A few years ago I did a Valentine’s Day event in my home community for singles. It was a crafty, hands-on self-love event. For the kick-off activity, I created this ice breaker.
- Supplies: Pens or markers (1 per person), note cards or paper scraps (6 per person)
- Time: Depends on the group size! Plan for 5 to 15 minutes.
- Number of people: 3 to 15, or for a larger number of people, you can break into smaller groups (for example, each table of 8 people does the activity as an isolated small group)
- Setup: Ideally have a designated table where people can easily approach, view, and select cards. It needs to be large enough where no cards are buried.
Step 1: Create the cards.
Each participant gets 6 note cards. Ask participants to think of 6 different traits that they admire in other people. These can be personality traits, habits, hobbies, even appropriate/innocuous physical traits. Examples are: Outgoing, funny, punctual, athletic, stylish. Have participants write each of the 6 admired traits on a separate card. Then direct them to write their name (first name, full name, code name… — whatever is appropriate for your event).
Step 2: Display the cards.
Have everyone place their card, trait side up, on a table where all cards can be viewed. You can even “shuffle” them around. (If it’s a large group and participants are doing it just by table, have everyone place the cards at the center of their own table.)
Step 3: Choose cards.
Now participants need to each select two cards from the table that they feel describe themselves. They may not choose cards they themselves submitted. (Yes, there will be lots of extras. The point is to have plenty to choose from so it’s not too difficult for everyone to find 2 things.)
Step 4: Share.
Go around the group and have each person say their name and read the cards they selected, including the name on the back, in this format:
Hi, I’m (name) and (name on back of card) admires me because I’m (trait) and (name on other card) admires me because I’m (trait).
Like so:
Hi, I’m Christina and Carol admires me because I’m hard-working and Charles admires me because I’m funny.
While the person shares who admires them, the admirers whose names they read out should raise their hand or somehow indicate themselves. By the end, everyone will know two people in the room who admire them!
