15 Back-to-School Night Icebreakers

Back-to-School Night can be fraught with anxiety. Parents and teachers alike want to make good first impressions. Both parents and teachers know that a good relationship with each other will smooth the way for a productive school year.

One way to put everyone at ease in your classroom on Back-to-School Night is to play some icebreaker games to help the parents get to know each other and you. These quick games won’t require anyone to take huge social risks with people they barely know – they’re geared toward fun and putting people at ease. Use them to put parents at ease before you begin your presentation.

1.   A fun opener that gets people moving is to run through a series of questions designed to break the group into smaller groups. For example, ask parents to divide according to preference, moving quickly. As soon as the group is divided, call out the next category:

·  English or Math

·  Right handed or left handed

·  Football or Baseball or Neither

·  Introvert or Extrovert

·  Early bird or night owl

·  Cat person, Dog person, Both or Neither

2. Ask each parent to share, in just two words, how they’re feeling about the new school year (e.g., “Excited & Nervous,” “Ready to Learn,” “Coffee Alone”). It’s quick, low-stakes, and gives you a rapid feel for the group’s mood.

3.   Ask parents to tell three attributes they share with their child.

4. Provide slips of paper and pens. Ask parents to write one wish or hope they have for their child’s year – academic, social, or personal – add then add it to the Classroom Wish Jar. Collect and read a few anonymously, then tuck all wishes into a decorative jar as a visual reminder of shared hopes.

5. Set a timer for 1 minute and have parents pair off. Provide a prompt (e.g., “What was your favorite subject in school?”). When time’s up, rotate. After several rounds, parents will have met multiple families in just a few minutes.

6. Before the event, collect one surprising, family-friendly fact from each parent (e.g., “I’ve climbed a volcano,” “I can play jazz piano”). Read them aloud one at a time and have the group guess which parent it belongs to – promotes laughter and curiosity.

7.  Have parents name two things their child is good at.

8. Take turns having parents tell what they would bring for show-and-tell if they were in school today, and why.

9.  Have parents list which super power they would like to have and why (i.e. being invisible, flying, x-ray vision.)

10.  Ask each parent what person, dead or alive, would they invite to dinner and why.

11.  Invite parents to bring one photo that captures a favorite family moment or their child’s proudest achievement. Ask them to share the story behind their photo – a great way to foster empathy and personal connection.

12.   In small groups, have parents take turns telling the others three things about themselves that are true and one lie. Have the rest of the group guess which one is the lie.

13. Ask parents to share one thing that they learned when they were their child’s age.

14. Form partners where neither knows the other. Then do a two-minute interview, answering questions like, “What is your favorite time of day? What is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you? What is one thing you are grateful for?” Then take turns introducing each other to the larger group.

15. Form small groups and go around the circle sharing favorite school memories.

Make sure to keep icebreakers light and enjoyable for your class parents, avoid embarrassment, and create an atmosphere that fosters a sense of commonality and belonging. 

After you’ve broken the ice, use SignUp to have parents sign up for various school activities and committees benefiting the classroom in the coming year. Classroom readers, recess supervisors, math and science station helpers, lunchroom monitors, and chaperones for field trips and parties are classic ways that parents can pitch in. 

Parents can access your SignUp for FREE, from the convenience of their smart phone, from anywhere at anytime – no registration required – and receive reminders and information about additional opportunities as the year goes on. Plan your classroom SignUp now!