Kitty party icebreaker games work best when they get everyone talking, and Chai and Chatter bingo does exactly that. Each square on the card describes a person, such as “Loves masala chai” or “Has been to Goa”, and guests mingle to find someone who matches and write her name in the square. These free human bingo cards have 30 squares, you can print up to 200 different cards, and you can also play online on phones.
Kitty party icebreaker games to print (PDF)
These four pages show the printables: a page of two 5 by 5 mingle cards with a line under each square for the name, a page of quick 4 by 4 cards, the small 3 by 3 cards and the one-page rules. Click any picture for the PDF, or use the generator at the top of the page to change the squares and the title.
Find someone who bingo: what is on the cards
The starter list has 30 squares in five groups. Every square is a friendly fact that a guest can answer in one sentence, which is the secret of a good human bingo: nobody has to share anything private.
| Group | Squares | Squares on the starter list |
|---|---|---|
| Food and home | 5 | Loves masala chai, Can make perfect gol roti, Hates spicy food, Loves cooking biryani, Has a garden |
| Places and travel | 5 | Has been to Goa, Has lived in another city, Has been on a cruise, Drives a car, Speaks three languages |
| Hobbies and talents | 8 | Loves Bollywood dancing, Can sing a whole song, Plays a musical instrument, Knows how to knit, Runs every week, Can do a cartwheel, Collects sarees, Reads before bed |
| Family and life | 8 | Has hosted a kitty, Has a pet, Has a twin or a sibling born the same month, Has more than 3 kids, Was born in winter, Has a birthday this month, Wakes up before 6, Was a school topper |
| Fun and style | 4 | Has met a celebrity, Wears glasses, Loves shopping online, Loves horror films |
How to play human bingo at a kitty party
- Hand out the cards. Every guest gets a different card and a pen.
- Explain the rule. Find a different person for each square and write her name in it. One name per square.
- Mingle. Guests walk around, ask questions and sign each other’s cards, with a time limit of 10 to 15 minutes.
- Shout bingo. The first guest with a complete line shouts bingo, and the host reads the names aloud to check them.
- Ask a follow-up. For each winning square, the guest tells the group one more thing about the person she found.
Human bingo and icebreaker bingo: what is the difference?
Human bingo, icebreaker bingo and find someone who bingo are the same game under different names. Everyone has a card, the squares describe people, and the first person to complete a line wins. The game differs from number bingo, because nobody calls anything: the guests do the work.
How many guests do you need for human bingo?
Because each name can be used only once on a card, the size of the group decides the card size. The table shows how many different people a guest needs to meet to fill a line or a full card.
| Card | Names for a full card | Names for a line | Smallest group that can fill a card |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 by 3 | 8 (no free square) or 9 | 3 names | 9 people |
| 4 by 4 | 16 | 4 names | 17 people |
| 5 by 5 with free square | 24 | 5 names | 25 people |
A group of 10 to 16 guests suits the 4 by 4 card, and a hall of 25 or more can play the full 5 by 5 card. For a small kitty of 8 to 12, choose the 3 by 3 card, or allow one name to be used twice.
Get to know you bingo for new members
Get to know you bingo is the quickest way to make a new member feel welcome, because the squares give her something to talk about. A new member who “Loves cooking biryani” has an instant link to another guest who does too, and the group learns something about her that it would not otherwise have asked. Pair the new member with a friendly host who starts the mingle by signing her card first.
Kitty games for new members: a simple order of the evening
Kitty games for new members should start gently. Play the mingle first, then a round of kitty party tambola for a sit-down game, and finish with something noisy such as Bollywood musical tambola. The bingo takes 15 minutes and sets the mood for the rest of the party.
Questions to ask while you mingle
- For “Has been to Goa”: “What was your favorite beach?”
- For “Can make perfect gol roti”: “What is your secret?”
- For “Has hosted a kitty”: “What was the best game you played?”
- For “Plays a musical instrument”: “Which song can you play?”
- For “Has met a celebrity”: “Who was it, and what did you say?”
Run kitty party icebreaker games in six steps
- Edit the squares: add a few facts about your own group, such as “Has a pet parrot” or “Has run a marathon”.
- Print: print one card for each guest, using 4 by 4 or 3 by 3 for a small group.
- Start the mingle: set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes and hand out pens.
- Walk around: the host joins in and helps shy guests find a match.
- Call time: the first line wins, and the host reads the names.
- Share: each winner tells the group one new thing she learned.
Prize ideas for kitty party icebreaker games
- A small plant or a pack of chai for the first line
- A box of sweets for the four corners
- A scented candle for the full card
- A funny sash for the “most signatures” guest
- A small gift for the new member of the month
Tips for the host
- Choose squares that are fun to answer, and avoid anything personal such as age or income.
- Add a few squares that match your group, so that guests find each other faster.
- Ask guests to write the name, not sign it, so that the host can read it.
- Keep the time limit short, so the game does not take over the evening.
Wikipedia’s icebreakers article explains why icebreaker activities help groups to start talking, in classrooms, workplaces and parties.
Play Chai and Chatter bingo online
Press Create game and share one link on WhatsApp. Every guest gets a different card on their phone, and you check winners by card number on your screen. You can personalize the squares before you start, and Download these cards (PDF) prints the same cards for guests who prefer paper.
Kitty party icebreaker games: frequently asked questions
What are good kitty party icebreaker games?
Find someone who bingo is one of the easiest, because it needs no props and works for any size of group. Other good choices are tambola, icebreaker questions and a quick quiz.
How long does human bingo take?
About 10 to 15 minutes for a line. Set a timer, and when it ends give a small prize to the guest with the most names.
Can new members play too?
Yes. The game is especially good for new members, because the squares give them a reason to talk to every guest. Ask a host to introduce them to the first two or three guests.
Can I change the squares?
Yes. Every square is editable in the generator: add names, inside jokes or your own list, and the cards, the caller list and the online game all use your version.
Is it free to download and play?
Yes. Printable cards, the PDF download and the online game are all free, with no app and no sign-up.