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
