Harder listening games  

Activity name and materials required

How to do the activity

Key principles for doing the activity/ comments

Simon says

The adult gives instructions such as “put your hands on your head” or “Simon says sit down”. Children only perform action if the adult says “Simon says…” first.

Don’t forget, Simon says is a very difficult activity for children who take things literally – they find it very difficult to inhibit their tendency to do what they are told.

What’s wrong drawing

What’s wrong pictures (e.g. LDA, Colorcards etc.)

Pencils

Paper

1.     Introduce the game by explaining that you are going to look at some “silly” pictures.

2.     Choose a picture and describe it.

3.     The child draws a picture based on what they hear. Compare the child’s drawing to the original.

4.     Let the child have a turn to describe and draw.

Dress a friend game

Paper person and identical set of clothes for each person (download from https://makingfriends.com)

Each person has a paper ‘body’ and an identical set of clothes and hair. One person describes what they are putting on their body. The other person has to try to dress their body in the same way. Compare the bodies at the end.

Map – your school

A map of your school (you probably need to limit this to one floor if your school is on several floors) 

Doll’s house size people

The child has a copy of the map, the adult describes the route from one room to another, and the child says where they have ended up.

Some children may need to have a dolls house person and physically make them walk round the map.

Make a face

Cards showing faces – you will need to make a set using ovals and the stamps showing different features

Set of facial features stamps (e.g. Paperchase)

Inkpad

Paper with ovals on 

The child has a set of stamps and an inkpad. The adult has the cards. They choose a face and describe it for the child who tries to recreate the face by stamping the correct features on the ovals.

Use ‘Autoshapes’ on your computer to make a page of ovals quickly and easily.

Lego

Simple Lego set (including the step by step instruction sheet)

The adult uses the sheet from the Lego set and describes how to construct the model. The child assembles the Lego model according to the instructions.