Icebreakers · Get-to-Know-You

Baby Pictures

Breaks down hierarchy by reminding everyone they started on equal footing.

IcebreakerRapportPersonal Sharing

Duration: 20 min
Participants: 1–5, 5–10, 10–20, 20–50, 50+
Energy: Low
Difficulty: Beginner
Materials: Minimal
Prep time: 5 minutes

2 min read · Delivery: Offline

Overview

Purpose. Breaks down hierarchy by reminding everyone they started on equal footing.

When to use. Works especially well to open a change-management theme, or with a mixed-seniority group.

Best for. Any group size, in person.

Facilitator preparation

Ask participants to send you a baby photo of themselves at least a few days before the session. See Trainer's Reference below.
Number each photo, without names, and display them together on a wall, slide, or handout.

Room setup. Arrange seating so everyone can see the displayed photos and each other clearly.

Virtual setup. This works well virtually too; display the numbered photos on a shared slide.

Hybrid setup. Show the same numbered slide to both in-room and remote participants.

Materials. Baby photos submitted in advance

How to Conduct

Before the session, ask participants to send you a baby photo of themselves.
Number each photo, without names, and display them together, on a wall, slide, or handout.
Ask the group to guess which photo belongs to which person, writing down their guesses.
Reveal the answers one at a time, confirming or correcting each guess.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE GROUP

Most groups laugh within the first minute; that's a good sign, not a distraction.

Trainer's Reference: advance preparation needed

Like a few other activities in this handbook, this one needs advance preparation. Ask participants to send you a baby photo at least a few days before the session, and be clear about how (email, a shared folder) and by when. It works especially well when opening a change-management topic or a session with a mixed-seniority group, since it's a visual reminder that everyone started in the same place.