How to play Simon Says
You need one phone, a little room to stand and at least two players. The phone does the calling, so everyone gets to play, including the grown-up who usually has to be Simon.
- 1Pick a deck: Classic, Silly, Quiet or Kids.
- 2Everyone stands up where they can hear the phone. Turn the volume up.
- 3Press start. The phone reads each command out loud and shows it on screen.
- 4If a command starts with “Simon says,” do it. “Simon says touch your nose” means touch your nose.
- 5If it doesn't, freeze. When the phone just says “Jump!” anyone who jumps is out.
- 6Players who make a mistake sit down. The commands come faster and get trickier as the game goes on.
- 7The last player standing wins. Everyone stands back up for the next round.
Simon Says commands
Pick a deck before you start. Classic has the moves everybody knows, like touch your toes. Silly gets people barking like dogs. Quiet keeps things calm for indoors and classrooms, and Kids uses simple moves for little ones. Every command is safe to do in a living room: no running, no climbing, no touching other people. The full list is below, handy for Simon Says ideas of your own.
Classic · 60 commands
- Simon says touch your toes
- Simon says touch your knees
- Simon says touch your shoulders
- Simon says touch your elbows
- Simon says touch your heels
- Simon says touch your ankles
- Simon says touch your nose with your thumb
- Simon says put your hands on your head
Show all 60
- Simon says put your hands on your hips
- Simon says put your hands behind your back
- Simon says put your hands on your shoulders
- Simon says put one hand on your head and one on your tummy
- Simon says raise your right hand
- Simon says raise your left hand
- Simon says raise both arms
- Simon says clap three times
- Simon says clap above your head
- Simon says clap behind your back
- Simon says stomp your right foot twice
- Simon says tap your left foot three times
- Simon says march with high knees
- Simon says stand on one foot
- Simon says stand on your tiptoes
- Simon says stand up tall
- Simon says crouch down low
- Simon says bend down and touch the floor
- Simon says jump once
- Simon says do one jumping jack
- Simon says hop once on your left foot
- Simon says turn around once
- Simon says do a half turn
- Simon says point to the ceiling
- Simon says point to the floor
- Simon says point to your feet
- Simon says wave with both hands
- Simon says cross your arms
- Simon says snap your fingers
- Simon says salute
- Simon says take a bow
- Simon says swing your arms
- Simon says roll your shoulders
- Simon says make tiny circles with your wrists
- Simon says stretch to the left
- Simon says stretch to the right
- Simon says reach for the sky
- Simon says stretch your arms out to the sides
- Simon says freeze
- Simon says rub your tummy and pat your head
- Simon says touch your left ear with your right hand
- Simon says touch your right knee with your left hand
- Simon says hold up five fingers
- Simon says hold up two fingers on each hand
- Simon says make a circle with your arms
- Simon says look over your left shoulder
- Simon says look over your right shoulder
- Simon says tap your head three times
- Simon says kneel on one knee
- Simon says shake it out
- Simon says shake your right leg
- Simon says pat your knees twice
Silly · 60 commands
- Simon says bark like a dog
- Simon says meow like a cat
- Simon says moo like a cow
- Simon says roar like a lion
- Simon says hiss like a snake
- Simon says quack like a duck
- Simon says oink like a pig
- Simon says howl like a wolf
Show all 60
- Simon says hoot like an owl
- Simon says cluck like a chicken
- Simon says buzz like a bee
- Simon says neigh like a horse
- Simon says make a fish face
- Simon says make a monster face
- Simon says wiggle your ears
- Simon says wiggle your eyebrows
- Simon says make your silliest face
- Simon says make a surprised face
- Simon says make a grumpy face
- Simon says make a duck face
- Simon says pretend to smell something stinky
- Simon says pretend you just bit into a lemon
- Simon says pose like a superhero
- Simon says pose like a flamingo
- Simon says strike a model pose
- Simon says strike a ballet pose
- Simon says dance like a robot
- Simon says dance like a chicken
- Simon says dance like nobody is watching
- Simon says do a tiny dance
- Simon says jiggle like jelly
- Simon says wiggle like a wet noodle
- Simon says sway like a tree in the wind
- Simon says play the air guitar
- Simon says play the air drums
- Simon says pretend to swim
- Simon says pretend to surf
- Simon says pretend to ride a horse
- Simon says stomp like a dinosaur with tiny arms
- Simon says waddle in place like a penguin
- Simon says snore really loud
- Simon says giggle like a baby
- Simon says sing like an opera singer
- Simon says talk like a robot
- Simon says pretend to sneeze into your elbow
- Simon says puff out your cheeks
- Simon says laugh like a cartoon villain
- Simon says jump and say boing
- Simon says do two bunny hops in place
- Simon says scratch like a monkey
- Simon says freeze like a statue
- Simon says move in slow motion
- Simon says pretend you're on a roller coaster
- Simon says pretend to eat spaghetti
- Simon says pretend to blow up a balloon
- Simon says float like an astronaut
- Simon says wiggle your nose like a bunny
- Simon says pinch the air like a crab
- Simon says pretend your feet are stuck in glue
- Simon says do jazz hands and say ta-da
Quiet · 50 commands
- Simon says touch your chin
- Simon says touch your eyebrows
- Simon says touch your cheeks
- Simon says cross your arms and touch your shoulders
- Simon says wiggle your thumbs
- Simon says raise one finger
- Simon says hold up three fingers
- Simon says show the number seven with your fingers
Show all 50
- Simon says make a heart with your hands
- Simon says blink twice
- Simon says wink
- Simon says close your eyes
- Simon says open your mouth wide
- Simon says smile without showing your teeth
- Simon says make a sad face
- Simon says frown
- Simon says raise your eyebrows
- Simon says nod slowly
- Simon says shake your head slowly
- Simon says look left
- Simon says look right
- Simon says look up
- Simon says cross your fingers
- Simon says fold your hands
- Simon says put your hands on your knees
- Simon says clap without making a sound
- Simon says draw a circle in the air
- Simon says write your name in the air
- Simon says draw a star in the air with your nose
- Simon says pretend to read a book
- Simon says pretend to type on a keyboard
- Simon says pretend to sip hot cocoa
- Simon says pretend to tie your shoes
- Simon says pretend to row a boat
- Simon says pretend to drive a car
- Simon says make a fist
- Simon says spread your fingers wide
- Simon says touch your thumb to each finger
- Simon says point to something blue
- Simon says point to the door
- Simon says point to your elbow
- Simon says rest your chin on your hands
- Simon says put a finger on your lips
- Simon says cover your ears
- Simon says pretend to sleep
- Simon says lift your shoulders up and down
- Simon says sit like a statue
- Simon says lift your hands off the desk
- Simon says do a silent cheer
- Simon says make binoculars with your hands
Kids · 50 commands
- Simon says touch your nose
- Simon says touch your head
- Simon says touch your tummy
- Simon says touch your hair
- Simon says touch your feet
- Simon says touch the floor
- Simon says point to your mouth
- Simon says point to your eyes
Show all 50
- Simon says clap your hands
- Simon says wave hello
- Simon says wave bye-bye
- Simon says give a big smile
- Simon says give a big yawn
- Simon says pat your tummy
- Simon says pat your head
- Simon says tickle your tummy
- Simon says stomp your feet
- Simon says tap your toes
- Simon says march in place
- Simon says put your hands up
- Simon says put your hands down
- Simon says shake your hands
- Simon says shake your arms
- Simon says shake one leg
- Simon says wiggle your fingers
- Simon says wiggle your hips
- Simon says nod yes
- Simon says shake your head no
- Simon says give a thumbs up
- Simon says high five the air
- Simon says hold up one finger
- Simon says hug yourself
- Simon says flap your arms like a bird
- Simon says put your arms out like an airplane
- Simon says reach up high
- Simon says crouch down like a little mouse
- Simon says make yourself as big as a giant
- Simon says turn around slowly
- Simon says say hello
- Simon says say cheese
- Simon says make a happy face
- Simon says make a sleepy face
- Simon says pretend to eat an apple
- Simon says pretend to eat ice cream
- Simon says pretend to drink juice
- Simon says pretend to brush your teeth
- Simon says pretend to wash your hands
- Simon says pretend to smell a flower
- Simon says pretend to rock a baby
- Simon says pretend to blow out birthday candles
Who's out and who decides
The phone calls the commands, but people still decide who's out. Choose one player to sit out a round and be the judge, or let the whole group call it together. A judge keeps the arguments short.
Agree on the fine print before the first command. Does a tiny twitch count as moving? What about starting a move and stopping halfway? Most groups say if you started it, you're out.
Doing the wrong move is a mistake too. If Simon says touch your knees and you touch your toes, sit down.
For younger kids, try a gentler rule: instead of sitting down for the rest of the round, they sit out one command and jump back in.
Tips for staying in the game
- Listen for the first two words. Everything after them can wait half a second.
- Don't watch the other players. When one person moves, half the room follows.
- Stay loose. Fast commands are easier when you aren't tense.
- Be extra careful after a long streak of Simon says commands. That's exactly when a plain one sneaks in.
- Give each player a little space before you start, especially with the Silly deck.
- If the room is noisy, keep the phone where people can also read the screen.
Ways to play
Quiet classroom
Use the Quiet deck for a brain break that won't disturb the class next door. Students can play standing beside their desks.
Little kids
The Kids deck sticks to simple moves like touch your nose. Pair it with the sit-out-one-command rule so nobody is out for long.
With grandparents
Use the Quiet deck and Relaxed speed. Almost every command in it works sitting down.
Silly showdown
Pick the Silly deck for parties. Watching an adult get caught mooing like a cow is half the fun.
Video call Simon
Set the phone next to your microphone and play over a video call. Everyone keeps their camera on so the group can see who moved.
Where Simon Says works best
In classrooms, it's hard to beat as a two-minute movement break between lessons. The Quiet deck keeps the room calm, and the teacher gets to watch instead of call.
At family parties and game nights, it works for a mixed crowd, from preschoolers who are still learning their body parts to grandparents who swear they never moved.
On rainy days, it's an easy way for kids to burn off some energy indoors. Every command is safe for a living room, so nobody has to move the furniture.
Where Simon Says comes from
Simon Says is older than most people guess. One of the earliest printed mentions found so far ran in the Boston Morning Post in 1842: a short joke about a Simon who sometimes says up, sometimes says down and sometimes says wiggle waggle. Readers were clearly expected to know the game already.
Kids around the world play it with a different leader. In France it's Jacques a dit (Jacques said), and in Quebec it's Jean dit. In Norway the king gives the orders: Kongen befaler, the king commands. Portugal has O Rei manda, which means the same thing, and Finnish kids follow the captain in Kapteeni käskee. In Ireland you may hear O'Grady says, in Turkey it's Yakup der ki (Jacob says), and in Spanish it's Simón dice.
The rule is the same everywhere: obey the leader only when they say the magic words. Our version hands the leader's job to the phone, so nobody has to sit out to be Simon.
Questions
Is this Simon Says game free?
Yes. All four decks are free. The site is supported by ads, so there's no sign-up and nothing to buy.
How do you play Simon Says?
One caller gives commands. If a command starts with “Simon says,” everyone does it. If it doesn't, nobody should move, and anyone who does is out. The last player standing wins. Here, the phone is the caller.
What are good Simon Says commands for kids?
Simple, safe ones work best: touch your nose, touch your head, clap your hands, stand on one foot. The Kids deck is made for younger players, and every command is listed on this page.
Does the phone really say the commands out loud?
Yes. It reads each command with your device's built-in voice and shows it on screen at the same time, so players can listen, read or both.
How many people can play?
Two or more, up to a whole class. As long as everyone can hear the phone, the group can be as big as your room allows.
Is it safe to play indoors?
Yes. Every command can be done in a living room: no running, no climbing and no touching other players. The Quiet deck is the calmest.
Who decides if someone moved?
Your group does. Pick a judge for each round, or vote together. Agree before you start on whether a small twitch counts.
Can we play Simon Says on a video call?
Yes. Put the phone near your microphone so everyone hears the commands, and keep cameras on so you can see who moved.