Great Following Instruction Games for Young Children

Spider Game

• Have the students stand in a circle. Tell the children they are going to play a game where they pretend to be a spider and will listen to a song you sing and move the way the song tells them too. Sing the words "Dance little spider. Dance, Dance even wider". Add more lyrics to the song where the spider crawls, jumps, etc.

Horse and Pony Game

• Play some music for the children that has various tempos. Tell the children when the music is fast they need to gallop fast like a horse and when it is slow they need to trot like a pony. Help the children recognize when the music is fast or slow by galloping or trotting throughout various places in the song. Before you begin this game make sure the children have an adequate amount of space free of objects so they are not running into each other or any other items.

Farmer In The Dell

• Sing the song "The Farmer In The Dell" with the children. While you are reciting the song have them act out the various parts such as "the gardener plants the seeds". After you sing the song once, change the tempo of it and see if the children are able to keep up.

At Your Service Game

• Clear a table off for the children to use. Ask one child at a time to place an item on the table that they will need for a feast. For example, ask one child to place a plastic cup on the table while you ask one of the other children to place a napkin on it. Some children may need assistance in determining where exactly the items go on the table. Reinforce their listening skills by guiding them through the process with your voice only.

Simon Says

• Have the children stand in a line. Tell them that you are going to call out a movement. If you say the words "Simon says" before the movement then they have to do it. If you just say the movement then they should stand still. For example, if you say "Simon says jump" they should jump. However, if you just say "Jump", they should stand still.