“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 BS

B.S. is a simple bluffing card game.  It is known by many names including Cheat, I Doubt It, Bullshit, Bologna Sandwich, Bluff, and many others.  BS is best played with 3+ players and the object of the game is to be the first to get rid of all your cards. What you need to play BS: Standard 52-card...

How to Play Go Fish

Go Fish is a great game for 2 to 6 people.  This is how you set up the game: 5 cards (7 cards if only 2 people are playing) are dealt to each player from a standard 52-card deck. The balance of the deck is splayed out in the middle of the group. The object of Go Fish is to collect the most books...

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...

How to Play Spoons

Learn how to play Spoons, a simple card game with an active twist.  It's simple to learn and can be played by children or adults. There's even a version of spoons that has become popular as a drinking game at parties.  It's a sneaky, fast-paced and involves bluffing, so if you have a good face 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...

The Big Picture

A leader from each team studies a picture for 15 seconds and memorizes as much as possible. The leader then goes back to their team to describe the picture, who then has to draw based on the instructions. Ideal for building: communication, teamwork, understanding, positive conflict, leadership A...

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 Basketball

Basketball Basics -The object of basketball is to score on your opponent's team by putting the ball through their hoop while preventing them from scoring on your own team's hoop. This is the basic premise if you're learning how to play basketball. -2 teams of 5 players will play against each other...

How to Play Solitaire

Klondike solitaire is a basic patience game that is simple to set up, simple to play, but difficult to win. It requires a standard 52-card deck of cards (no jokers). How to Set Up Solitaire (Refer to the diagram) Place a single card face up on the left hand side of the field. Place six more cards...

Fox Walk – A Game About Behavioral Adaptation

Summary Fox walk teaches about the stalking technique of foxes, a behavioral adaptation, and the physical adaption of rabbit ears.  Predator prey relationships are explored and this is a great game to practice focus and center a groups attention.Activity Stats Group Size: 6-20 participants Ages:...