It is such a special gift to get to know a new group of girls! You are getting ready to hear new stories of God’s faithfulness and see God’s heart in little details and in new ways! Starting fresh can be so much fun, but it can also be very scary. Sometimes, it’s awkward. We can’t seem to get the girls to open up. They can’t lock into the current conversation.
We’ve all been there! Let me challenge you to not give up if there’s a rough start. Jesus’ mission all along was pursuit of our hearts. May we reflect that aspect of our King by pursuing these girls with all we’ve got.
Below, you will find a couple of different options to get to know your group of girls! I can’t promise these will be groundbreaking, but I can promise you that they will get the girls to at least begin thinking and considering how they are doing and what’s on their minds.
Prompts to Try:
High, Low, Water Buffalo
High: The best thing that happened! Let’s hear it and let’s celebrate it with the girls.
Low: One thing that could have gone better this week.
Water Buffalo: Whatever the student wants to share! Maybe it’s something that surprised them or something they are looking forward to. This gives the girls a moment for spontaneity
1, 2, 3!
1 thing that could have gone better this week
2 things that made you smile this week
3 things that you are a grateful for
Questions to Ask
If you were to describe your week with one color, what color would you pick?
This may seem like a silly question. But it’s simple enough to get the girls thinking. And it can show you how your girls 1. perceive colors and the world they live in and 2. explain to you where they are with specific guidelines.
What emotion comes most naturally to you?
A question like this has the potential for a great conversation with your girls. The emotion they choose will show where their hearts are and what their hearts lean more toward, which in turn gives you insight on better follow up questions such as: When do you feel that way? and What events lead to you feeling that way?
Be creative when you are trying to break the ice with your girls. Something to remember as you go into these moments is that teen girls are in the beginning stages of putting words to their feelings. By asking intentional, directional questions, we are paving the way for them to both acknowledge and articulate what they are going through.
Now what? I hope you find these helpful and resourceful as you ease into getting to know your girls. As you continue, don’t forget the importance of follow-up after these ice breakers! Here are just some great follow-up questions for you to ask the next time you see your girls:
What emotions do you feel because of that?
What did you learn about God in that moment?
Can you tell me more about your family? (or whatever the student is sharing)
Do you wish things were different than how they played out?
What did you learn about yourself from that moment?
Are there any things you need help processing through?
How can I be praying for you because of what happened?