Mosquito Game

Instructions:

  • Everyone stands in a circle except one person who stands in the middle 

  • The person in the middle pretends to hold the mosquito in their pocket

  • When the person releases the mosquito over someone’s head, that person ducks

  • The people on either side of the ducking person turn towards each other and pat each other’s palms over the head of the ducking person (as if to smash the mosquito)

  • The mosquito moves to the right, and the person on the right that had just clapped with a peer, now ducks

  • The previously ducking person is now the left-side clapper as they pat hands with the person on the right of the ducking person  

  • The sequence continues around the circle until someone messes up (i.e. they forget to duck, or clap hands, etc.)

  • The facilitator pauses the group to troubleshoot

    • What isn’t working?

    • What is working?

    • What will we do differently?

  • Begin again

  • Once the group is moving confidently, a second mosquito can be released in the circle 

  • If mistakes continue, the facilitator pauses the group to troubleshoot again as often as necessary

Praxis (why + theory):

The Mosquito Game is undeniably my favorite to use in organizing spaces–probably because that is where I learned it: embedded within one of my YogaRoots On Location Yoga Teacher Training meetings. The game, in its praxis, is similar to Rockin Robin (outlined on page 20 of this book) in that both are rhythmic circle games that require long pauses for evaluation and discussion of group strategy. The Mosquito Game becomes increasingly more enjoyable as the group gets closer to the objective: a full rotation around the circle without any mistakes. 

This game is the emergent strategy principles in action. I especially enjoy the evaluative pauses as we discuss core tenets and skills of the organizer experience. For example, everyone must opt in and no one can check out (even when the mosquito is on the other side of the circle). In the process, we learn to trust that our group members will handle their work adeptly and we develop a shared system of communication. Then, together, we can adapt and evolve through each mistake. 

Games like this one foster memorable experiences amongst the group. “According to research by Dr. Karyn Purvis, scientists discovered that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapsis in the brain, unless it is done in play, in which case it only takes 10-20 repetitions” (Oaktreekids.com). With multiple repetitions and touch points, synaptic connections are forming around these skills and forming around the relationships between participants.