Making Friends with IDD: Fun Icebreakers to Try

Have you noticed that making friends becomes more difficult as you get older? New acquaintances can be challenging, especially in adult life where we have other responsibilities to be mindful of. In the IDD community, adults can face obstacles including difficulty communicating ideas, and emotions, and overcoming the discomfort of meeting someone new. Yet, everyone loves to make a new friend! Friendships are essential- it’s great to have someone to talk to, have things in common with, and to have someone in your life who cares about your well-being. Below are some fun icebreakers to try when meeting someone new who may just become your new amazing friend. 

1. Asking Where They are From 

   This one may seem obvious and common but it’s a nice way to not only ask the other person about themselves but to get to know more about their home. Perhaps you’ve never been to the place they are from and are interested in learning more. Or maybe you are quite familiar with where they are from and have your own stories and experiences to share. Knowing more about the other person’s background is important and can help lead to other conversations. 

2. What Are Their Favorite Hobbies?

   Knowing what someone else likes to do can not only help to identify common interests between the two of you, but you can also trade ideas on new and fun activities to try. For example, you may like to play sports, and the other person likes to play instruments. Trying new hobbies together can be an entertaining way to get to know each other more. 

3. What Type of Music Do They Like? 

   Everyone loves music, and it’s a fabulous form of self-expression. Music makes us happy, and we like to share our favorite songs and musicians with others. Having music in common creates a special bond- whether you want to sing together, listen to music in the car, or recommend new songs to your friends, it opens a lot of conversation! 

4. What is Their Favorite Movie? 

   Movies are another topic that most people enjoy. Perhaps you both like to watch horror movies or comedy. Perhaps new movies are coming to theaters soon that you may both want to check out. Even if you don’t have the same movie genre in common, it’s a great conversation starter to see what the other person likes.

5. Do They Have Any Pets?

   Pets can be a very special part of our lives. Whether you have a dog you like to walk each day, or a cat to watch movies on the couch with, sharing more about our pets can create a happy, emotional conversation. If you don’t have any pets, maybe you could share about a pet you once had who still holds special meaning to you, or a specific pet you’d like to have one day. 

6. Do They Attend College or Program?

   Icebreakers are especially great if you meet someone attending the same college as you because then you already have at least one thing in common! Knowing someone’s educational interests can help to see if you have similar career goals or have taken similar classes or programs. College can be difficult and stressful, so having someone to chat with about college is a great stress reliever as well. 

7. Do They Have a Job?

   Maybe one or both of you work a part- or full-time job. Get to know what they do in a typical workday, or what tasks they need to complete. Their job could be stressful and having a conversation with someone to vent about their feelings can help reduce anxiety about work. Perhaps they have a job they’d like to have someday that they are working towards, and having a friend to lean on can help them! 

Try this challenge for yourself the next time you meet someone new: use some of the above icebreakers but try to come up with a few new ones that you can not only use but share with others! Whether you are chatting with new friends virtually or meeting others in a public setting such as a new job or school, remember the other person may be nervous and stressed as well. Conversation starters are a nice choice to start exploring new friendships.