The Old Wives Tales game is a fun, engaging youth group activity. Kids must decide whether common myths and old sayings are true or false. Use the Old Wives Tales game for an icebreaker or to introduce a lesson about truth and discernment.
This youth activity encourages critical thinking and sparks great discussions. Plus, an element of humor will hold teens’ attention.
The best part? The Old Wives Tales game requires little to no preparation. And you can easily adapt it for different group sizes and settings.
How to Play the Old Wives Tales Game
First create a list of well-known sayings and myths. Examples include:
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- If you go outside with wet hair, you’ll catch a cold.
- Swallowed gum stays in your stomach for seven years.
- Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.
- Eating carrots improves your eyesight.
- A full moon makes people act crazier.
Then either form teams or play individually. Read one statement at a time and let players decide if it’s true or false. After everyone guesses, share the answer and a brief explanation. Keep a running tally of correct answers, or simply play for fun.
Fun Variations on the Game
The classic version of the Old Wives Tales game is entertaining on its own. But add unique twists for even more excitement!
- Speed Round—Instead of taking turns, the leader reads statements quickly. Then players must respond immediately with “True” or “False” by standing up or sitting down. This version keeps the energy high.
- Act It Out—Instead of just answering true or false, players must act out what they think would happen if the myth were true. Example: If you drop food on the floor, the five-second rule makes it safe to eat. Someone would act out dropping food and dramatically deciding whether to eat it.
- Reverse Play—The leader states a truth, but players must come up with an old wives’ tale that could explain it incorrectly. Example: Exercise keeps you healthy. A player might say, “Unless you sweat too much and your body dries out!”
- Youth-Themed Edition—Instead of traditional old wives’ tales, use myths that teenagers often hear. For example:
- Drinking coffee stunts your growth.
- Listening to rock music makes you rebellious.
- You must wait 30 minutes after eating before swimming.
- If you sneeze with your eyes open, they’ll pop out.
Youth-Themed Ideas To Keep Teens Laughing
The game is already fun, but adding humor makes it even better. Here are youth-group-friendly ways to amplify the laughter factor.
- Ridiculous Rewards—Award a half-eaten bag of chips, an invisible trophy, or a tiny piece of gum. Announce the prizes in an over-the-top, game-show-host voice.
- Dramatic Reactions—Every time someone gets an answer right or wrong, encourage them to react dramatically. They can fall to the floor in defeat, dance in victory, or pretend to faint. Award extra points for the most dramatic responses.
- Expert Defenders—Pick two students to be experts who must defend why an old wives’ tale is true, even when it’s not. Example: “Of course the five-second rule works. Germs don’t have clocks!”
- Funny Penalties—If someone gets a question wrong, they must do something silly. (Walk across the room backward, speak in an accent for the next round, sing their next answer, etc.)
- Superstitions—Bring in props like a ladder, umbrella, broken mirror, or rabbit foot. Discuss whether Christians should believe in superstitions.
