Simon Says is an easy game that kids have loved for years. It’s great for helping children improve their listening skills, focus, and ability to follow directions.
But what if you want to switch things up? The good news is there are plenty of similar games that are just as enjoyable and easy to play.
These alternatives not only bring variety to playtime but also help kids develop key skills like memory, coordination, and creative thinking.
In this article, I will tell you about all the games. So, why not take a little tour with me!
Games to Try if You Love Simon Says
Do This, Not That
“Do This, Not That” is a fun variation of Simon Says that challenges kids to follow one set of commands while ignoring another.
Kids need to act when the leader says “Do this” but freeze if the leader says “Do that.” It’s a great game for teaching focus and listening skills.
How to Play:
- Choose one player to be the leader.
- The leader gives action commands starting with either “Do this” or “Do that.”
- For example, “Do this: Clap your hands” (everyone claps).
- Or, “Do that: Touch your toes” (everyone freezes).
- Players who move when they hear “Do that” are out.
- The last player remaining becomes the new leader.
Jump In or Out
This game keeps kids active as they jump between two imaginary zones, like a river and its bank.
It’s simple to play and helps kids improve their ability to listen and respond quickly.
How to Play:
- Mark an area on the floor using tape, rope, or just imagination to create a “river” and “bank.”
- Have kids stand on the “bank” (outside the marked area).
- The leader calls out commands:
- “In the river” means kids jump into the marked area.
- “On the bank” means kids jump back out.
- To make it tricky, the leader can give the wrong instruction or speed up the pace.
- Kids who jump into the wrong zone or are too slow are out.
Tip: Change the theme to make it more fun, for example, “in the castle” and “on the drawbridge!”
Follow the Leader
“Follow the Leader” is a lively game that encourages movement and creativity. Kids mimic the actions of the leader as they move around.
This game is especially fun when played in a big space where everyone can move freely.
How to Play:
- Choose a leader (it could be an adult or a child).
- The leader starts walking and performing actions (e.g., waving arms, hopping, spinning).
- All players must follow the leader and copy their actions exactly.
- To make it more exciting, the leader can speed up, slow down, or switch to silly movements like crawling or pretending to be an animal.
- Rotate leaders so everyone gets a chance to lead.
Tip: Add music to the game to make it even more fun for kids!
Freeze on the Signal
“Freeze on the Signal” is a fun way to get kids moving and stopping on command, helping them develop quick reactions and focus.
How to Play:
- Choose one player to be the leader, who will call out times and the “Stop!” signal.
- Players move forward step by step, based on the time the leader announces.
- For example: “Move forward 3 o’clock” means players take three steps.
- At any moment, the leader can yell “Stop!” Players must freeze immediately.
- Anyone who moves after “Stop!” is called is out.
- The first player to reach the leader wins and becomes the new leader.
Tip: Add variation by using different movement styles, like skipping, hopping, or crawling.
Drawing Instructions
“Drawing Instructions” is a creative game where kids follow verbal directions to draw something, and then everyone compares their masterpieces.
How to Play:
- Give each child paper and drawing tools (crayons, pencils, etc.).
- The leader provides step-by-step instructions for creating a drawing.
- For example: “Draw a big circle in the center of your paper. Add two small triangles at the top for ears.”
- At the end, everyone reveals their drawings and compares them.
- For a fun twist, the leader can share what they intended for the picture to be, and everyone votes on the funniest or most accurate drawing.
Words, Not Actions
“Words, Not Actions” challenges kids to focus on the leader’s words and ignore their actions, making it a lovely and brain-bending game.
How to Play:
- The leader gives verbal commands while doing something completely different.
- For example, the leader says “Touch your knees” but touches their head instead.
- Players must do what the leader says, not what the leader does.
- Anyone who follows the leader’s actions instead of words is out.
- Rotate leaders to keep the game interesting.
Tip: Start with easy commands and slowly increase the difficulty to keep kids on their toes.
Quick Thinking Categories
This is a fast-paced game where kids name items in a category, helping them boost vocabulary and quick thinking.
How to Play:
- Choose a category, like animals, colors, or food.
- The first player names something from the category, and then the next player has to name something different.
- For example: Player 1 says “Cat,” Player 2 says “Dog,” and so on.
- No repetitions are allowed, and players have only a few seconds to respond.
- If a player repeats a word or takes too long, they’re out.
- The game continues until only one player is left.
Clap the Pattern
“Clap the Pattern” is a fun rhythm game that sharpens kids’ listening and memory skills as they try to match clapping sequences.
How to Play:
- The leader claps out a simple pattern, like “Clap, clap, pause, clap.”
- Players must listen carefully and repeat the pattern.
- Gradually increase the complexity of the pattern to make the game more challenging.
- Anyone who claps the wrong pattern is out.
- The last player standing becomes the new leader.
Tip: Add variety by including stomps, snaps, or other sounds to make the patterns more exciting.
Silent Actions
“Silent Actions” is a quiet yet engaging game where kids watch the leader closely to decide when to follow along.
How to Play:
- The leader silently performs actions, like raising their arms or tapping their head.
- Kids must only follow actions that are “correct” (based on a pre-set rule, like only copying actions involving hands).
- If a player copies an incorrect action, they are out.
- Change the leader periodically to keep the game fresh.
I Spy
“I Spy” is a classic guessing game that encourages kids to use their observation and descriptive skills.
How to Play:
- One player chooses an object in the room but doesn’t reveal it.
- They say, “I spy with my little eye, something that is [color, shape, or other clue].”
- Example: “I spy something that is round and yellow.”
- Other players take turns guessing the object.
- The first person to guess correctly gets to be the next “spy.”
Tip: Use specific clues to make the game more challenging, such as “something that helps you write” or “something soft to sit on.”
More Creative Games for Learning
Act It Out
In “Act It Out,” kids use their imagination to mimic animals, objects, or actions while others guess, building expressive skills and creativity.
How to Play:
- One child picks a card with an animal, object, or action (or thinks of one on their own).
- They act it out silently, using only gestures or movements.
- The rest of the group tries to guess what they are acting out.
- The first person to guess correctly gets to go next.
Tip: Use specific categories like “farm animals” or “things at the beach” to guide the guessing and keep it age-appropriate.
Tell a Story
“Tell a Story” encourages kids to use their imagination and language skills to create their own short tales.
How to Play:
- One child begins a story with a sentence or two, setting up a scene or characters.
- The next child continues the story by adding a few more sentences.
- Each child takes turns adding to the story until it’s complete.
- After the story ends, discuss any themes or favorite parts together.
Mystery Object
“Mystery Object” is a guessing game where kids use descriptive language to identify hidden objects and also improve vocabulary.
How to Play:
- Place various objects in a bag without showing them to the children.
- Each child takes turns reaching into the bag and feeling an object without looking.
- They describe the object’s texture, shape, or size while others guess what it is.
- Rotate the bag around so everyone has a chance to guess and describe.
Tip: Choose a mix of familiar and unusual items to keep the game interesting.
Spot What’s Missing
“Spot What’s Missing” is a memory-boosting game where kids observe and recall objects.
How to Play:
- Arrange a set of objects on a table, letting everyone observe them for a minute.
- Cover the objects, remove one, then reveal the table again.
- Players try to guess which object is missing.
- Take turns, making the game progressively harder by adding more objects or removing more than one.
Find the Rhyme
“Find the Rhyme” is a word game that helps kids develop phonics and rhyming skills.
How to Play:
- Say a word aloud (e.g., “cat”).
- Kids take turns coming up with words that rhyme (e.g., “hat,” “bat,” “rat”).
- The game continues until no more rhymes are left, then a new word is chosen.
- Make it a team challenge by dividing kids into groups to see who can come up with the most rhymes.
Tip: Start with easy, single-syllable words for younger kids, and gradually move to more challenging words.
I hope you know all the related games. But let me tell you why these games matter!
Why These Games Are Great for Kids
Games like Simon Says and its variations are incredibly beneficial for children’s development.
Build Focus and Attention
These games teach kids to listen carefully and pay attention to details, which improves their ability to concentrate during other tasks.
They also help kids stay on track during lessons or activities.
Improve Memory Skills
Recalling sequences, following multi-step commands, or remembering rules strengthens memory and cognitive processing.
This skill helps kids remember what they’ve learned in school and apply it to other areas.
Boost Creativity
Activities like storytelling, acting, and drawing encourage children to use their imagination and think outside the box.
Research suggests that storytelling can help with creativity.
This helps them express themselves in creative ways and develop problem-solving skills.
Source: Storytelling as a learning tool in creative education
Promote Social Skills
Many of these games involve teamwork, turn-taking, and clear communication, helping kids build stronger social connections.
These skills are important for making friends and working with others.
Encourage Physical Activity
Games that include movement, like Follow the Leader or Jump In or Out, help kids stay active and healthy.
Physical activity also boosts energy levels and improves overall well-being.
Conclusion
Simon Says and similar games are fun and simple ways to help kids improve their important skills that help in overall development.
These games don’t need any special equipment and can be played anywhere. As we discussed, these can be played for both indoor and outdoor fun.
You can play these games with your kids. Try today and share your experience with us!
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Next startup Cledemy.Com)