You Can Do It Like This

Name and Purpose

You Can Do It Like This is a playful discovery game that builds listening, pattern recognition, and social connection.
Players learn that the key to a puzzle is often hiding in plain sight.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 8-16 | 8-30 players | 10-20 minutes | Any indoor or outdoor space where players can sit in a circle

Materials

Quick-Run Card

Sit in a circle. One or two people know the secret.
Demonstrate with the object three times using the phrase: “You can do it like this and you can do it like this, but you can’t do it like this.”
Pass the object to the next person to try. Insiders say “Correct” or “Incorrect.”
Players keep guessing until someone figures out the secret (say “Ok” before the phrase).
Round ends when everyone knows, or after an agreed time limit.

Setup and Boundaries

No physical boundaries needed. The circle itself is the play space.
Signal: a raised hand or calm voice cue to pause or stop
Check that all players can see and hear the demonstrator clearly before starting

How to Play

Everyone sits in a circle. One or two players are “In the Know” and know the secret.
An “In the Know” player picks up any object and demonstrates three times: “You can do it like this and you can do it like this, but you can’t do it like this.”
The object is passed to the next player, who tries the phrase in their own way.
“In the Know” players say “Correct” or “Incorrect” after each attempt.
The secret: the phrase must start with “Ok” to be correct. The object position does not matter at all.
Players continue guessing until they discover the secret or time is called.
Once a player figures it out, they quietly join the “In the Know” group for future rounds.

I-OPt Options

Start

Mid

(A) Active: Keep experimenting with the object and phrase
(S) Support: Offer a quiet encouraging nod (no hints!) to someone close to the answer
(Q) Quiet: Watch others and test ideas mentally before your next turn
(O) Observer: Stay at the edge and call it when you think you know

Late

(A) Active: Take extra turns to test your theory
(S) Support: Join the “In the Know” group once you’ve got it, quietly confirm others
(Q) Quiet: Signal to the facilitator that you know without announcing it to everyone
(O) Observer: Decide your own moment to reveal or stay quiet

End

(A) Active: Lead the “big reveal” debrief with the group
(S) Support: Help newer players who are still figuring it out understand the secret
(Q) Quiet: Reflect privately; share in debrief only if comfortable
(O) Observer: Stay at the edge, jump in for the next round if the group plays again

Inclusion Adaptations

Players who are non-verbal or quieter can signal their answer by nodding or holding up a written card that says “Ok” or “No” rather than speaking
For players who find the waiting frustrating, give them an optional role: count how many tries each round takes and record it

Stewardship Moment

This game uses a single reusable object. No waste, no cleanup required. Celebrate that.
Ask: “What did you use as the object today? Could you play this with literally anything? What does that tell us about needing stuff to have fun?”

Consent

Pre-brief: “This is a discovery game. Part of the fun is not knowing the secret yet. For those not comfortable with uncertainty or being put on the spot, you are welcome to watch a few rounds before jumping in, or to be an “In the Know” helper from the start.”
Mid-game check: After a few rounds, check in: “How is everyone feeling? Anyone want to shift roles?”
Opt-out/re-entry: Players can pass their turn at any time. To re-enter, simply pick up the object when it comes around again.

Risks and Mitigation

Players feeling embarrassed for not figuring it out: staff narrate effort positively (“Great attempt, love the thinking”)
“In the Know” players giving away the secret: remind them that their job is only to say “Correct” or “Incorrect”
Game dragging on too long: set a time limit of 10 minutes, then offer one guided hint before the reveal

Warm-Up Suggestions

“What am I doing?”: mingle and silently mime a daily action; others guess
“Pass the Face”: pass an exaggerated facial expression around the circle without speaking

Debrief Questions

What? “When did you first suspect the secret might not be about the object?”
So What? “What made this puzzle hard to crack? What did you need to shift to figure it out?”
Now What? “Can you think of a time in daily life when the answer was hiding somewhere unexpected?”

Cleanup and Reset