Do you love video games? Me too, and I am willing to bet a lot of your residents do as well. Instead of fearing video games as something that takes residents away from meeting others or getting out of their rooms, you can use video games to your advantage – by involving them in programming!
Here are educational program ideas involving different video games.
Drunk Goggles Mario Kart
Teach your residents about the importance of not drinking and driving by having them strap on some Drunk Goggles and sit down for a Mario Kart race. Your residents will have a lot of fun with this activity while also receiving the message of the dangers of drinking and driving.
Smash Bros and Conflict Management
Set up a Smash Bros tournament for your residents. Start the tournament with tips and tricks on how to manage conflicts, especially with roommates. Hold a conversation about how to best deal with difficult conversations so that they do not result in a brawl. Then, go ahead and battle it out in Smash Bros.
Just Dance and Staying Active
Get your residents on their feet and having fun with a game of Just Dance. Find time to talk about the importance of staying active on your health and overall wellness.
Jackbox Games and Community
Jackbox Games is a great way to get your residents talking and laughing with each other. All the games get players to interact in fun and silly ways. You can program using Jackbox when you really want to encourage your residents to get to know one another.
Overcooked and Healthy Food Choices
Bring out some fun healthy snacks for this event. Talk about the importance of eating healthy meals and getting all the nutrition needed for your body. Remember that for a lot of people in college, this is the first time they are making their own decisions about what to eat. Enjoy your healthy snacks as you all play Overcooked – a great food themed team building game.
Sports Video Games And Strategizing for Life
Use a popular sports video game, whatever is popular on your floor – FIFA? Madden? NHL? And set up a tournament. Talk with your residents about how life can be like a game and you need to strategize to make good moves. Bring up talking to academic advising early, being involved with clubs that look good on your resume, going to tutoring before it’s too late, talking to professors often, and other college strategy tips. Then, have fun watching your residents bring their different moves to the games!
Be attuned to what games your floor is interested in. Programming around a video game that most people are into already can bring those already interested in and help connect those who haven’t tried the game yet with the rest of the group. You can always set up game tournaments, have a running score board for some passive programming, or theme your bulletin board on a game everyone is interested in. I hope this has inspired you to find ways to use video games to bring your floor together!
