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Toilet Paper Icebreaker

The Toilet Paper Icebreaker is a traditional getting-to-know-you activity in which a toilet roll is passed around and everyone tears off as much as they think they will need, without being told why. Only afterwards does the facilitator reveal that each sheet stands for one fact the person shares about themselves. Mark Collard of playmeo publishes it under the name Bum Steer.

Duration
5m–15m
Group size
6–15 people
Materials
Roll of toilet paper
Origin
Traditional icebreaker; version described by Mark Collard (playmeo) as Bum Steer

Facilitation script

  1. 1

    Pass the roll round with the instruction to take as much as you think you will need. Give no explanation.

    2 min
  2. 2

    Reveal the rule, one fact about yourself per sheet, and go first with a few short facts to model length and tone.

    1 min
  3. 3

    Go round the circle. Keep contributions moving and apply a cap for anyone holding a very long strip.

    8 min
  4. 4

    Close by naming one or two connections you heard between people and move into the session.

    1 min

Tips

  • Keep a straight face during the passing round, because the reveal only works if nobody sees it coming.

  • Go first yourself with short, ordinary facts to set the level of disclosure and the pace.

  • Decide beforehand how you will handle the person with twenty sheets, for example a cap of five facts, so the round does not stall on one participant.

Common pitfalls

  • Hinting at the purpose while the roll goes round, so everyone takes a single sheet and the activity is over in a minute

  • Letting one person work through fifteen or more sheets while the rest wait, which drains the energy the reveal created

  • Giving no example, so the first speaker sets a very personal or very trivial tone that everyone else feels obliged to match

  • Using it with a group that has done it before. The bait-and-switch only works once per person

  • Laughing at the person who took the most. The joke should be on the set-up, not on a participant who then has to speak the longest

Variations

The same mechanic is often run with sweets, where each colour can stand for a category of fact. To save time in a bigger group, let people share in pairs or trios instead of in plenary. For a work focus, change the rule so each sheet stands for one expectation for the workshop or one thing the person brings to the team. Online, ask everyone to pick a number between one and ten before explaining what it means.

Where it fits

Humorous opener for a new groupTeam retreat or offsite startFirst session of a training courseGetting-to-know-you where the amount each person shares varies by chanceYouth groups and camps

When to use it

  • A small group is meeting for the first time and the setting is informal enough for a joke prop

  • You want people to share a few personal facts without a prepared question list

  • The group is 6 to 15 people, so everyone can speak in plenary within a quarter of an hour

  • A retreat or training camp needs a light start before the working sessions

  • Nobody in the room is likely to know the game already

When not to use it

  • Several people know the trick. They will take one sheet and the surprise is gone, so use Dicebreakers or Card Talk instead

  • The setting is formal or the group is senior and sceptical of games. Check-In Questions give a similar exchange without the prop

  • The group is larger than about 15. A full plenary round takes too long, so run it in small groups or use 3 Question Mingle

  • You need purposeful sharing tied to the workshop topic. The facts here are random by design

  • Participants may feel trapped by having to produce many facts in public. Offer a cap, or choose a format where people decide what to share before committing

Related methods

EnergiserTwo Truths and a Lie
EnergiserCard Talk
EnergiserDicebreakers
Team BuildingCheck-In Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is Toilet Paper Icebreaker?▾

The Toilet Paper Icebreaker is a getting-to-know-you game. A toilet roll is passed round and everyone takes as many sheets as they think they will need, with no explanation. Then the facilitator reveals that each sheet stands for one fact the person must share about themselves.

How many people is the Toilet Paper Icebreaker suitable for?▾

It runs best with 6 to 15 people sharing in one circle. With more, the plenary round becomes long, so have people share in pairs or small groups, or set a maximum number of facts per person.

What do you do if someone takes far too much paper?▾

Set a cap, for example five facts, or let them share a few now and the rest during a break. The aim is a light start, and nobody should be made to feel punished for an innocent choice.

What is Bum Steer?▾

Bum Steer is the name Mark Collard of playmeo uses for this activity, a pun on being deliberately misled about what the paper is for. It is the same game that most people know as the Toilet Paper Game.

Can you run the Toilet Paper Icebreaker with something else?▾

Yes. Sweets, paper clips or any small countable item work the same way, and coloured sweets let you tie each colour to a type of fact. Online, ask people to choose a number before you explain what it commits them to.

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Method descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Traditional icebreaker; version described by Mark Collard (playmeo) as Bum Steer.