. Talk about self-awareness, empathy, trust, resilience, collaboration, and more. Perfect for leadership development, coaching, or social-emotional learning programs, the EQ Thumball® makes emotional intelligence training active and memorable.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Improve emotional self-awareness and self-regulation
- Build trust and empathy in teams
- Encourage resilience and stress management
- Enhance listening and interpersonal communication skills
DEVELOPING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Make it easy to talk about Emotional Intelligence in a fun and casual way, as well as build these five essential EQ competencies:
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Regulation
- Motivation
- Empathy
- Social Skills
THE EQ THUMBALL SET
Emotional Intelligence is the capability of individuals to recognize their own emotions and those of others, discern between different feelings and label them appropriately, use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to environments or achieve one's goal(s).
We've specially selected this set of 6 Silver Series Thumballs, with more than 150 discussion topics, to stimulate conversations around Emotional Intelligence. Choose a ball that will help stir up simple conversation or develop deeper understanding about the world around you. The balls are super easy to use! Just toss it to another player and ask the recipient to look under their thumb and respond to the prompt.
- Set of 6 EQ-focused Thumballs® Each Silver Series Thumball (6" stuffed vinyl ball) looks like a cool soccer ball but is pre-printed with 32 questions/discussion prompts. They are suited for adults and teens alike!
- Each ball features conversation prompts that build emotional intelligence skills
- Durable, soft 6″ fabric balls with stitched panels
- Free mesh carrying bag
Following are more details about each of the popular Silver Series Thumballs in the Emotional Intelligence set:
- Emotional Intelligence Thumball: Develop your teams’ EQ by facilitating conversations that help participants grow more aware of their motivations, measure their reactions to difficult situations, and hone techniques to manage those emotions.
- Building Trust Thumball: Build bridges by fostering trust and respect and developing shared understanding about interests, values, and sensitivities.
- Common Ground Thumball: Discover shared experiences and interests. As you try to generate conversation to build new friendships and relationships, a key challenge is finding "common ground." This ball offers a fun way to uncover these commonalities.
- What Makes You You Thumball: Set the groundwork for deeper conversations. It was developed to help groups scratch below the surface and explore motivations, goals, and what makes you tick.
- Developing Resilience Thumball: Explore how individuals and teams can foster patience, acceptance, gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, and personal composure.
- Getting to Know You Thumball: Ask probing questions that get to your phobias, wishes, and favorite moments. For individuals who know each other pretty well already, it's an excellent way to dig a little deeper and learn something more!
©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.
WHY FACILITATORS LOVE THIS SET
- Active learning: Gets participants moving, talking, and thinking—ideal for experiential training.
- Deeper connections: Prompts explore emotions, trust, communication, and personal growth.
- Versatile: Use for icebreakers, coaching, team-building, or leadership development.
- Inclusive engagement: A safe, playful way to bring every voice into the conversation.
BEST USES
- Leadership training and coaching
- Team-building and staff retreats
- Classroom discussions on social-emotional learning (SEL)
- Conflict resolution and diversity workshops
FAQS
Q: How do you play?
A: Toss the Thumball®, catch it, and answer the question under your thumb. It’s that simple—and it works for groups of 4+ participants.
Q: What skills does the EQ set build?
A: It's an excellent emotional intelligence training game! The prompts focus on emotional intelligence—helping participants explore self-awareness, empathy, trust, resilience, and communication.
Q: Can I mix sets?
A: Yes! Many facilitators combine different Thumball® sets to align with training themes or keep activities fresh.
Q: Who uses EQ Thumballs® most?
A: Trainers, HR teams, facilitators, teachers, and coaches who want to build stronger, more self-aware teams.
Q: How durable are they?
A: Each 6″ ball is made with stitched, fabric panels for long-lasting use in training, classrooms, and workshops.
FROM A DELIGHTED TRAINER, WINSOME CULLEY
COMPARE THUMBALL® SETS
Not sure which set is right for you? Here’s how the EQ Thumball® Set stacks up against other popular Trainers Warehouse Thumballs®:
| Set | Number of Balls | Key Themes |
|---|---|---|
| Team Development | 6 | Team dynamics, leadership, stress, workplace ethics |
| Getting Acquainted | 6 | Icebreakers, introductions, common ground |
| EQ (Emotional Intelligence) | 6 | Emotional awareness, trust, resilience, empathy |
| Sessions | 3 | Session openers, reviews, and closers |
| Diversity & DEI | 3 | Diversity, equity, inclusion conversations |
| Just for Fun | 6 | Favorites, “Would you rather?”, energy breaks |
| Wellness | 6 | Stress, resilience, happiness, healthy change |
MORE RESOURCES
All about Silver Series Thumballs
Tips & Suggestion on Facilitating Thumball Experiences
7 Tips to formulate great questions
More tools for great conversations
How Deep to Discuss Infographic
Tips for facilitating difficult situations
24 signs to discourage (or invite) distractions!
Deskmate Plus is the newest version of our popular Deskmate series with a slightly larger format and updated graphics and signs. Still compact at 5” x 7”, Deskmate Plus is more than 50% larger than our classic Deskmate Product (Code #CLTDDM), so you can be sure that everyone will "get the message"!
The Deskmate Plus is the perfect gift for yourself, your team or your colleagues.
NEED TIME AND SPACE TO GET STUFF DONE?
We know how you feel when you're trying your hardest to get stuff done and people keep coming to visit, ask a question, request help, tell you a story, share an experience, or just chat. You want to be nice, but you also need to do your work! Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, found that the typical office worker is interrupted or switches tasks, on average, every 3 minutes. And it can take over 23 minutes just to get back to where they left off.
Whether you're in training, participating in a webinar, or just trying to get work done, you want to be nice, but you also need to focus on the task at hand.
With so many people working from home, use these signs to let the rest of your household know when you are not available - or when you are available!
DESKMATE PLUS SAYS IT ALL, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO!
We've created these 24 signs to help you say what needs to be said, in a lighthearted tone. The 24 playful yet direct DeskMate Plus signs allow you to tell people to GO AWAY (Or C'MON IN!)… nicely. Signs are printed on both sides, so they're visible from the front and the back. And, as a special feature, the back of the book can be written on with a dry-erase marker (Product Code #DEMNN not included), allowing you to leave a note about when you expect to return!
COME IN: 6 signs to show that you're open and available — to chat, answer questions, or just schmooze.
- Welcome
- Let's Chat
- No Prob
- Can I Help?
- Come Share
- Politics-free Zone
I'M BUSY: 12 friendly, ways to let colleagues know you're focusing, on deadline, or in a meeting. Encourage them to kindly come back later.
- Crunching Data
- Keep it Down
- Not Right Now
- Privacy
- Come Back
- Don't Ruin My Focus
- L8R
- Ideas Brewing
- On Deadline
- Do Not Disturb
- In a Meeting
- On a Call
I'M AWAY: 6 signs to let your team know you'll be away from your desk for a while.
- Went For Java
- Out to Lunch
- Out of Office
- I'm Here Somewhere
- BRB
- Working From Home
DeskMate Plus is constructed in a sturdy calendar-style, and stands 5"H x 7"W.
UNZIP-it!™ AND TALK ABOUT TOPICS THAT MATTER!
It's time to open up the conversation and talk about the unspeakable! Pop a bunch of pertinent questions into the UNZIP-it!™ zipper mouth and pass the pouch from player to player. Unzip the playful pocket and pull out a discussion topic to spark conversation and build relationships. Invite recipients to pull out a topic, read it to the group and respond.
Stuff the pocket with the deck of 30 pre-printed cards. Each deck contains the same prompts as its namesake Thumball (you can customize any blank cards with your own discussion prompts).
UNZIP-it!™ WITH A DIVERSITY DECK
The Diversity deck is fun training tool that tackles a difficult topic with smarts and sensitivity. We live in a diverse world with many differences that are visible, like skin color, gender, height or weight, physical challenges and age. Many other differences may not be visually apparent, but still affect how individuals feel or are treated: ethnicity, socio-economic position, sexual orientation, virginity, use or non-use of alcohol, allergies, intellect, depression and other emotional diseases. (Click on the card images to see the prompts)
Pocket: 8” x 6”
Cards: 3.5” x 2.5”
DIVERSITY CONVERSATION PROMPTS
Explore the topic of diversity by chatting about these topics:
- Sources of your attitudes towards people unlike yourself
- Experiences in which you felt like an outsider or shared an unpopluar idea
- Important aspects of your identity that feel important
- Origins and experiences with prejudice
- Ways to combat discrimination and make others feel included
- Bias based on gender, disabilities, age, race, sexual identity...
THE INSCRIPTION SETS THE STAGE FOR SHARING
Feeling shy about speaking out?
Or, not sure what to talk about?
It's easy now to start the flow,
And have discussions bloom and grow.
Unzip the pouch and pick a topic,
Big and broad, or microscopic,
A prompt that doesn't dig too deep,
Or one that makes you take a leap.
Go ahead, reach in and pick it,
Read the prompt and then UNZIP-it!
[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]
** TIPS & FACILITATION SUGGESTIONS **
Take turns circulating the UNZIP-it!™ Ask players to answer the prompt they've pulled out of the pouch
If you want to kick it up a notch, try these creative twists:
- Ask players to anticipate what answer will be given by another player.
- Have players recall answers given by previous responders, before adding their own answer.
- Ask first recipient to select a question panel to which all players must respond or contribute.
- Ask listeners what they think the prompt was.
©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.
MORE RESOURCES
DISCUSSION STARTERS THAT GET YOU TALKING ABOUT MEANINGFUL TOPICS
It's time to open up the conversation and talk about the unspeakable! Pop a bunch of pertinent questions into the UNZIP-it!™ zipper mouth and pass the pouch from player to player. Unzip the playful pocket and pull out a discussion topic to spark conversation and build relationships. Invite recipients to pull out a topic, read it to the group and respond.
Stuff the pocket with the following deck of 30 pre-printed cards. The Shaped By Our Past deck helps people get to know each other by looking into the past and the roads traveled. Walk a mile in someone else's shoes to understand what makes people tick! We are who we are today because of our history and our lifetime of experiences. Encourage your group to share details of their past -- school, friends, family, hobbies, challenges, and more! (Click on the card images above to see the prompts).
Each deck contains the same prompts as its namesake Thumball (you can customize any blank cards with your own discussion prompts)
Pocket: 8” x 6”
Cards: 3.5” x 2.5”
UNZIP-it!™ * SHAPED BY OUR PAST CONVERSATION PROMPTS
The "Shaped by Our Past" collection of prompts draw out the experiences in our life that helped shape who we are today. Among them you'll find:
- Childhood memories: birthdays, vacations, regrets
- Past experiences: scary moments, hospital visits, turning points, accomplishments
- Daily life when you were younger: extracurricular activities, friendships, summer traditions
- People & personalities: impact of birth order, mentors, grandparents
The inscription on the back will get you started:
Feeling shy about speaking out?
Or, not sure what to talk about?
It's easy now to start the flow,
And have discussions bloom and grow.
Unzip the pouch and pick a topic,
Big and broad, or microscopic,
A prompt that doesn't dig too deep,
Or one that makes you take a leap.
Go ahead, reach in and pick it,
Read the prompt and then UNZIP-it!
[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]
©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.
Don't reserve praise for only your top performers. Everyone likes to receive praise and it feels good to give it. Encourage sharing appreciation of others with these unique card/ token combo.
Each colorful 3.5" x 2" card is printed on one side with this motivational message:
Too often in our circles,
appreciation goes unspoken,
So, let us start anew with this very special token.
Please don't stash it in a wallet or leave it at your "station",
"Pass it on" to a fellow friend, in an Act of Appreciation.
As on and on it travels, giving thanks and recognition.
Ours will become a place of brightened disposition.
THANKS!
Attached with a glue dot to each card is a beautiful "Token of Appreciation." The token is inscribed with "Token of Appreciation" on one side; the reverse says "Pass it along." and easily detaches from the card. Each token is 1" diameter. Solid medium-weight metal feels great in your hand!
Sold in sets of 10 cards/ tokens.
Doggone-it! There's no need to stress when you're the top dog.
Give this squeeze toy to your top dogs and all the folks to make an effort to lead the pack.
Top Dog Squeezies are great as rewards and fidget toys!
Measures 4.75" tall by 2.5" wide.
Don't leave follow-up to chance! I GOT THIS Notepads are ideal for debrief and review of training sessions, classes and seminars. Whether you are a coach, trainer, teacher or presenter, hand these notes out to your participants so they can quickly jot down:
3 - Things I learned
2 - Actions to apply what I learned
1 - Way I'll share my learning
Convenient 4" x 6" size to fold up so participants can take with them as a reminder or they can share feedback with you on the spot. Collect them after your session and share with the rest of the group, or call on participants to make it an interactive review.
I Got This Note Pad Set (50 sheets/pad; 4 pads/set).
The Get Movin' Thumball is designed to give groups the energy breaks they need after sitting still for a while. It's perfect to get the blood flowing, re-energize, and re-focus during meetings and training events! The Thumball provides 32 prompts to get mobile – stretching, dancing, balancing and moving about in playful ways.
ENERGY BREAK THUMBALL PROMPTS
Prompts include a variety of stretches, yoga poses, playful movements, breathing exercises, toe taps, dances, and more. In developing the prompts, we are careful not to including movements that would be uncomfortable or embarrassing for kids or adults. As with any exercise, be sure to give your participants an out, or choose a different prompt if desired. Encourage everyone do do the motion at once.
** TIPS & FACILITATION SUGGESTIONS **
- Explain the goal: Moving around is an excellent way to stimulate and reinvigorate the brain, as it gets the blood flowing and spreading nutrients throughout the body. In a spirit of transparency, explain these benefits to your group so they understand the goal is to get moving.
- Invite modifications: Welcome your group to make any alterations to the suggested movements in order to accommodate physical limitations, protect themselves from injury, or even save themselves from embarrassment. Invite them to participate “if they are able.”
- Go for balance: remind your group to treat both sides equally, repeating movements on their right and left sides.
-
Start playing: Movement can be beneficial at any time during a learning event or meeting, such as:
- Energize the group after lunch -- Toss the ball to a recipient and have them read the prompt and demonstrate the movement to the whole group. Encourage all who can to join in for 1 to 3 minutes.
- Learning review – Pick a movement and relate it to something the group has just learned. Alternatively, toss the ball and have the recipient perform the movement while they think up their answer to a review question.
- Break the ice – Have the ball recipient do the movement described the panel, then have others in the group share a moment that the movement reminds them of.
©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.
MORE RESOURCES
Improve communications skills with the Murder Mystery Deck v3
Use this popular 30-minute Murder Mystery game to improve communication skills, team building, problem solving, leadership, and more. Simply distribute the 27 clues among the participants. By sharing information, your group should be able to identify the victim, murder weapon, time and place of the murder, and motive.
As with any team building game, the true learning comes when they discuss the techniques that helped or hindered their process. Facilitation Notes included.
OBJECTIVES for MURDER MYSTERY Communication Game
- Make discussions more productive
- Enhance problem solving skills
- Differentiate "task-related" and "process-related" comments
- Discover productive team behaviors
- Increase clarity of communications
- Improve listening and questioning skills
- Aid participation and involvement
- Increase critical thinking skills
- Increase awareness of the contributions of others
APPLICATIONS
- Discussion Skills
- Facilitation Skills
- Train-the-Trainer
- Problem Solving
- Team Work
- Communication Skills
- Collaboration
- Leadership/Supervision
- Interpersonal Skills
- Empowerment Group Dynamics
Working remotely? Email a few clues to each player and try to sort it out over the phone--maybe with a shared online whiteboard! After all clear phone communication is more important now than ever!
Cards measure 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches
ZIN OBELISK GAME
This challenging mathematical puzzle is made even more complex, by using made-up words in the fictitious, ancient city of Atlantis, where a solid, rectangular obelisk -called a zin - was built in honor of the goddess Tina. The structure took less than two weeks to complete and the group's task is to determine the day of the week on which the obelisk was completed.
To play, each participant receives 1-5 clues, which can only be shared verbally. Together, teams must figure out the day the Obelisk was completed. Success requires organization, leadership, coordination, listening, problem solving, and processing skills. Most groups require 15-25 minutes to arrive at a solution.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Have clearly defined goals
- Collaborate! Work together
- Share the leadership
- Share knowledge-on complex tasks, one person rarely has all the answers
- Listen to each other
- Clearly articulate ideas
- Manage ambiguity through discussion
- Make sure everyone has a common understanding of terminology
USES FOR Zin Obelisk - Use this mathematical team challenge to:
- Make discussions more productive
- Enhance problem solving skills
- Increase clarity of communications
- Discover productive team behaviors
- Foster participation and involvement
- Improve awareness of others
- Improve listening skills and questioning techniques
Enhance a variety of training and development initiatives:
- Communication and Listening Skills
- Problem-Solving
- Team Building
- Leadership Development
- Cooperation
- EQ & El Skills
TIME: 30-60 mins for Introduction, Gama Play, Debrief, and Closure.
PARTICIPANTS: 5-8 players per team; multiple teams can play against each other.
Working remotely? Email a few clues to each player and try to sort it out over the phone--maybe with a shared online whiteboard! After all clear phone communication is more important now than ever!
** TIPS **
Feel free to adapt the full facilitation notes included as a booklet in the card deck to the needs of your group and your material:
- Display the instructions on an overhead, flip chart, or whiteboard. Or, give a printed copy to each team.
- Keep notes during the exercise so you can refer to them during the debrief.
- If the group did not discuss their process during the activity, share a handout explaining the definitions and differences between Task-Related and Process-Related discussions.
- Record "learning points" on a flip-chart for follow-up and future reference.
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