Fun connection games for couples
May 17, 2022 8:35 PM   Subscribe

My partner and I are going through a challenging season and we’re getting into conversations that leave our nervous systems “jangly”.

Recently, I suggested a made up game where we jump around and make sounds, one person starts and the other person mimics the sounds and movements until they introduce new sounds and movements, passing back and forth until we laugh. It’s silly and fun and we’ve ended up laughing and “completing the stress cycle”.

I’m looking more more options to help complete the stress cycle and reconnect. Silly and playful games like I mentioned above are ideal, but any other ideas are welcome.
posted by vividvoltage to Human Relations (6 answers total) 12 users marked this as a favorite
 
This sounds like the kind of thing that you do in a first level improv comedy class. I highly recommend trying it if one’s offered in your area — in my experience it’s very low pressure and a lot of fun.

I don’t have any particular links, but if you search for “improv games” you’ll find a bunch of stuff.
posted by danielparks at 10:56 PM on May 17, 2022 [1 favorite]


Yes, that game is called “sound and gesture” in a few improv classes I’ve taken.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:16 PM on May 17, 2022


In case it’s not too obvious: sex.
posted by kapers at 4:24 AM on May 18, 2022 [2 favorites]


I can't remember where I read it (it was definitely on metafilter!) but a couples thread suggested that when you're having tough conversations, to have a pre-determined gesture or phrase -- such as shoving a finger up your nose, or saying, "Well, I'll have to confer with the cat about that matter" -- as a way to break the ice and get you both laughing. It doesn't mean you can't pick up the serious conversation again, but it could be an interesting way to incorporate play in the middle of the jangly convos.
posted by knownassociate at 6:48 AM on May 18, 2022


In my theater we call that game "sound ball"...i.e. you are passing a "ball" and the ball happens to be a noise that the other person mimics. You can up the difficulty by adding in gestures that go along with the sound.

There are infinite variations of this. For example, instead of mimicing the sound, choose to have an authentic reaction to the sound offer. Instead of a sound, cast a "spell" and have the receiving person cast a counteracting spell.

Other popular choices...stories told one word at a time (each person alternates adding a word)...a simplified version would be to construct short "twitter-esque" postings rather than a full short story.
posted by mmascolino at 7:51 AM on May 18, 2022


Memory lists -
One person says "I'm giving you ____" (names a thing)
Other person says "I'm giving you (repeats that thing) and a ______" (new thing)
You keep adding things to the list. These can be tangible things like an elephant or a roast beef sandwich, or harder-to-give things like world peace or 'an increasing sense of doom' or entropy.

It keeps going until someone messes up or you just can't stop laughing.
To make it easier, you can pick your things in alphabetical order.

If your partnership is in a place where it would reinforce your feelings, each sentence can start, "I love you so much, I'm giving you ___"
posted by Mchelly at 1:19 PM on May 18, 2022 [1 favorite]


« Older How do I rephrase "the answer is white male...   |   Can I mainline dark chocolate? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.