(Not) Okay?

Topic
- Puberty & sexuality
- Society
- Identity & emotions
Learning skills
- Self-awareness
- Empathy & social awareness
- Relationship skills
- Critical & reflective thinking
- Communication & expression
Activity type
- Group discussion
- Card game
Materials
- Printable downloads
- Self-made
Age
- 12 - 14 years
- 15 - 17 years
- 18+ years
>15 minutes
+5 players
Intermediate
Calm
Small (office, pavement)

Contributors

Mobile School

View profile

Everything you need to play this game

(Not) Okay cards Download not-okay-cards.pdf (16.1mb)
A pair of scissors

Make it yourself

Step 1

Print the cards

Print the (Not) Okay cards.

Step 2

Cut out the cards

Cut out the different cards (6 per page, 40 total).

Good job!

A step-by-step guide to play the game

Show the players one of the cards of the (Not) Okay card deck, e.g.: a girl masturbating in bed.

Ask the players if they think this situation is okay or not okay. If they think it is okay, they step to the left. If they think it is not okay, they step to the right.

Ask some or all of the players why they think the situation is okay or not okay. Encourage them to formulate their arguments in a clear and respectful way.

After the argumentation round, ask if some of the players still want to change sides after listening to the arguments of the other players and let them do so. Ask why they decided to switch sides. Was there a specific argument that made them change their mind?

Reflection is key!

Ask what the players would do if this would happen to them and how they would react if they saw this happening to someone else. Discuss how you can set and respect boundaries.

Ask if the players would switch sides if the gender, age,... of the person/people depicted changed or if the context was different. In this case:

Would you think the situation was (not) okay if the girl was a boy?
Would you think the situation was (not) okay if this was a grown-up woman?
Would you think the situation was (not) okay if this situation occurred in public (e.g. a class room, a swimming pool,...)
...

Extra game information

It is recommended to first play the Strange or Normal card game. This way, the players can get used to the methodology and you can assess which topics might be sensitive.
Build up. First start by discussing less explicit situations. If expressing their opinion is difficult for the players, just let them take sides at first.
This game was inspired by the board game "Oké?!" created by Pimento.
This game is a part of the StreetSmart sexuality package. The package aims to give youth workers the tools they need to address the topic of sexuality in a playful way with the children and young people they work with, so they can learn to make conscious, healthy and respectful decisions. Sexuality is a very broad term, encompassing various subtopics. Here, you can find a list of all activities included in our sexuality package to address these different topics:

Sexuality in general: The Sex Alphabet, The Sexuality Goose Game, Yes or No Circle, Sexuality Statement Game
Body (development): Anatomy fundamentals, Who has what?, Physical changes in puberty, Emotional changes in puberty, Life Cycle
Boundaries: Stop!, People to People, Kiss the Teddy Bear, Body Carrousel, (Not) Okay?, Body Twister
Relationships: Choose Your Relationship, My Ideal Partner, In The Worst Way Possible
Gender & sexual orientation: Labels, Sex Change, Who does what?
Safe sex: The Synonym Game, Condom Smugglers, Goodie Bag, STD-Roulette, Can I get pregnant?
Sex & media: Who is responsible?

Variations

Give all players a jar and bottle caps/coins/... Show the players one of the (Not) Okay cards. The players individually decide how much this situation transgresses their boundaries by putting that many bottle caps in their cup (you can leave the number up to them, but you can also agree upon a number in advance, e.g.: 0 = not at all, 1 = a little, 2 = somewhat, 3 = to a great extent). The game is finished as soon as one of the player's cups is full or overflows. Discuss the differences between the content of the different cups: How come some cups are almost full and others aren't?
Lay out all the cards. Ask the players to organise the cards from most okay to least okay:

Individually: All players make their own ranking. Compare and discuss the differences between the rankings of the different players.
In group: Ask the group to discuss and come to a consensus about a general ranking.

Specific learning objectives

Learn how to set and respect boundaries.
Learn that everybody's boundaries are different.
Learn how to react when people disrespect your/others' boundaries.

What people said about this game

Be the first to write a review

If you have played this game please help inform other people by giving a review.

Have you played (Not) Okay? game?

Don’t hesitate, share your feedback and help others to pick the right games. Tell us how it was and how the children reacted? Or do you have any advice for other players, a fun variation, a possible improvement?