# How to Work on the Impulse Control Game Simon at Home

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-impulse-control-game-simon-with-my-child-at-home
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

Simon — the watch-wait-then-repeat memory game, or a simple homemade version — is a playful way to build your child's impulse control at home. Keep rounds short and calm, start with 2-step sequences, and praise the waiting itself. It supports self-regulation but is not a treatment; if impulse control is a struggle across settings, seek a developmental check.

*Simon isn't really about lights and sounds — it's a playful way for your child to practise the small pause between feeling an urge and acting on it.*

## In short
Simon (the memory-and-repeat light-and-sound game, or your simple homemade version) is a lovely home tool for building impulse control: your child must *wait, watch the whole sequence, then respond* — exactly the "stop and think" muscle we want to strengthen. Start short and easy, celebrate the waiting as much as the right answer, and play in calm, brief bursts. This is a play activity, not a treatment, and it pairs beautifully with everyday routines.

## How to play it at home
You don't need the electronic toy — four coloured cups, claps, or taps work just as well.

**Set it up for success**
- Play when your child is calm and rested, not hungry or overtired.
- Keep rounds to 5–10 minutes. Stop while it's still fun.
- Begin with a 2-step sequence and grow slowly (3, then 4) as they succeed.

**Build the pause**
- Say the rule warmly: *"Watch ALL of it, then it's your turn."* The waiting is the skill.
- Add a gentle cue — "freeze hands until I finish" — and praise the wait itself: *"You waited so well!"*
- Take turns being the leader. Letting your child set the sequence builds planning and self-control too.

**Stretch it as they grow**
- Try "Simon Says" style variations where they only copy *some* signals — this layers in inhibition (acting only on the right cue).
- Slow down or speed up the pace to vary the challenge.
- Keep it light: a wrong turn is just "let's try again," never a failure.

Mistakes and big feelings during the game are normal and useful — they're chances to practise calming down and re-starting, with you as the steady, encouraging guide.

## When to look a little closer
Games like this support self-regulation, but they don't replace assessment. If your child finds *every* waiting situation overwhelming — constant interrupting, difficulty stopping a preferred activity, big meltdowns around turn-taking across home and school — it's worth a developmental check rather than more practice alone.

## The Pinnacle way
A clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from a home game or a score alone. Our team can show you how the [Impulse Control Game Simon](/impulse-control-game-simon) fits into a wider plan, and how targeted [occupational therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) builds attention and self-regulation step by step.

## Trusted sources
Guided by AAP and HealthyChildren.org guidance on play that builds self-regulation, and CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." milestones for attention and behaviour in young children.

**Next step —** play one short, joyful Simon round today, and if waiting and impulse control feel like an everyday struggle, book a developmental assessment with Pinnacle Blooms Network on WhatsApp: +91 91001 81181.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

## Sources
- AAP HealthyChildren.org — play that builds self-regulation: https://www.healthychildren.org
- CDC Learn the Signs. Act Early. — attention and behaviour milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Context: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/context
- Find Activities: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/find_activities
- Family Empowerment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/family_empowerment

## Related question paths

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- How can I work on Impulse Control with my child at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-impulse-control-with-my-child-at-home
- How to Reduce Impulsivity With Your Child at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-reducing-impulsivity-with-my-child-at-home
- How can I work on Simon Says with my child at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-simon-says-with-my-child-at-home
- How can I work on Interactive Simon with my child at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-interactive-simon-with-my-child-at-home
- How to Play Interactive Game Simon at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-interactive-game-simon-with-my-child-at-home
- How to Work on Impulse Control Stop and Go at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-impulse-control-stop-and-go-with-my-child-at-home