Research Activity Number One

Activity: Flying Monkeys

Target participant group: At-Risk Youth

Therapeutic potential of this activity: To help youth learn to work as a team, strategize, and be competitive without getting out of hand. To promote participants to be active and use their body in a way that it might not normally be used. To provide a positive, new leisure activity.

What other groups may benefit from this activity?

Children with ADD or ADHD may benefit from this activity as an outlet for their energy. Children with Autism may also benefit from this activity depending on their level of function and whether they have difficulty with sensory integration.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity?

This activity may not be appropriate to use with geriatric clients as they could injure themselves. This activity would also not be appropriate for clients that are blind.

Activity description: A fun and physical game that encourages teamwork and provides some competition. Appropriate for a group size of 14-20 participants. This activity works best outdoors or in a gym-like setting. A large open area with clear boundaries is needed that can easily be divided in half with sufficient space on each side for the “tree house”.

Instructions/Facilitation:

• 1.      Divide the playing area in half and designate the areas for the “tree houses” which should be located on the back portions of the playing area.
• 2.      Divide the group into two teams. Assign each team one side of the playing area. Each team should go to the back line of their side.
• 3.      Line up the monkeys on the center dividing line.  Say, “Ready, set, go!”, and the players will run to try to grab the monkeys or pass them back to teammates (they cannot pick up a monkey and throw it right away).
• 4 Once all the monkeys are in possession of both teams, players can begin throwing monkeys at members of the opposing team in an attempt to eliminate the players.
• 5.      If a participant is hit with a monkey anywhere below the head, they are out and must go to the “tree house”. Head shots do not count.
• 6.      If a player catches a monkey that has been thrown at him/her, the person who threw the monkey is out.
• 7.      Players must, at all times, be in a squatting position, to simulate a monkey. A player can only stand if they have been hit and are going to the “tree house”.
• 8.      There is also a stuffed banana that will be in play. Players can throw the banana to a fellow teammate in the “tree house”. If they successfully catch it, they can come back into the game. The other team can intercept or deflect the banana without penalty, but may not go inside the “tree house” area.
• 9.      Once all of the players of one team are in the “tree house”, the other team wins.

Resources needed: 6-9 stuffed monkey animals, 1 stuffed banana, and tape

Best leadership style for this activity: Participative leadership style

Where did you find this activity?

I created this activity last semester.

Where can others find more information on this activity?

Wikipedia.com. Dodgeball. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodgeball