Do You Love Your Neighbour? (Revised)

Name and Purpose

Do You Love Your Neighbour? (Revised) is a chair-swap game that builds quick decision-making, connection, and community awareness.
Players practise listening, fast movement, and noticing what they share with others.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 8-16 | 10-35 players | 15-25 minutes | Indoor gym or outdoor space; chairs in a circle

Materials

Quick-Run Card

Arrange chairs in a circle; one player stands in the middle.
Middle player asks any seated player: “Do you love your neighbour?”
“Yes, but I don’t like people who [description]”: everyone matching must swap chairs; middle player tries to sit.
“No”: only the two neighbours beside the answerer swap; middle player tries to sit.
Player left without a chair becomes the new middle player. No one may take the chair immediately beside their own.

Setup and Boundaries

Chairs face inward in a circle. Gaps between chairs should be wide enough for safe movement.
No player may take the chair directly beside their current one.
Signal: two short whistles = full stop, everyone freeze.
Check for chair legs that could catch a running foot; space chairs at least arm’s length apart.

How to Play

Arrange chairs in a circle with one player standing in the middle.
The middle player walks up to any seated player and asks: “Do you love your neighbour?”
If “Yes, but I don’t like people who [description]”: everyone who fits the description must vacate their chair and find a new one. No one may take the chair immediately beside their current one. The middle player tries to claim any empty chair.
If “No”: only the two immediate neighbours of the answerer must switch chairs. The middle player tries to claim one of those chairs.
The player left without a chair becomes the new middle player.
If a player is in the middle three times in a row, they receive an automatic pass and choose a volunteer from the group.

I-OPt Options

A (Active): Move quickly during every swap; volunteer to start in the middle.
S (Support): Encourage nearby players; help newcomers understand the rules during the first round.
Q (Quiet): Move calmly to a new chair without rushing; choose simple, observable descriptions.
O (Observer): Sit just outside the circle and watch the first round; step in when ready.

Inclusion Adaptations

Players with mobility differences can move at their own pace; the rule applies equally to all speeds.
For players who find speaking to the whole group difficult, allow a description passed through a helper or written on a card.

Stewardship Moment

Consent

Pre-brief: “This game involves sharing small observable things, like what you are wearing or something you enjoy. Nothing personal is ever required. For those not comfortable with quick movement between chairs, moving at a walking pace is another option.”
Mid-game check: After 4-5 rounds, pause for a thumbs check.
Re-entry: Anyone who stepped out can ask for a chair to be added for one round so they can sit in the circle without competing.

Risks and Mitigation

Chair collisions during mass swaps: counsellor reminds players to jog, not sprint, especially in the first round.
Descriptions that single someone out or feel personal: counsellor models kind, observable examples first and steps in quickly if needed.
Same player stuck in middle: automatic three-round pass prevents this.

Warm-Up Suggestions

Walk the circle once and wave to each person you pass.
Quick “common ground” check: counsellor calls a trait and anyone who matches stands up briefly.

Debrief Questions

What? “Which descriptions caused the most movement? Which caused the least?”
So What? “What did you discover you have in common with people you didn’t expect?”
Now What? “How can noticing what you share with others change how you treat them day to day?”

Cleanup and Reset