Have you ever played Simon Says? Most of us remember it as a fun, challenging game that seems easy at first but in reality, is hard to master. For those who grew up playing it, you may recall it being difficult to make up Simon Says ideas during the excitement of the game. In this guide, we’ll show you some of the best Simon Says ideas and some tips to come up with your own to make your games more fun for students or family!
Don’t forget to check out our guide for relay races for more game ideas!
Table of Contents
How To Play Simon Says
Simon Says is a classic; a game so popular that it has its own (although, not family-friendly) movie. But if you’re one of the 13 people in the world who hasn’t heard of it or someone who just needs a refresher, here’s how you play:
One person is picked as Simon, and the others are the players. Simon’s role is to tell the players what to do, but there’s a catch: the players must only obey commands that begin with the words “Simon says”. Here’s an example of how the game is played:
1.“Simon says touch your nose”.
2.“Simon says stand on one foot”.
3. “Simon says jump on one foot”.
4.“Stop”.
Those who stop are out! Because the instruction was not preceded by “Simon says”.
5.“ Simon says stop”.
Now they can stop.
And the game goes on… until there’s just one player standing.
Simon Says Ideas
- Simon says swing a wand.
- Simon says jump like a monkey.
- Simon says laugh like Santa.
- Simon says cry like a baby.
- Simon says moo like a cow.
- Simon says walk like a duck.
- Simon says crawl like a baby.
- Simon says roar like a lion.
- Simon says rub your tummy and pat your head at the same time.
- Simon says hop like a frog.
- Simon says spin like a top.
- Simon says fly like a bird.
- Simon says wiggle your toes.
- Simon says sing.
- Simon says hug yourself.
- Simon says stick out your tongue.
- Simon says tickle your friend.
- Simon says do a silly dance.
- Simon says act like your friend.
- Simon says dance the chacha.
- Simon says (point at something <insert color>) e.g: “Simon says point at something green”.
- Simon says stand in 2 equal groups.
- Simon says stand in pairs.
- Simon says pretend to sneeze.
- Simon says clap.
- Simon says wave.
- Simon says swim.
- Simon says go for a walk.
- Simon says repeat the alphabet
You could also check out this video for a Simon says song.
Tips To Be A Great Simon
The game is really fun for participants, but it can be challenging to be a Simon. If your commands are difficult to follow, then most kids won’t or can’t do them. On the other hand, making it too easy to follow or repeating other commands can make the game get boring quickly.
But what if I gave you the blueprint to be the best Simon out there – to become Simon, The Great!
Becoming a great Simon is simple if you consider the following rules:
Speed
You want to vary the speed with which you deliver your commands. Keep them guessing. One second you might be giving out a single command a minute, and the next you give 3 instructions within a few seconds.
Adding a variation to the speed at which you deliver commands is a great way to keep them cheery and giggling throughout the whole game. You could also issue 3 commands at the same time: 2 Simon says commands and one without. Only those who follow the “Simon says” commands in the correct sequence remain. If they follow all three commands they’re out.
Complexity
Increase the complexity of your commands, or maybe even change up the words you use. Instead of saying “touch your tummy” say “clutch your abdomen”.
Adding in complicated words to describe simple tasks is a great way to get kids to learn and understand new words. You could start your instruction with “Timon says” instead of Simon as a way to trick the other players, as well.
Simon Says Games Based on Age
This is probably the most important factor when picking commands. The age of your participants is crucial to understanding what commands you should be giving. An 11-year-old, for example, may not enjoy the command “wiggle your finger” as much as a toddler would.
For Children Under 7 years
Keep the tasks as simple as possible for young children. Increase the speed slowly and be mindful of your language. Kids may not be able to understand every word or concept you talk about. Simon Says is a great way to challenge the motor skills of this age group.
For Kids 7-15 years old
These guys are the most entertaining age. They’re old enough to follow most instructions, yet young enough to really enjoy the game. You want to issue instructions that are somewhat challenging but nothing overly complex.
A nice way to make the game challenging is to randomly change speeds. Mix motor actions, voice making, spelling words, etc. It’s a good idea to have creative twists and sudden pauses.
For Players Ages 15 and Above
For more mature players, it’s a great idea to increase the complexity of this fun game with time, use random speeds, and random context switches as well. Don’t be afraid to bore them a little before suddenly making the game challenging. Players over 15 love challenges and are pretty competitive, so keep that in mind as you’re giving them instructions.
The Benefits of Playing Simon Says
While, to adults, Simon Says may just be a silly little game that kids play, it can actually play quite a significant role in the development of younger children.
Simon Says, like many of your traditional children’s games, is a memory game and revolved around the player’s ability to remember the command of the “Simon” and do that action. This challenges younger children not only to test their memorization skills but also challenges their motor skills. Children learn how to accurately pair a verbal command to physical action, strengthening their coordination.
Simon Says also helps to develop a child’s listening skills and requires that they listen intently to the instructions of “Simon”. Failure to do so results in them being out (and no kid wants that!).
Simon Says Purchasable Games
Now that you have a few ideas of how to play Simon Says the way we all did as a child, in this section of the article, we’ll be reviewing some of the most popular Simon Says games on the market! These are great for taking on the road to entertain kids or for making your at-home game of Simon Says that much more exciting!
1. Simon Micro Series Game
- Simon Micro Series game is fast-paced, compact fun
- Follow the game's commands to Bop it, Twist it and Pull it in the right sequence
- You get a point for each command you complete
- 2 game modes: Solo or Pass It
- Includes electronic game unit and instructions
Last update on 2024-11-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The first purchasable Simon Says game is this Simon Micro Series Game. This is a super affordable, lightweight, and pocket-sized Simon Says Game that would be a great option for traveling or for younger children. It features the classic red, blue, yellow, and green lights and features two game modes.
Choose to play by yourself with the Solo game mode or with a friend using the Pass It game mode.
What We Like:
- Two game modes, Solo and Pass It, so that you can choose to challenge yourself or challenge yourself and a friend
- Features the classic red, blue, green, and yellow Simon Says lights
- Affordable
- Lightweight, compact size that is great for younger children
2. Simon Game; Electronic Memory Game
- REPEAT THE PATTERNS: It's the exciting electronic game of lights and sounds; Players repeat random sequences of flashing lights by pressing the colored pads in the correct order
- SUSPENSE BUILDS: It starts off at a nice steady pace, but the light sequences get more and more complicated as the game continues
- PLAY SOLO: Play the Simon game with friends or play solo; Try to hit a new high score by completing the longest sequence possible without messing up
- CLASSIC SIMON GAMEPLAY: Watch, remember, and repeat; The electronic handheld Simon game presents an exciting challenge to repeat the patterns and advance to higher levels
Last update on 2024-11-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is the classic Simon Says Memory Game that has been beloved by generations of kids. It features a power button to turn the game on or off, and the classic red, blue, green, and yellow buttons. With this game, you can also play solo or play with a friend. Simon starts off slowly but as time goes on, the rate at which you’re expected to push the buttons gradually increases until the game becomes quite difficult!
What We Like:
- Classic Simon Says Game in the traditional size
- Classic yellow, blue, red, and green buttons
- Affordable
- Play solo or with a friend
3. Simon Swipe Game
- High quality toys for children all ages
- Made using safe materials
- Tested for quality and durability
- Simon game challenges you to keep up and swipe the right combinations
- 4 awesome games including classic Simon
Last update on 2024-11-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The final purchasable Simon Says Game is a twist on the classic handheld Simon Says franchise. Though it still has the classic colors and the modes of playing solo or with a friend, the Simon Swipe Game doesn’t require you to press the buttons. Instead, you swipe the colors on the pad as fast as you can.
The faster you swipe, the faster Simon gets! While this option is slightly more expensive than the other two, it’s still relatively affordable and fun for the whole family!
What We Like:
- Affordable
- A twist on the classic Simon Says game
- Play solo or with friends
- Becomes challenging as time goes on
To Conclude
Hopefully, reading this article gave you some great tips for your next Simon Says game. If you have additional suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments below. We’ll update the article with your ideas to make this the most thorough guide for Simon Says ideas. Now that you’ve got new ideas, go have some fun!