Simon Says
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Description
Call out movement instructions for your child to follow. For young children, drop the "gotcha" trick element and just use it as a fun movement game. For older children, introduce the rule: only do it if the caller says "Simon says" first.
What to prep
- clear_space
Play guide
- 1Stand facing your child with enough space around them for movement.
- 2Call out a simple action: "touch your toes," "jump three times," "spin around," "clap your hands," "hop on one foot."
- 3For ages 2-4: skip the trick rule entirely - just call actions and enjoy doing them together. Model each action as you call it.
- 4For ages 4+: introduce the rule: only do the action if you say "Simon says" first. If you say the action without "Simon says," they must stay still.
- 5Vary the pace: slow and silly, fast and energetic, or in a soft whisper.
Success signals
Your child performs the actions with enthusiasm. They try to do each movement correctly rather than just any movement. For older children, they catch themselves when you try a trick
If it's tricky
Child doesn't know what "touch your toes" means: Do the action yourself first - a quick demo is all they need. The trick element causes frustration in a 4-year-old who keeps "losing": Remove it and go back to pure action calls; the game works well without it. Child wants to be the caller: Let them - even at 3, they love giving instructions, and switching roles extends the game naturally