The Best Simon Says List of Commands (200 Ideas)

Simon Says is a classic game played by kids of all ages. It’s fun, educational, and a great way to engage children.

This Simon Says list of 200 commands will keep you busy and includes a variety of command types—simple, funny, silly, active, and more.

There’s also a handy printable of these commands at the end of this post.

What are the Benefits of Playing Simon Says?

Why is Simon Says great for preschoolers and older kids?

Here are just a few reasons:

• It teaches kids listening skills.
• It improves attention span and memory.
• It’s an active game that can build gross motor skills.
• It teaches kids to follow instructions.
• It builds vocabulary.
• It’s good for cognitive development.

More educational game ideas are included in the Free Activity Pack below, so don’t forget to sign up!

What are the Rules of Simon Says?

How do you play Simon Says in a classroom or with a group of children at home?

The Simon Says rules are simple:

• One child is chosen to be Simon. 
• Simon faces the group of children and must give action commands for them to follow.
• If Simon gives a command beginning with the words “Simon Says,” as in “Simon Says clap your hands,” the children must follow the instruction.
• To trick players in Simon Says, Simon must give a command without the words “Simon Says.” As an example, if Simon just says “Clap your hands,” the children must stand still and not follow the command.
• Anyone who moves when the command does not include “Simon Says” is out and must sit down.
• The winner is the last child standing.
• The winner can then be Simon in the next round.
• When playing with very young children, an adult can come up with the commands and take on the role of Simon.

Can you play Simon Says with one child?

Yes, you can still play Simon Says if you don’t have a group of children. You and your child can take turns being Simon and thinking of commands for the other to act out.

Playing one-on-one is a great way to introduce the game to a toddler.

List of Simon Says Game Commands

Simon Says tasks or commands are the actions that Simon instructs the children to perform (or pretend to perform in some cases). Here is a list of 200 to choose from.

Many of these will have kids giggling away as they pretend to perform some ridiculous actions.

You can give these commands as they are or leave off “Simon Says” to test children’s attention.

1. Simon says brush your teeth
2. Simon says run on the spot
3. Simon says blink your eyes 
4. Simon says tell someone your name
5. Simon says put your hands behind your back
6. Simon says swim in the ocean
7. Simon says stretch as high up as you can
8. Simon says bend over and look through your legs at the people behind you
9. Simon says twirl the spaghetti on your fork
10. Simon says purr like a cat
11. Simon says stick out your tongue
12. Simon says turn your body into a banana shape
13. Simon says kick your knees high up
14. Simon says run to the wall and run back
15. Simon says read your book
16. Simon says wink at someone next to you
17. Simon says shout as loud as you can
18. Simon says feel your heartbeat
19. Simon says make a sandwich
20. Simon says rub your tummy
21. Simon says crawl like a baby
22. Simon says bark like an excited dog
23. Simon says do a handstand
24. Simon says balance on your surfboard
25. Simon says give a thumbs up
26. Simon says clap your hands
27. Simon says be an octopus
28. Simon says tickle yourself under your arms
29. Simon says smell your feet
30. Simon says close your eyes and make a wish
31. Simon says hop on one foot
32. Simon says sing your favourite song
33. Simon says balance on the tips of your toes
34. Simon says smile at someone near you
35. Simon says touch something blue
36. Simon says go to sleep
37. Simon says fly your dragon
38. Simon says jump as high as you can

39. Simon says cry like a baby
40. Simon says sit down and cross your legs
41. Simon says spin like a propellor
42. Simon says put your glasses on
43. Simon says bite into your apple
44. Simon says push your baby in a pram
45. Simon says draw a star in the air
46. Simon says high five the person next to you
47. Simon says count your fingers
48. Simon says lie on your back and pedal your bicycle
49. Simon says have a chat on your phone
50. Simon says throw your fishing line in the lake
51. Simon says make a big yawn
52. Simon says tell a knock-knock joke
53. Simon says climb up a mountain
54. Simon says wash your hair in the shower
55. Simon says everyone make a big circle
56. Simon says everyone stand in a line
57. Simon says hide behind someone else
58. Simon says milk the cow
59. Simon says brush your hair
60. Simon says laugh like you have heard the funniest joke
61. Simon says draw a shape in the air
62. Simon says give someone near you a hair cut
63. Simon says balance a stack of plates in your hand
64. Simon says hiss like a snake
65. Simon says move along the ground like a snail
66. Simon says catch a flying bug with your tongue
67. Simon says flap your wings and fly like a butterfly
68. Simon says trumpet like an elephant as loudly as you can
69. Simon says snap like a crocodile
70. Simon says leap like a frog
71. Simon says yawn like a hippo
72. Simon says run faster than a leopard
73. Simon says walk like a crab
74. Simon says roar as loud as you can
75. Simon says hoot like an owl
76. Simon says wobble like a jellyfish
77. Simon says jump around like a monkey, saying “oo-oo-ee-ee”
78. Simon says tweet like a bird
79. Simon says ride a horse
80. Simon says be an angry elephant
81. Simon says congratulate someone by shaking their hand
82. Simon says look angry

83. Simon says look excited
84. Simon says ask someone a question
85. Simon says plant a flower
86. Simon says point to your ears
87. Simon says touch your ankles
88. Simon says touch your left shoulder
89. Simon says twist yourself into a pretzel
90. Simon says stand back to back with someone
91. Simon says touch your knees together
92. Simon says give yourself a big hug
93. Simon says fold your arms
94. Simon says do a dance
95. Simon says wave your hands in the air
96. Simon says be a tree in the wind
97. Simon says look left and look right
98. Simon says drive your racing car
99. Simon says turn around 3 times
100. Simon says climb up the stairs
101. Simon says cross the river without falling in
102. Simon says fly like a plane
103. Simon says bend over and touch your shins
104. Simon says do three jumping jacks
105. Simon says pat yourself on the back
106. Simon says count to 10
107. Simon says wiggle your nose
108. Simon says tickle your toes
109. Simon says tap your head
110. Simon says play the flute

111. Simon says play the guitar
112. Simon says play a tune on the piano
113. Simon says pull your ears
114. Simon says do a yoga pose
115. Simon says turn your body into a circle
116. Simon says sweep the floors
117. Simon says hammer a nail into the ground
118. Simon says rub the magic lamp
119. Simon says tell the genie your three wishes
120. Simon says have a sword fight
121. Simon says be a hissing cobra
122. Simon says cast a magic spell
123. Simon says take a ride on a witches broom
124. Simon says stir the soup
125. Simon says balance on a tightrope
126. Simon says build a house
127. Simon says look through your telescope
128. Simon says act like a pirate
129. Simon says open a treasure chest and see what’s inside
130. Simon says tell a story
131. Simon says sing the Happy Birthday song
132. Simon says blow up a balloon
133. Simon says make a cup of tea

134. Simon says fly a kite
135. Simon says be an annoying mosquito
136. Simon says eat a carrot like a bunny
137. Simon says chase leaves flying in the wind
138. Simon says open your umbrella
139. Simon says build a tower with blocks and bash it down
140. Simon says holds hands with someone
141. Simon says put your socks and shoes on
142. Simon says skate on ice
143. Simon says row your boat
144. Simon says wash your hands
145. Simon says hit the tennis ball over the net
146. Simon says push your baby in a pram
147. Simon says sit on your chair
148. Simon says vacuum the floor
149. Simon says pick a flower and give it to someone
150. Simon says lift up a heavy weight
151. Simon says catch a butterfly with your net
152. Simon says rock your baby to sleep
153. Simon says walk in really high shoes
154. Simon says be a scary zombie
155. Simon says make fish lips
156. Simon says slam the door closed
157. Simon says crawl under someone’s legs
158. Simon says rake the garden leaves
159. Simon says blow out your candles and make a wish
160. Simon says juggle your balls in the air
161. Simon says take a bow
162. Simon says link arms and make a train
163. Simon says walk backwards
164. Simon says link arms with each other
165. Simon says whisper a word to someone
166. Simon says make up a silly word
167. Simon says wag your tail
168. Simon says groom yourself like a cat
169. Simon says throw a tantrum on the floor
170. Simon says put on some earrings
171. Simon says be a scary monster
172. Simon says put on your crown and be a princess

173. Simon says turn into a frog
174. Simon says make up a new name for yourself and tell someone
175. Simon says be a scarecrow
176. Simon says cluck like a chicken
177. Simon says bleat like a goat
178. Simon says quack like a duck
179. Simon says neigh like a horse
180. Simon says grunt like a pig
181. Simon says wiggle like a worm
182. Simon says have a nap
183. Simon says water the flowers
184. Simon says be a dinosaur breaking out of an egg
185. Simon says be an adult dinosaur
186. Simon says be a peacock and show off your feathers
187. Simon says run as fast as the gingerbread man
188. Simon says knit a scarf with your needles
189. Simon says put your hat on
190. Simon says stir some sugar into your tea
191. Simon says be a cheeky monkey
192. Simon says be a melting snowman
193. Simon says pretend to kick a ball on your knees
194. Simon says do a magic trick
195. Simon says crack an egg on someone’s head
196. Simon says lick your ice-cream
197. Simon says count your chickens
198. Simon says hide in your turtle shell
199. Simon says pick apples from a tree
200. Simon says ride your tractor on the farm

How Can I Make Simon Says Easier for Young Kids?

You can make these commands easier for younger children by:

• Giving one command at a time (avoiding multi-step commands)
• Calling them out slowly and clearly
• Starting with the simpler commands (usually those that involve simple body movements such as “put your hands on your head”)

Explore more Simon Says ideas and some games similar to Simon Says.