50 Best ‘Simon Says’ Ideas For Kids (And How To Play)

“Simon says,” teach your children how to listen and follow instructions while having fun.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Neha Bhave Salankar, MD Dr. Neha Bhave Salankar Dr. Neha Bhave SalankarMD facebook_icon Specialty: PsychiatryExperience: 11 years
Written by Nisha Bharatan Nisha Bharatan
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Best 'Simon Says' Ideas For Kids (And How To Play)

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Simon says is a classic children’s game where one child, called “Simon,” gives instructions the others should only follow when they are preceded by the phrase “Simon says.” You can try some Simon says ideas for kids to add some extra fun to their game time. In addition, since the game works with three or more players, you could join your children and play along. Children can enjoy this game indoors or outdoors and take a break from smartphones and iPads.

Our post offers more details on how Simon says is played, its benefits, and some ideas to bring a twist to the game.

How To Play Simon Says?

Almost everyone knows how to play Simon Says. But if you are one of the few who haven’t heard about this game, here are the rules of the game. It is extremely straightforward, and you and your children will be playing it like a pro in no time.

  • Choose a leader to be Simon. If you have a group of children, you could be Simon.
  • Simon decides what the other players must do.
  • The leader, Simon, gives commands, such as, “Simon says, touch your head,” or “Simon says, look to your left.” Simon could even shout out commands without saying, “Simon says …”.
  • Whenever Simon issues a command, the other children must complete the task. When the leader does not say “Simon says” and only gives a command, the other children should not do anything.
  • Children who fail to perform a task that begins with “Simon says…” are out of the game.
  • Also, children who do a task when the leader doesn’t say the phrase, “Simon says…” are out of the game.
  • The last player standing is the winner. They can become Simon for the next round.

50 Ideas For The Simon Says Game

Here is a list of ideas for playing Simon Says. Do not forget to mix things up and say, “Simon says…” only occasionally. You can alter the speed with which you announce the tasks. You can also change the complexity of the tasks according to the age group of the children.

  1. Touch your nose
  1. Stand on one foot
  1. Jump on one foot
  1. Touch your head (or any body part)
  1. Turn to page 30 and memorize the title of the chapter
  1. Trumpet like an elephant
  1. Jump like a monkey
  1. Hop up and down
  1. Hug yourself
  1. Lick your elbows
  1. Touch your right knee with your left hand
  1. Cry like a baby
  1. Moo like a cow
  1. Flap your hands like a bird
  1. Crawl like a baby
  1. Tap your head and rub your tummy at the same time
  1. Walk like a penguin
  1. Drink a glass of water
  1. Mew like a cat
  1. Bark like a dog
  1. Jump like a kangaroo
  1. Dance for ten seconds
  1. Touch your left shoulder with your right hand
  1. Do three push-ups
  1. Run in a circle
  1. Sit and stand
  1. Roll on the ground
  1. Spin in a circle with your arms out
  1. Jump up and down ten times
  1. Clap five times in a row
  1. Pick your red car
  1. Brush your teeth
  1. Do a silly dance
  1. Freeze
  1. Hug a friend
  1. Laugh like Santa
  1. Reach for the sky
  1. Run on the spot
  1. Draw with your feet
  1. Lift your feet sideways
  1. Sing your favorite song
  1. Call out the name of each person in the room
  1. Wink with your left eye
  1. Walk backward
  1. Kiss your tummy
  1. Tickle your left foot
  1. Make a funny face
  1. Do the rain clap
  1. Blink five times and then say your name
  1. Touch each of your toes with every finger

Benefits Of The Simon Says Game For Your Child

Although, Simon Says might seem like a simple game, it is a great way to improve your child’s motor and lateral thinking skills and develop their creativity.

Simon Says has been played traditionally to bring some discipline in the proceedings when the children get restless. It is also played to improve children’s memory and concentration. They have to memorize what Simon says and perform the task as expected. This involves brainpower and muscle power, as they have to interpret a command and move their body parts to finish the task. This game is a great way to pull your children away from screens and add a little physical activity to their day. It is also easy to do with children of mixed ages.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What age is appropriate for playing ‘Simon Says’?

Playing ‘Simon Says’ is appropriate for children of any age. You may tweak the commands and rules to suit the kids’ age. If you are playing with school-aged kids, you may give more complex commands. However, give detailed instructions on how to play the game beforehand.

2. Is ‘Simon Says’ good for kids?

Yes. ‘Simon Says’ is an engaging game that aids in your child’s development. The game includes various movement activities that stimulate your child’s senses and help build gross motor skills.

Simon says’ is an exciting game idea to play with your children. With the help of this game, you can get your little ones to complete their chores and also improve their concentration and memory skills. This list of Simon says ideas for kids will keep your child engaged and entertained for hours. You could also make this game more interesting by including a prize at the end of the game to motivate your child to complete the chores. Other family members can also be involved in the game and make it more interesting.

Key Pointers

  • The rules of this game are quite simple. Give all the children a chance to be Simon.
  • Some easy Simon says games are touch your nose, touch your ears, hug yourself, cry like a baby and more.
  • It teaches children to pay full attention to what is being demanded and also reduce their screen time.

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Dr. Neha Bhave Salankar
Dr. Neha Bhave SalankarMD
Dr. Neha Bhave Salankar is a consultant psychiatrist at Bhave Institute of Mental Health based in Nagpur and has around 11 years of experience in the field. Having been a meritorious student throughout, she bagged the prestigious gold medal for medicine in MBBS and MD psychiatry.

Read full bio of Dr. Neha Bhave Salankar
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