“Play is often talked about as relief from serious learning. But Play is serious learning”

-adapted from Fred Rogers

Why PLAY? Play can reduce stress. Play can increase joy. Play can help you learn. According to psychiatrist Stuart Brown “Play is a basic human need as essential to our well-being as sleep, so when we’re low on play, our minds and bodies notice.” Lynn Barnett, a professor of recreation, sports and tourism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign notes that “At work, play has been found to speed up learning, enhance productivity and increase job satisfaction; and at home, playing together, like going to a movie or a concert, can enhance bonding and communication.”

How To Play Stuff was created to enable play.

Learn how to play a new game or re-discover a game you played with your grandma. Whether you want to learn how to play hearts, soccer, team building games, or board games, we’ve got something for everyone!

Check our our Top 10 Team Building Games. Whether you have a small group, large group, or limited supplies we’ve got a game for you that will increase communication and engage even the most stubborn team members.

How to Play War

War is an easy card game involving 2 or more players.  It is generally played with a standard deck of 52 cards with Jokers, but any number of decks or types of decks can be used.  The object is to win all of the cards.  Continue reading to learn exactly how to play war.The rank of card values for...

Human Machine

Work together with a team to choose and act out a machine using only the people in your group Ideal for building: Teamwork, communication, creativity At least 10 people How to Play Human Machine Divide the group into teams of 5-7 people Tell the group that they are going to choose a machine for...

How to Play Backgammon

Backgammon is a very prestigious board game and has been around for a long time. It is highly enjoyable but most people are unaware of the rules. The general aim of the game is to clear the board of all your checkers. The first player to complete this task wins the game of Backgammon. Backgammon...

Noodle Dual

Get your group moving around and working on communication while trying to whack the other team with a pool noodle. Ideal for building: Communication, trust, and group energy 4+ people 2 standard pool noodles 2 Blindfolds Whistle if possible Boundary markers (cones, rope, circle of people, etc.) At...

How to play Speed

Speed is a popular, fast-paced card game for 2 players that is known for high energy and winner's proud bragging rights.  A game only takes a few minutes and all you need is a single deck of cards.  Most everyone knows how to play speed, but if not, it's very simple and anyone can learn. The Rules...

Tallest Tower

Work with your team using simple supplies to build the tallest tower possible before time runs out. Ideal for building: Teamwork, innovation, creativity, communication, working under pressure, dealing with disappointment There are many different ways to play this game using simple supplies. See...

How to Play Football

Football Basics: • Football is played on a marked field measuring 100 yards, an end zone at each end of the field. The field is marked with hash marks, each being a yard apart. The fifty yard line marks the center of the field with each yard line counting down until a team reaches its end zone on...

Hidden Pathway

Challenge the team to find the hidden pathway through a grid without talking Ideal for building: teamwork, Problem solving, teamwork, attention to detail Paper, rubber spots, or carpet squares to create a 4x4 or 5x5 grid on the floor for each team Mastercopy/map of the grid 5+ people Set Up: On a...

More than a Pencil

Encourage your team’s creativity and challenge them to work together to come up with a brand new use for an old tool. The pencil. Ideal for building: teamwork, communication, innovation, creativity 4-30 people Pencils Set Up: Gather enough pencils for all groups. Group sizes should be 3-4 people....

How to Play Tennis

Tennis is one of the world's most beloved and popular sports.  This is probably due to it being really fun and exciting, but also because of how quickly and easy it is to learn how to play tennis. Requiring only a usable court, a tennis racquet, a few tennis balls and a willing friend, it's...