Raise your arm, touch your nose, jump in place, but only if the phrase starts with “Simon says.” This simple mechanism has crossed generations without losing its charm. Current versions of the game, particularly in the form of illustrated cards, renew the experience by adding visual instructions and variations designed for today’s families.
Why Simon Says Still Works with Children
The principle can be summed up in one sentence: listen before acting. A leader gives an instruction, the others execute it, but only if it is preceded by the magic formula. This very concrete attentional filter captures the attention of the youngest without them needing to read a rule or understand a score chart.
The mechanics rely on the distinction between hearing and listening. A child who rushes to perform the action without checking the formula learns, round after round, to slow down their impulse. Active listening is practiced without the child realizing it.
Have you ever noticed that a child retains an instruction better when they move at the same time? Simon Says exploits exactly this link between movement and memorization. That’s why the game remains relevant well beyond preschool, even when screens offer more spectacular alternatives.
For those who want to explore recent variations in illustrated cards, it is possible to discover Jolis Mômes online and compare formats suitable for different age groups.
Variations of Simon Says to Adjust Difficulty by Age
The classic version, standing in the living room, works from the age of three. Card game versions, like those published by Auzou, add illustrations that serve as visual support for the instruction. The child sees the action drawn on the card in addition to hearing it, which facilitates understanding before learning to read.
Slow Down or Speed Up the Pace
With young children, a slow pace and simple instructions (raise your arms, clap your hands) are sufficient. As players gain confidence, the leader can speed up the rhythm or string together multiple instructions.
The most effective trap: say one thing while miming another. The leader announces “Simon says: touch your ears” while placing their hands on their knees. This variation, recommended for older children, requires a higher level of attention since they must ignore the contradictory visual information.
Replace Elimination with a Point System
Classic elimination poses a concrete problem: the first child caught spends the rest of the game watching. One variation is to award a point for each correctly followed instruction, or to have the caught child join the leader instead of excluding them.
No child sits on the bench; the game keeps everyone active. This simple rule change transforms the group dynamic. The youngest remain engaged, and the frustration of failure decreases.
Simon Says Card Games: What Changes Compared to the Oral Version
Card games add a layer of structure that the oral version lacks. Each card features an illustration and sometimes a short text. The leader draws cards instead of improvising, which reduces the mental load for the adult facilitating the game.
- Illustrated cards allow children who do not yet read to understand the instruction through the drawing, without relying solely on listening.
- The card format imposes a finite number of instructions, structuring the duration of the game and avoiding endless sessions.
- Some editions, like Auzou’s P’tit Jeu de Simon Says, include specific “trap” cards that renew the surprise with each draw.
Why does this format appeal to families? Because it fits in a bag, can be pulled out at a restaurant or in a waiting room, and requires no special play space. A Simon Says card game fits in a pocket and occupies an entire journey.
How Adults Influence the Educational Value of Simon Says
A rarely discussed point: the game does not produce learning by magic. The way an adult facilitates the game changes everything. Explaining why a player made a mistake (“You moved when Simon didn’t say anything”) transforms the error into awareness. Without this verbal feedback, the child only perceives that they lost, not why.
The adult who verbalizes the rule at each mistake reinforces the learning of selective listening. This role of facilitator goes beyond that of a simple game leader. Asking the question “What did Simon say exactly?” after a trap prompts the child to replay the sequence in their mind.
Adapting the Game to Different Abilities
In a mixed group (ages or varied abilities), the adult can adjust without complicating:
- Accept an approximate gesture rather than identical execution for all, so that each child participates at their own level.
- Allow two children to play together, with one helping the other to identify valid instructions.
- Vary the reaction time allowed based on the players, instead of imposing the same speed on the whole group.
Inclusion comes through flexible rules, not a separate role. These adjustments do not distort the game. They expand the circle of players without diluting the challenge for those who already master the mechanics.
Simon Says remains one of the few games that requires neither expensive materials, nor preparation, nor screens. Card versions for children provide a practical framework, but the essence of the game still relies on the same thing: an attentive ear and a slightly mischievous leader.
