How to Play the Telephone Game: 12 Steps
Step 1: Gather participants
To play the Telephone Game, you’ll need a group of people, preferably at least six. The more people you have, the more interesting and fun the game becomes.
Step 2: Sit or stand in a circle
Arrange all the participants in a circle so that everyone is facing each other. This makes it easier to communicate with the person next to you and pass on the message.
Step 3: Choose a starting phrase
Select one person to come up with the initial phrase. The phrase can be anything – a famous quote, song lyrics, or a random sentence. The key is to make it relatively short and somewhat challenging.
Step 4: Whisper the phrase
The person with the starting phrase will then whisper it into the ear of the person to their left or right. It’s crucial that no one else hears what they’re saying.
Step 5: Pass it on
The person who received the whispered message will then whisper it to the person next to them. This continues around the circle until everyone has heard and repeated the original message.
Step 6: Speak clearly and quietly
It’s important that everyone speaks clearly enough for their neighbor to hear, but not loud enough for others in circle. This ensures the game remains challenging and fun.
Step 7: No repeats allowed
Each person only gets one chance to whisper their version of the phrase. There are no do-overs or clarifications allowed; this adds to the fun of seeing how much the message gets distorted by the end.
Step 8: Stay silent
As participants listen and repeat messages, they should stay silent and avoid reacting outwardly. Laughter or facial expressions might give away how much (or how little) sense their received message makes.
Step 9: Complete the circle
The game continues until every player has had a chance to be both the listener and speaker, and the message has gone around the entire circle.
Step 10: Announce the final phrase
The last person in the circle, after passing their message on, will announce the final phrase out loud.
Step 11: Compare phrases
Now it’s time to compare the original phrase to what was ultimately communicated. This is often where hilarity ensues, as players see how much the message has changed.
Step 12: Play again
Feel free to make adjustments to your approach and play another round. The beauty of the Telephone Game is that each round is unique and entertaining, making it a great game for parties or team-building events.