The Like Chair

The like chair is a single activity that can be used at anytime by students in grades k-6. It is designed to promote positive self-esteem and teach students how to receive compliments. The time to complete this lesson will vary according to how many students are in the room. Typically this lesson requires 45 minutes to deliver.
The activity

Tell the students that today we are going to do the like chair. Pick a chair or better yet a stool and tell the class that this is now the like chair, and place it in the front of the room. Explain to the students that each child will have a turn to sit on the like chair. While one of the students is sitting on the chair their classmates will raise their hands and wait to be called on by the student in the front of the room. When called upon the student will say a thing they like about the student sitting on the chair.

Before the activity starts explain to the students that only positive comments may be made today. Also tell the students that the person sitting in the chair should accept the comments with a simple thank you. Explain to the students that they should limit themselves to one comment for each student on the chair. If they have more nice things to say they can tell that person at some other time during the day.

Teachers and counselors are encouraged to participate in this activity. They may also raise their hands and tell each student what they like about them. Counselors and teachers may also sit on the like chair after the students have had a turn.

Some process questions that may be used following this activity are listed below.

1. How did you feel when sitting on the like chair and having your fellow classmates tell what they liked about you?
2. What other times or places during the day might you say nice things about people? (School, friends house, home, ect.)
3. What makes a good friend? (Invariably most of the students will use “you’re a good friend” as a compliment.