Core Skills Analysis
Physical Education
The child played Simon Says by listening to spoken instructions and responding with physical actions. The game gave the child practice following movement cues and coordinating actions with what was heard. Taking part also supported body awareness as the child moved in response to the caller. The activity connected listening and movement in an active, playful way.
Language and Communication
The child listened to short spoken directions and used their meaning to decide how to respond. The game supported attention to spoken language, understanding action words, and connecting words with movements. The child also encountered a simple turn-taking conversation structure, in which one person gave directions and others responded. These experiences built foundations for listening comprehension and following oral instructions.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The child took part in a shared game with a caller and players, practising participation in a group activity. Responding to instructions supported attention and self-regulation, as the child needed to listen before acting. The simple, playful format also offered opportunities to experience shared rules and take turns. Playing together encouraged engagement with others through movement and listening.
Tips
Tips Extend the game by letting the child take a turn giving familiar action instructions, such as “Simon says, clap,” to practise clear speaking and leadership. Add movement words such as slowly, quickly, high, and low, and invite the child to demonstrate what each means. Try a themed round using animal movements, then talk together about how each animal moves. Keep rounds brief and playful, allowing the child time to listen, move, and enjoy participating.
Book Recommendations
- From Head to Toe by Eric Carle: An interactive picture book that invites children to copy a variety of animal movements.
- The Listening Walk by Paul Showers: A gentle story that encourages children to listen carefully to sounds around them.
- Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes by Annie Kubler: A familiar action songbook that connects body-part vocabulary with movement.
Learning Standards
- UK National Curriculum — English, Spoken Language (Years 1–6): Listening and responding appropriately to spoken instructions supports the spoken-language aim of listening and responding. This activity provides a play-based foundation rather than demonstrating mastery of a year-group outcome.
- UK National Curriculum — Physical Education, Key Stage 1: Responding to movement instructions connects with developing fundamental movement skills and applying them in different ways. The activity is a suitable early foundation for these later expectations.
- Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Physical Development: Moving in response to cues supports coordination and control of the body.
- EYFS, Communication and Language: Listening to and understanding spoken instructions supports attention and comprehension.
- EYFS, Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Participating in a shared game supports interaction, attention, and experience of simple group rules.
Try This Next
- Action-word picture cards: choose a card and act out its movement.
- Make a simple Simon Says sequence using three familiar actions, then invite the child to lead.
- Draw a favourite movement from the game and label it with an action word such as jump, clap, or stretch.