How to Play Simon Says: Easy Instructions & Ideas for Kids

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Parenting & play expert Chelsea Fisher explains all the ways to play Simon Says

Co-authored by Hunter Rising Reviewed by Chelsea Fisher

Last Updated: March 27, 2026 Fact Checked

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Rules of Simon Says

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Simon Says Variations

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

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If you’re looking for a fun game that’s perfect for kids and adults, Simon Says is the perfect thing to play. Simon Says is perfect for improving listening skills for children, and it’s super easy to learn for the whole family. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through how to play as well as some exciting variations to try out!

Simon Says Game Rules

Parenting & play expert Chelsea Fisher says to play Simon Says, choose a player to be Simon. When they say “Simon says…” the other plays have to follow their instructions. If they don’t, they’re out. It goes until one player is left, and there are many variations, such as:

Clean-Up Simon Says: Have Simon give the players different items to clean up and put away.
Animal Simon Says: Have Simon instruct the players to act like different animals
Bedtime Simon Says: Have Simon instruct the players to do bedtime activities, like brushing their teeth and getting into their pajamas.

Section 1 of 2:

Rules of Simon Says

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Gather a small group of players. Although Simon Says is normally a children’s activity, all ages can play and enjoy the game. Gather a few friends and family members together so you have a few players.^{[1]
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- Simon Says works best with 5 or more people, but you can play short games with fewer players.
- Normally, all the players in Simon Says remain standing for the duration of the playing round, but you can also play while sitting down if it’s more comfortable.
Within your group of players, randomly pick one person to be Simon first. Whoever is chosen as Simon stands in front of the rest of the players and faces them. All the other players become the “listeners.”

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Give commands as Simon to eliminate players. Whenever Simon is ready, they can start giving commands to the rest of the group. If you begin a command with “Simon says…”, the listeners have to obey and do what you tell them. If you simply state the command, then the listeners should not follow the instructions. If a listener incorrectly follows Simon’s instructions, they’re eliminated for the rest of the game.^{[2]
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- Give your commands quickly and frequently switch up whether you say “Simon says…” to confuse the listeners.
- Some common commands you can give include:
  - Touch your toes
  - Hop on one foot
  - Dance around the room
  - Do some jumping jacks
  - Give yourself a hug
  - Play air guitar
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Obey “Simon says” commands as a listener. When you’re playing as a listener, pay attention very carefully to the commands given by Simon. Only follow the instructions if they say “Simon says…” before the command. Simon will try to trick you into obeying commands you shouldn’t by giving the commands very quickly. If you don’t follow the instructions correctly, then you’re eliminated for the rest of the round.^{[3]
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- If Simon gives a command, keep performing it until the next time they say “Simon says…” For example, if they say “Simon says hop on one foot,” then keep hopping on that foot until they say “Simon says stop.”
- Wait a second before performing a command to make sure you heard Simon correctly.
During the round, Simon keeps giving commands until there is only one listener left. That player is the winner for the round and becomes the new Simon for the next round. All the eliminated players are back in the next game.^{[4]
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Section 2 of 2:

Simon Says Variations

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Give listeners a strike instead of eliminating them right away. Give each player 3 or 5 strikes for the round of the game. When a listener follows an instruction incorrectly, they gain 1 strike. When they hit the set amount of strikes, then they’re eliminated from the game.^{[5]
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- Players could also say a letter to spell out a word when they make a mistake. For example, strikes can spell out H-O-R-S-E like the basketball game Horse. Once a player spells out the entire word, they are eliminated.
During holidays or certain festivities, the leader of the ground can change their name from Simon to a more fitting character. If you’re playing at a birthday party, you could say “Birthday boy says….” If you’re playing sometime around Valentine's Day, try saying “Cupid says…” instead. On the Fourth of July, you could say Uncle Sam instead of Simon.
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Incorporate sports activities into the commands. Simon Says can be translated into a fun training activity for any sports team, especially teams that have older kids. Give out different drills as commands, or assign exercises as punishments for following a command incorrectly. For example, a volleyball version of Simon Says would include all volleyball-related commands like:
- Block – All players jump up to block
- Dive – All players pretend to dive for a ball
- Defense – All players go into their defensive, ready position
- Shuffle – All players would shuffle in the direction indicated by Simon

Community Q&A

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Should I consider Simon Says an all-ages game, or is it just for small children?

Community Answer

You can play Simon Says at any age; it's not just for small children.

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I'm considering playing this game; is it suitable for elementary school students?

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Yes, you will find this game well-suited for elementary school students.

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What if there are 27 players?

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Get everyone in a circle, make sure everyone knows who Simon is, then play exactly the same.

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Tips

If you’re Simon, try to give commands quickly to fool the listeners.

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If you’re a listener, wait a second before you perform a command to make sure you heard it correctly.

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