Blindfold activities are often used in team building workshops and touch base meetings to foster trust, communication, collaboration and problem solving among team members within.
By taking away participants’ sight, these activities encourage individuals to rely on and connect with their teammates.
Blindfold activities push teams out of their comfort zone and require them to work together in new ways to accomplish tasks.
Overall, blindfold activities aim to build stronger bonds and understanding between team members.
1. Blindfold Minefield
Instructions: Split participants into pairs with one person blindfolded. Use objects like cones, ropes, hula hoops, etc to create a “minefield” on the floor. The seeing partner verbally guides the blindfolded partner through the minefield without letting them touch any objects. Partners switch roles and repeat.
Cost: $0-50 for blindfolds and objects to create minefield
Resources Needed: Blindfolds, open space, objects for minefield
Time: 15-20 minutes
Participants: Teams of 2
Best For: Fostering communication and trust
Facilitator’s Role: Sets up minefield, pairs up participants, times activities and facilitates reflection
Participants’ Role: One partner blindfolded, relying on instructions from seeing partner to navigate minefield without touching objects
2. Blindfold Object Identification
Instructions: Blindfold participants. Place common objects with various shapes, textures, sizes, etc in their hands one at a time. Participants try identifying objects through touch alone.
Cost: $0-20 for blindfolds and various objects
Resources Needed: Blindfolds, assorted objects with different shapes/textures. We hear this from customers that regularly download our training course materials.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Participants: Individuals or pairs
Best For: Enhancing focus and communication
Facilitator’s Role: Blindfolds participants, hands objects to participants, keeps time
Participants’ Role: Blindfolded, focused on identifying objects through touch
3. Blindfold Drawing
Instructions: Pair up participants and blindfold one partner. Give seeing partner a simple image. Seeing partner describes the image for blindfolded partner to recreate it on paper. Switch roles and repeat. Compare drawings.
Cost: $0-20 for blindfolds and paper/pens
Resources Needed: Blindfolds, paper, pens/markers
Time: 15-20 minutes
Participants: Pairs
Best For: Practicing communication skills
Facilitator’s Role: Pairs up participants, blindfolds them, hands out drawing materials, times activity
Participants’ Role: One partner blindfolded, draws image based on instructions from seeing partner
4. Blindfold Maze
Instructions: Use chairs, tables, boxes etc to create a maze in a room. Blindfold participants in teams of 2-3. One seeing person verbally guides blindfolded teammates through the maze without touching walls.
Cost: $0-30 for blindfolds
Resources Needed: Blindfolds, open space, objects to build maze
Time: 15-20 minutes
Participants: Teams of 2-3
Best For: Building trust and teamwork
Facilitator’s Role: Builds maze, blindfolds participants, times activity and oversees maze navigation
Participants’ Role: 1-2 blindfolded teammates rely on seeing partner’s instructions to navigate maze
5. Blindfold Object Search
Instructions: Blindfold participants. Scatter objects around a room. Participants have 2 minutes to find as many objects as possible blindfolded.
Cost: $0-20 for blindfolds and objects
Resources Needed: Blindfolds, open space, assorted objects
Time: 10-15 minutes
Participants: Individuals
Best For: Enhancing sensory awareness, focus and problem solving
Facilitator’s Role: Scatters objects, blindfolds participants, times activity
Participants’ Role: Blindfolded, focused on finding as many objects as possible through touch
Conclusion
Blindfold walk activities allow teams to build trust, communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills by relying on each other without sight.
These activities bring teams together through shared challenges and a focus on each member’s abilities and contributions. With proper facilitation and debriefing, blindfold activities can lead to powerful insights that strengthen teamwork.
