← Ages 3 to 7

Simon Says: Positions & Opposites

Simon says hands above your head! Stand behind a chair! Walk slowly… now quickly! Only do it if Simon says so.

Position words
Opposites
Listening
Moving

“The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.” Proverbs 20:12

Game in progress

Who is Simon?

The screen A grown-up, one at a time A grown-up, the whole list

Commands

Positions Opposites Both

How many commands

10 15 20

Pace

I’ll tap Next Slow Quick

When someone is tricked

Nobody’s out Out until the next round

Options Use the furniture Adds commands like “stand behind a chair” and “point under the table”. Turn it off if you’re short of space. Big kids Adds left and right, like “wave your left hand”. Read the commands aloud Simon speaks every command, and tells you when it was a trick. Sounds A chime for each command and a cheer at the end.

You’ll need

A clear space where everyone can move
A chair or two, a table and a sofa nearby

Simon Says

Get ready

Play safely

Clear a space, and move anything that could break.
No running, and bare feet or shoes on slippery floors.
Stand next to the furniture, never on it. No climbing!

Read this out

Trick! Leave out “Simon says”

🎉

Everybody’s back in!

Anyone who was sitting out, jump back up. Listen carefully for “Simon says”!

Your commands, Simon

Read them out in order. On the ones marked trick, leave out “Simon says” and watch who moves!

Words you practised

“The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.” Proverbs 20:12

How to play

Everyone stands up in a clear space where they can hear Simon.
Simon gives a command, like “Simon says, put your hands above your head!”
If Simon says “Simon says”, do it! If not, it’s a trick: stay still!
Opposites come in pairs: walk slowly… then quickly!
Tricked? Have a giggle and keep playing. Older children can choose Out until the next round instead.

Talk about it

Ask “Where is your hand? Is it above your head or below it?”
Make up your own opposites: hot and cold, push and pull, near and far.

Play safely

Clear a space and move anything that could break.
No running: quick walking happens on the spot. Bare feet or shoes on slippery floors, not socks.
We stand beside, behind or in front of furniture. Nobody climbs on it.

For mixed ages

A grown-up or older child can be Simon: choose A grown-up to see the commands to read out.
Big kids adds left and right. Facing the screen, its left side is on your left.
Little ones can copy a big brother or sister. That’s all right!

Keys on a computer

Enter or Space presses the main button: Next, or Pause.
R says it again, N moves on now, and E finishes the game.