❤️ My Favorite Thing
Everyone takes a turn sharing a favorite thing, and anyone who loves it too raises a hand. Kids quickly see what they have in common. A soft, friendly icebreaker for new groups.
What you need
Equipment: Nothing. Sit in a circle so everyone can see everyone. The host picks a topic for the round: food, a place, an activity, a song or a memory.
How to play My Favorite Thing
- The host starts and models it: "My favorite thing is pizza."
- Everyone who loves it too raises a hand, so you can all see who is alike.
- The next player says "My favorite thing is..." and adds one short sentence about why.
- After each share, anyone who agrees raises a hand.
- The host points out what they notice: "Three of you love drawing!"
- Keep going until everyone has shared once.
- Play a second round with a new topic, such as "Something I don't like so much."
Scoring and wrapping up
To finish: To finish, ask each child to remember one person who shares something with them and go and tell them. That is what turns the game into real friendship.
By age
- Ages 5-6: Keep topics concrete, like animals, colors and snacks.
- Ages 9+: Try deeper topics like a favorite memory or a place they would love to visit.
Variations
- Big group: Instead of raising hands, everyone who agrees stands up and swaps seats.
- Capy twist: Each player guesses the favorite thing of the person to their left before they share it.
Tips for the adult in charge
- Give a topic every round: a color, a food, a place. It makes it easier to answer.
- Let a shy child pass and come back to them at the end.
🖨️ Printable topic cards
Draw a card at the start of each round to choose the topic.
- My favorite food
- My favorite color
- My favorite animal
- My favorite game
- My favorite place
- My favorite song
- My favorite book
- My favorite season
- My favorite thing to do on the weekend
- My favorite sport
- My favorite toy
- My favorite snack
- My favorite holiday
- My favorite thing at school
- My favorite movie or show
- My favorite thing to draw
- My favorite weather
- My favorite memory
- A place I would love to visit
- Something that makes me laugh
Questions and answers
Is this a good first-day-of-school game?
Yes. It is low pressure, everyone gets a turn, and children leave knowing who they have something in common with.
What if a child does not want to share?
Let them pass and offer another turn at the end. Raising a hand for others still lets them take part.