Do As I Say Not As I Do

Name and Purpose

Do As I Say Not As I Do is a circle coordination game that builds concentration, listening, and memory.
Players practise working between verbal and physical cues at the same time, which is both silly and genuinely challenging.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Materials

Quick-Run Card

Sit or stand in a circle.
First player says something they like (“I like to jump up and down”) while doing a different movement (flapping arms).
Second player does the previous player’s SAID action, then says something new they like while doing their own different movement.
Continue around the circle.
Group challenge: can the group name every SAY and DO pair at the end?

Setup and Boundaries

Form a circle with enough space for each player to do a simple movement without bumping neighbours.
Signal: one raised hand from the counsellor = pause; two raised hands = stop and listen.
Movements should stay gentle and in-place for safety in tight spaces.

How to Play

The first player says one thing they like doing (“I like to spin in circles”) while simultaneously doing a completely different movement (clapping).
The second player performs the first player’s SAID action (spinning), then says something new they like while doing their own different movement.
Each player in turn performs the previous player’s SAID action and introduces a new SAY-DO combination.
The round ends when everyone has had a turn.
Optional: after one round, the group tries to name every SAY and DO pair from memory. This is a group goal, not a competition.

I-OPt Options

A (Active): Introduce a big, energetic movement each turn.
S (Support): Prompt the next player if they are stuck, or keep a running mental list of the combinations.
Q (Quiet): Use small, subtle movements (blinking, shoulder shrug) instead of full-body actions.
O (Observer): Watch from just outside the circle; help the group recall combinations at the end of the round.

Inclusion Adaptations

Players who prefer seated participation can adapt all movements to upper body and hands.
Players with speech differences can draw or gesture their “say” component rather than speaking it.

Stewardship Moment

No materials, no waste. Note: “Some of the best activities need nothing but your imagination and your body.”

Consent

Pre-brief: “This game involves saying something while doing something different at the same time. It is a bit of a brain twist! You can keep movements small if you like. If you would prefer to pass your turn, give a thumbs down and we will come right back to you after the next person.”
For those not comfortable with any part of this activity, sitting out or joining as an observer is another option.
Mid-game check: After half the circle has gone, a quick thumbs check.
Re-entry: Players who passed can rejoin the sequence at any point.

Risks and Mitigation

Player freeze when they cannot think of something: have a “phone a friend” rule where the group can offer a suggestion.
Movements too large in a tight space: counsellor models small movements at the start.
Self-consciousness about performing: frame it as “the sillier the better” and go first yourself to model.

Warm-Up Suggestions

“Pat your head, rub your belly”: classic split-attention warm-up for 30 seconds.
“Opposite hand”: counsellor points left, group points right. Quick round of five.

Debrief Questions

What? “What was the hardest part: the saying, the doing, or remembering the last person’s combination?”
So What? “What does it feel like to try to hold two different instructions in your head at once?”
Now What? “Where in your life do you have to listen carefully to what someone says AND watch what they do?”

Cleanup and Reset

No cleanup needed.
Players shake out their hands and take a breath before moving to the next activity.