Simon Says is not only a fun and interactive game, it also helps children develop impulse control, improve their listening skills, and understand expectations.
There are 5 areas of development that kids need to grow and learn:
- Gross Motor Skills
- Fine Motor Skills
- Speech and Language Development
- Cognitive and Intellectual Development
- Social and Emotional Development
Someone will lead the game by calling out Simon Says commands. These can be actions, sounds, movements, or activities. The children should only follow the command if it starts with the phrase “Simon Says” or they are out.
141 of the Best Simon Says Ideas for Learning Fun
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills involve the leg, arm, and core muscles. They are vital for coordination, movement control, and confidence.
1. Simon says sit with your legs crossed
2. Simon says crawl like a baby
3. Simon says run on the spot as fast as you can
4. Simon says run on the spot as slowly as you can
5. Simon says pretend to throw a ball as far as possible
6. Simon says lift your knees up to your chest
7. Simon says tap your nose and rub your shoulder at the same time
8. Simon says do 5 tummy crunches
9. Simon says stand on one leg for 30 seconds
10. Simon says put your right hand on your left knee and your left hand on your right ear
11. Simon says copy me (and perform a sequence of actions)
12. Simon says roll on the floor like a ball
13. Simon says kneel
14. Simon says kneel on one leg
15. Simon says skip on the spot
16. Simon says skip to the door and back
17. Simon says flap your arms like they are wings
18. Simon says jump like a frog
19. Simon says hop like a flea
20. Simon says move like a robot
21. Simon says dance like no one is watching
22. Simon says walk like you are in a lion’s den
23. Simon says stand on one foot and wiggle the other foot
24. Simon says waddle like a penguin
25. Simon says walk like a duck
26. Simon says fly like a fighter jet
27. Simon says walk backwards
28. Simon says do 6 jumping jacks
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills develop as children strengthen the muscles in their hands, wrists, fingers, feet and toes. They allow kids to perform tasks independently like brushing their teeth and hair, tying shoelaces, and doing up buttons.
Developing fine motor skills is crucial for writing and school readiness.
29. Simon says click your fingers
30. Simon says clap your hands once
31. Simon says wiggle your fingers like little worms
32. Simon says walk your fingers down your arm
33. Simon says wiggle your nose
34. Simon says touch your pinky toes
35. Simon says make a triangle with your fingers
36. Simon says make a circle with your fingers
37. Simon says pretend you are a crab
38. Simon says make eyes with your thumb and middle finger together
39. Simon says touch your nose with your tongue
40. Simon says walk on your tippy toes
41. Simon says put all the fingers from your left hand on your nose
42. Simon says point your toes like a ballet dancer
43. Simon says play the piano
44. Simon says point your finger and then use it to draw a circle in the air
45. Simon says clap your hands twice, then put them on your shoulders
46. Simon says make crab pincers with your hands
Speech and Language Development
Speech and language are critical components to learning, and how children experience the world. As their language skills develop, kids can interact more and express themselves better.
47. Simon says whistle a tune
48. Simon says make a clicking sound with your tongue
49. Simon says talk in a whisper
50. Simon says sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
51. Simon says shoot out your tongue like a chameleon
52. Simon says repeat after me: “Gobbling gargoyles gobbled gobbling goblins”
53. Simon says repeat after me: “Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Then Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he?
54. Simon says puff out your cheeks like a blowfish
55. Simon says make fish lips
56. Simon says blow out your birthday candles
57. Simon says draw a circle in the air with your tongue
58. Simon says hum Old MacDonald Had a Farm
59. Simon says roar like a lion
60. Simon says hiss like a snake
61. Simon says coo like a dove
62. Simon says make a tractor sound
63. Simon says make an ambulance siren sound
Cognitive and Intellectual Development
Cognitive and intellectual skills affect a child’s ability to think and reason. It involves memory, morals, problem-solving, abstract thinking, and an understanding of cause and effect.
64. Simon says count to 10
65. Simon says draw a square in the air
66. Simon says pretend to be a baby
67. Simon says lick your elbow
68. Simon says put your toe on your head
69. Simon says sing the Alphabet Song
70. Simon says sit down if you are wearing socks
71. Simon says sit down if you are wearing something blue
72. Simon says stand on one foot if you have brown eyes
73. Simon says sit down if your name has the letter ‘s’ in it
74. Simon says find something yellow
75. Simon says act like a monkey
76. Simon says close your eyes and hop on the spot
77. Simon says sit down if your clothes have a zip
78. Simon says sit down if you have a pet
79. Simon says act sleepy
80. Simon says say something kind to the person next to you
81. Simon says you are a scientist, and your experiment has gone wrong
82. Simon says pretend you’re lost in a desert
83. Simon says make a face like you are eating your favorite food
84. Simon says make a face like you’re eating your worst food
85. Simon says you were playing out in the rain, and now you feel…
Social and Emotional Development
For kids to actively explore their environment and learn from those around them, they need to have the necessary social and emotional skills. This helps them assess situations, read other people, and be empathetic.
86. Simon says pretend you watched your friend stub their toe
87. Simon says stomp out all the angry feelings
88. Simon says sit down and take three deep breaths
89. Simon says say something kind to yourself
90. Simon says have a staring competition with the person next to you
91. Simon says make a sad face
92. Simon says smile your biggest smile
93. Simon says laugh
94. Simon says make a cross face
95. Simon says pretend someone gave you a gift
96. Simon says say something you are grateful for
97. Simon says make a confused face
98. Simon says name your favorite color
More Fun Simon Says Ideas for Kids
99. Simon says don’t touch your knees
100. Simon says drive like a race car driver
101. Simon says plant a seed
102. Simon says give yourself a hug
103. Simon says pretend to be your favorite animal
104. Simon says sing your favorite song
105. Simon says act like your mom
106. Simon says act like your dad
107. Simon says play air guitar
108. Simon says be still like a statue
109. Simon says make a snow angel
110. Simon says brush your teeth
111. Simon says ride a pony
112. Simon says peel a potato
113. Simon says eat an apple
114. Simon says walk on your knees
115. Simon says nod your head and march
116. Simon says blow up a balloon
117. Simon says pretend to be a shark
118. Simon says pretend you are in quicksand
119. Simon says pretend you are at the top of a high tree
120. Simon says pretend you are as small as an ant
121. Simon says pretend you are as big as a giant
122. Simon says do a cartwheel
123. Simon says make a silly face
124. Simon says spin around 3 times one way, and then 3 times the other way
125. Simon says pretend to eat a spicy chili
126. Simon says sing Jingle Bells
127. Simon says act like a grandma or grandpa
128. Simon says open the tight lid on a bottle
129. Simon says talk with a different accent
130. Simon says do a yoga pose
131. Simon says pick a rose and smell it
132. Simon says smell your feet
133. Simon says put your hands under your feet
134. Simon says pretend you are a dragon
135. Simon says pretend to be a leaf blowing in the wind
136. Simon says pretend to lift up an elephant
137. Simon says pretend to go ice swimming
138. Simon says catch a fish
139. Simon says use a hammer
140. Simon says spin your right arm forwards and your left arm backwards at the same time
141. Simon says be a painter
A Game of Simon Says can be Engaging and Educational
Kids learn best through play and Simon Says is a quick and easy way to add some fun into your day.
It is a fantastic option for the family on a rainy day and also works well to break up formal lessons during a school day.
Not only will it improve memory, focus, and listening skills, but it gets kids moving and makes learning interactive and enjoyable.
Simon Says is one game that has really stood the test of time.