The Compliment Shoe Game

This playful, interactive activity helps campers give and receive compliments while visually showing the group’s progress toward filling the circle with kindness. Through sharing appreciations, every camper will have a chance to both recognize others and be recognized themselves.

Educational Goal/Jewish Value

Chesed (Kindness), Kavod (Respect), Gratitude

Recommended Location

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Directions

• Explain that this is a chance to fill the space with kindness and gratitude. Remind campers to be specific with compliments so each person feels truly seen and appreciated.
• Everyone stands in a circle.
• Everyone takes off both shoes. Place one shoe facing in toward the circle and one shoe facing out away from the circle in front of each person.
• One person starts by giving a compliment or appreciation to someone else in the circle.
  • If you give a compliment, you remove the shoe facing out.
  • If you receive a compliment, you remove the shoe facing in.
• The goal is for everyone to end up with no shoes left in front of them, meaning they’ve both given and received kindness.
• Continue around the circle, encouraging everyone to share with different people so all campers feel included.
• When all shoes are gone, celebrate the group for spreading kindness. Optionally, invite each camper to share one compliment they received that really made them smile.

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