To create some fun in the office for both my staff and I, I keep a bunch of toys in my office prominently displayed on a shelf. They are fun to fool around with and add lots of color to what could be a drab office! I started collecting them when I was at my first full-time position and as the years passed, I have gotten more toys from co-workers and friends who have benefited from the stress relief of my collection. I have a wide variety of toys, ranging from a play cell phone, silly putty and koosh balls. The staff here at Temple knows that they can feel free to stop by and play with them at any time.
The koosh ball is often a good start to one-on-ones and staff have fun chasing the twirly stick that goes quite a distance. One of my favorites is the “baseball style” game, where you can throw the ball (as hard as you like) against the wall. It’s like darts, but uses Velcro balls instead. This is a great way to let out frustration in the workplace…and not too harmful!
Submitted by Susanne Ferrin, Assistant Director of Residence Life, Temple University