Throw some food out and they will swoop. Food is a good tool in youth ministry. If you run a Christian group in a school, bring hot chips and bread every week. If you run a youth group, kick off with dinner, finish with supper. If you’ve got a small group bible study, junk food is essential.
Food is a good way to break ice. It’s awkward trying to get a year 7 boy to stop running around and have a conversation. Put some food in his hand and it removes weirdness.