Do You Love Your Neighbor?
Do You Love Your Neighbor? (Circle Game)
Do You Love Your Neighbor is a fun game that gets everyone up and moving and can be a great way to get to know something about each other.
There are multiple known versions of this game out there. Here, we will post the two versions we use in our workshops.
Set Up:
In all versions, you set up one chair for each person in a big circle, minus one. There has to be someone in the circle to start out. That person is usually the one giving the initial directions.
Note:
We often use bases (mouse pads) instead of chairs, because they are easy to travel with and take up less room.
Version 1.
1. Everyone except for the person in the center sits down in a chair.
2. The person in the center says, “Hi everybody, my name is _________.”
3. Everyone sitting down responds, “Hi ________. Do you love your neighbor?” in unison.
4. The person in the center then replies either “Yes” or “No.”
If “Yes”:
—a. The person in the Center says, “Yes, especially all those who…” and then completes the sentence with something that the person in the center (him or herself) likes. As an example: “Yes, especially all those that like musicals.” or “Yes, especially all those that play Cricket.”
Note: In this version of the game, we are trying to get to know one another, so it is always something we like, defines us, or are involved in as opposed to saying, “…all those with brown hair,” or “blue eyes,” or with “green shoes on.” We will actually make the person come up with something different if they say something we can all physically see.
—b. All those that also like, believe, or are whatever the person in the center said, must now get up and run to another seat, while the person in the center runs to a seat also, thereby sticking someone else in the center.
If “No”:
–a. Once “No” is said, everyone in the game gets up and runs to a new chair, while the person in the center runs to a seat also, thereby sticking someone else in the center.
Note: It is sometimes necessary to make “No” off limits except once three or four “Yes’” have been said or you could end up with most kids just saying “No” so that they don’t have to think of anything to say.
6. If the original person in the center gets to a seat, a new person is left in the center and the game continues. If the original person does not get to the seat in time, then they must go again.
7. When it is time to end the game. The leader of the game purposely gets into the center and then when everyone says, ““Hi ________. Do you love your neighbor?” the leader states, “Maybe,” and then tells them that they are switching to a new activity or explains what is happening next.
Version 2.
1. Everyone except for the person in the center sits down in a chair.
2. The person in the center goes up to someone sitting down, points at them and says, “Do you love your neighbor?”
4. The person just asked replies either “Yes” or “No.”
If “Yes”:
—a. The person responding says, “Yes, especially all those who…” and then completes the sentence with something that the person in the center (him or herself) likes. As an example “Yes, especially all those that like dogs.” or “Yes, especially all those that are techies.”
Note: When we play this version, we are often trying to get to know one another, so it is usually something we like, defines us, or are involved in as opposed to saying, “…all those with brown hair,” or “blue eyes,” or with “green shoes on.” We may make the person come up with something different if they say something we can all physically see, if we are playing to get to know each other, as opposed to just for fun or as a class warm up.
—b. At this point all those that like whatever the person responding said, must now get up and run to another seat, while the person in the center runs to a seat also, thereby sticking someone else in the center.
Note: In this version of the game, the only way to get everyone up and running is to say something that you know everyone likes, is described as, or is.
If “No”:
—a. Once “No” is said, the people directly to the responder’s left and right try to switch seats with each other, while the person in the center quickly tries to sit down, thereby sticking someone else in the center.
Note: It is sometimes necessary to make “No” off limits except once three or four “Yes’” have been said or you could end up with most kids just saying “No” so that they don’t have to think of anything to say.
5. If the original person in the center gets to a seat, a new person is left in the center and the game continues. If the original person does not get to the seat in time, then they must go again.
6. When it is time to end the game. The leader of the game purposely gets into the center and then when everyone says, ““Hi ________. Do you love your neighbor?” the leader states, “Maybe,” and then tells them that they are switching to a new activity or explains what is happening next.
Talking Points:
Since this game is a getting to know you game, it is great to include a group discussion involving what you learned about other’s around you.
1. You might ask a participant to volunteer to list the names of five new people they didn’t know before.
2. You might ask a participant to name three names of someone who likes, is described as, or is something specific that was called out.
3. You may ask someone to give you three names, point to them, and say one thing they learned about them.
4. Another thing you may ask is for someone to give you the name and what they said they liked, that you have always wanted to try. This one is great because the group is now getting to know that person a little better in the process.
Of course there are other questions to include, but this gives you an idea of some talking points.