I met a very creative educator from the Northwest, Barbara Buckner Suarez, International Certified Childbirth Educator, in Portland, OR. Below, she shares how she gets participants to know one another:

One thing new that I have started is the way I introduce people as they are coming into my 6-week series for childbirth education. I have always dreaded the "sit in a circle" introductions. I think they take up a lot of time, and the participants sit through it patiently only because they have to. I tell them that I want them to introduce themselves ala "speed dating" style and then I turn the lights down low and put on some jazzy lounge music. Then, I ask them to find at least one other couple for this first round of speed intros and answer the following question: "What's one thing you've done this week to prepare for the baby?" Give them about 5 minutes to chat (the room gets really nice and chatty and loud as people exchange their names and a bit more info before they answer the question).

Then, I ring a bell and tell them it's time to move on to another couple, where they will answer the following question: "Is it a boy? Girl? Surprise? And if you have a name, are you willing to share what it is?" After another 5 minutes or so, break them up once more; ask them to find yet another couple and answer the following question: "What has been the strangest craving or dream that they have had during this pregnancy?"

When they finish this round, I ask them to say goodbye to their newfound friends and find their seats, and I tell them that I hope everyone leaves the class with the same person they came with this evening as it is not my intent that they find someone new to go home with! This comment usually gets a laugh, and the exercise has really loosened up the group right off the bat. The whole mood is changed from when they walked in minutes prior.

This opening activity is very adaptable to a variety of groups by changing the questions they must answer to fit the group, for example, in orientation, "How many years have you been in practice?" "What is your area of experience?" "What is the oddest thing that happened to you this year?"

Thank you, Barb, for sharing a wonderful and creative idea with all of us!