Fridge Art Throwbacks - Ice Breaker Game
π― Quick Summary
Participants share childhood artwork and tell the stories behind their youthful masterpieces, sparking nostalgia and laughter.
β Why This Ice Breaker Game Works
- β’This ice breaker has been used by 610 teams worldwide
- β’Rated 4.5/5.0 by 185 facilitators who used this icebreaker game
- β’Perfect ice breaker for: Fun, Team Building
π How to Play Fridge Art Throwbacks Ice Breaker (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Pre-Work & Art Collection
0 min㪠Say This:
"[Send 3-5 days before event] Hi team! For our next meeting, please bring one piece of art you created as a kid - a drawing, painting, craft project, anything! Dig through old boxes, ask your parents, or raid the attic. If you can't find anything, bring your child's artwork or we'll create 'kid-style' art together. Can't wait to see your masterpieces!"
π What to Do:
- 1.Send reminder 3-5 days before the activity
- 2.Ask participants to bring one childhood artwork (any medium: drawing, painting, craft, sculpture photo, etc.)
- 3.Age range: early childhood to teenage years
- 4.Alternatives if original art unavailable: their child's art, re-create a childhood drawing from memory, or create a 'kid-style' drawing at the meeting
- 5.Emphasize: quality doesn't matter - the story matters!
- 6.Virtual option: ask participants to photograph or scan their art to share on screen
π‘ Pro Tips:
- β’Many people keep childhood art in boxes or their parents have it - suggest asking family
- β’Encourage variety: crayon drawings, watercolors, construction paper crafts, clay projects
- β’If someone says 'I wasn't artistic as a kid,' respond: 'Perfect! We want to see the stick figures!'
- β’Have backup supplies (paper, crayons) for those who arrive empty-handed
- β’Virtual participants can hold art up to the camera or screenshare photos
Step 2: Show & Tell Stories
20 min㪠Say This:
"Welcome to Fridge Art Throwbacks! Today we're time-traveling through your childhood creativity. Each of you will share your artwork and tell us: What is it? How old were you? Why did you create it? What do you remember about making it? Let's start - who wants to go first?"
π What to Do:
- 1.Participants take turns (2-3 minutes each) showing their artwork
- 2.Each person should cover: what the art depicts, their age when created, context/memory behind it
- 3.Hold up or display the artwork so everyone can see
- 4.Encourage the group to react positively: laughter, 'awws', appreciation
- 5.After each presentation, allow 1-2 questions from the group
- 6.Continue until everyone has shared
- 7.Optional: take photos of each artwork with the artist for a gallery display
π‘ Pro Tips:
- β’The stories are the treasure - make time for them!
- β’Prompt with questions if someone's shy: 'What were you trying to draw?' 'Do you remember where you made this?'
- β’Watch for themes: 'So many of us drew houses and families!' 'Three dinosaur artists!'
- β’Some art will be hilarious (anatomy fails, weird proportions), others surprisingly skilled - celebrate both
- β’Point out adorable details: 'I love the purple sky!' 'That sun has such a happy face!'
- β’Virtual tip: use 'spotlight' or 'pin' feature to focus on the person and their artwork
- β’If someone brought their child's art, ask them to tell the story from the child's perspective
Step 3: Gallery & Reflection
10 min㪠Say This:
"What a collection! Let's take a moment to appreciate all this childhood creativity. What surprised you? Whose art made you laugh? Whose made you nostalgic? Did anyone discover they had similar childhood artistic styles? Let's create a gallery - who wants theirs displayed in the office?"
π What to Do:
- 1.Reflect on the experience as a group
- 2.Ask: 'What did you learn about your teammates today?' 'Any surprises?'
- 3.Invite observations: 'Whose style persists from childhood?' 'Who was unexpectedly artistic?'
- 4.Optional: create a physical or digital gallery displaying all the artwork with names/ages
- 5.If in-person, pin artwork to a corkboard or wall in a common area
- 6.If virtual, compile photos into a shared album or slideshow
- 7.Thank everyone for sharing their memories
π‘ Pro Tips:
- β’The displayed gallery becomes an ongoing conversation starter: 'That's YOUR butterfly drawing?'
- β’Point out connections: childhood interests that became careers, persistent artistic styles, shared themes
- β’Great reflection: 'When we were kids, we created without fear of judgment - what can we learn from that?'
- β’If someone's art reveals a talent, encourage them: 'Do you still draw?' 'Have you thought about taking it up again?'
- β’For teams that work together often, the gallery becomes a beloved office fixture
- β’Follow-up idea: host an 'Adult Art Day' where everyone creates in a similar style to their childhood art
β οΈ Common Questions (Avoid Problems)
Q: What if I don't have any childhood art and my parents don't either?
A: No problem! You have three options: (1) Create a 'kid-style' drawing at the start of the meeting using crayons and simple paper - draw how you would have as a child, (2) Bring your own child's artwork and tell their story, or (3) Describe a piece you remember creating and what it looked like, and the group can imagine it. The goal is storytelling, not the physical artifact.
Q: My childhood art is really bad/embarrassing. Do I have to share it?
A: Yes - and that's the point! Everyone's childhood art is 'bad' by adult standards, and that's what makes it endearing and funny. The worse the anatomy or proportions, the better the laughs! Frame it as: 'We were all beginners once, and that's beautiful.' The shared vulnerability of 'bad' art levels the playing field and creates connection through laughter.
Q: Can we do this activity if our team has never met in person?
A: Absolutely! For virtual teams, ask participants to photograph or scan their childhood art and share it on screen during the meeting. Use 'spotlight' or 'pin' features to focus on each person as they present. You can compile all the photos afterward into a shared digital gallery. Some teams even mail their art to the office to create a physical display, or use a digital whiteboard to create a virtual gallery wall.
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