Out of 104 activities I found about a dozen to use for a social skills group with 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th graders. You may not want to use ONLY this book to plan a group, but it has provided some very good ideas to incorporate into my groups.

I am so glad I bought this book, I can't wait to try these new ideas with my kids so I can excite them into learning.

This is the best book, filled with fun activities to use in therapeutic groups! I ordered another one because someone took my original copy and I can't live without it.

Sometimes, like before long school breaks, i want to plan an activity for the kids that is fun and helps them learn a little more about themselves and/or each other. This book has lots of great ideas divided by category (very helpful); i'm planning to try several of them in the next schoolyear (2008-09). Also, some of the games can be adapted to serve instructional purposes; a bonus!

I found this book to have some great ideas for group activities that introduce and teach social/emotional skills. As a social worker in a junior high school, I have implemented many of these activites into my daily activities. Highly recommended for teachers, counselors, social workers, etc.

If you're a therapist or therapy intern looking for ideas to use with children in groups, there are several good ones in here. Some need weird supplies, but most have a good core concept that you can tweak to work with common elements in the classroom. Especially good for "Social Skills" groups, which seem to be more and more popular in elementary schools today.

I bought this book for my daughter because she is doing her practie in psychology for children and she told me that too many people had recomended this book to her. Also, she was reviewing the book and she said that it is very helpfull for her.
Also, I want to thank you guys for your delivery it is excellent; this is not the first time that I order items from Amazon and I'm always very satisfy with them. Thanks a lot. Boise,Idaho

I bought this with the hope of finding experiential exercises to provide an alternative to talking-only groups. I work with an adolescent population and have used many of these activities with them. My clients enjoy the exercises. Most of the exercises would also be appropriate for an adult population, and many of them could be adapted for elementary-age children. Anyone who conducts groups on a regular basis will find this manual to be a helpful addition to his or her library.

This book is awesome... I'm a teacher and a counseling intern... I can- and already have- used ideas from this book in both settings.

I've used several activities in this book with the elementary school aged children that I work with. The book can be used with older students as well. I found that the students really enjoy these activities that can be used as ice breakers, or as a group session.

This is a simple to follow book with just enough ideas for helping you build team work, or bolster esteem...Many of the ideas can also be customized if you're creative so to better fit your situation. I rate it 4/5 stars only since I'd like more reality behind the timing of some activities. Some take longer than suggested. NOT a big deal, but something to consider when you plan... Often you have to know WHO and the TYPE of persons you are working with to really, adequately prepare the time needed for activities like these! Good luck!

It's really helpfully when you work with GROUPS (kids or teenagers), they GET BUSY and enjoy a lot, SHARING with others. For individual session it's so so.

I found the activities in the book helpful in working with adolescents, families and adults in the busy outpatient clinic where I practice. The suggestions are helpful for starting new groups, for teambuilding, learning and practicing communication skills, relationship skills or as a change of pace in an already established group.

This book is great, it has provided me with some awesome ideas that truly engage the kids I work with. It is truly amazing how some of these activities are meaningful to kids at 8 and at 17....I love this book and highly recomend it to anyone who wants to do positive activities with kids.

This games in this book are great for introductory activities, building a positive and socially interactive classroom environment, binding a group "community", easing into collaborative or cooperative learning activities, and engaging ways to take a break from more serious classroom pursuits.

This book is so fun ad has a great range of activities and skills. This would be a great tool to use with any group, I use it to help with social skills training and my class has really enjoyed it. I don't know if they realize that they are learning, but they are!

Once again, a great technique book to have up a therapists' sleeve.

Once again, a great technique book to have up a therapists' sleeve.

I use this book everyday working as a counselor in a middle school program, doing daily groups with the kids; they love activities from this book. They really get involved and gets them communicating and thinking.

This is great for when I am looking for something to do with my small groups. And the kids seem to like the diversity of activities.

I found that the activities in this book are too simple, and not flexible enough to adapt to the wide range of teens in my line of work.

I use this book everyday working as a counselor in a middle school program, doing daily groups with the kids; they love activities from this book. They really get involved and gets them communicating and thinking.

1. Easey to follow.

2.Clear objectives.

3.Very Constructive.

1. Easey to follow.

2.Clear objectives.

3.Very Constructive.

I give quarterly supervisor training meetings with about 10 supervisors from our division. I use the activities in this book to help build communications and teamwork with the supervisors.

I got this book becuase I liked JOnes' other book Team-building activities for Every Group. I was so disapointe to find a dozen or more of the activities exact duplicates of ones from the other book. Word-for-word. Other activiites in this book are good, just didnt like the covert deception that i was getting 104 activities when i already had purchased some of the once!

My son's teacher works with this book in her classroom and I find it has been helpful in helping him learn to manage his anger. All children today should be introduced to all of the skills mentioned in Alanna Jones book. Self-esteem, communication, coping skills are vital to raising a peaceful generation of children. My son's teacher has also introduced lessons on stress-management and self-esteem with "The Children's Awareness Curriculum." I encourage schools and teachers to continue on this path of helping our children.

Alanna Jones is a certified recreational therapist who has compiled an interesting set of 104 games and activities that social workers, recreational therapists, and some educators and school counselors (in substantially separate classrooms for behavior/emotional disorders) can use. The book is organized into activities that build (1) teamwork, (2) self-esteem, (3) communication, (4) self-discovery, (5) anger management, and (6) coping skills. Almost all activities are designed for elementary school aged children, but Ms. Jones, under each activity, presents variations--either in the activity itself or in the intended age group.

The crucial part of using these activities occurs after the activity is done. This is the "debriefing" part of the activity. It is absolutely necessary to do this debriefing in order that the youngster(s) arrive at some understanding of the activity just completed, and its possible meaning to them. It is assumed that the reader is comfortable with this type of debriefing, and has the skills to intercede in case the activity or debriefing are going south.

The things I liked about this book are: (1) Ms. Jones' energy and positive thinking about youngsters and her desire to provide them with challenging and thoughtful moments; (2) She explains each activity or game fully, provides lists of materials needed, gives some advice on structuring the activity; (3) This is therapy "in action," so it attracts the interest and energy of the youngsters.

I had two small questions about some of this book: (1) Self-esteem comes from accomplishing something, and I thought self-esteem activities were the weakest section of the book; and (2) In regard to anger management, these activities must be regarded as an adjunct, not the central core, of an anger management therapy program. When readers have a good therapeutic anger management therapy program at their facility (in their classroom), Ms. Jones' activities can help.

I was impressed by Ms. Jones' selection and believe it will help counselors, therapists, coaches, and recreational therapists.

This book is pretty good, but not as good as her Teamwork book. The key is that this book does not have team building activities like the other book. It only covers what is stated. I would still recommend this book for the topics it says it covers... but dont buy this for teambuilding...

I got this book hoping it would have simple, easy to use exercises to utilize in groups, with individual clients, and with families. However, it is not. Many of the exercises require extra materials and some require a good bit of creativity. I prefer the workbook types and have those are much more helpful than this one. If you are just looking for a good place to start and some creative ideas, then this book is for you. If you all ready have some resources you like and use, you may want to check this book out from a library or bookstore before buying because I was disappointed.

This is a GREAT book for Sp.Ed.Teachers,Teachers, Counselors,Church group leaders and families. Children, teens and adults can all learn more about themselves while having a good time. This book works on Self-Esteem, Coping Skills, Communication, Anger Management, Self-Discovery and Teamwork. Each game is prepared with Objectives, Audience, Group size, Materials, Description, Discussion prompts and Variations for 104 EXCITING GAMES. Most of these games can be played with ordinary household or classroom materials. Alanna Jones has also wtitten another HELPFUL and FUN BOOK called The Wrecking Yard