# How to Play Receptive Language Simon Says at Home

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

Simon Says builds receptive language by helping your child listen, understand and follow spoken instructions. Start with one-step commands paired with actions, build up to two-step and describing words, and keep it playful with lots of praise. Play just 5–10 minutes a day, and check in with a speech therapist if simple instructions stay hard.

*A simple game where your child listens, understands and acts — that quiet moment between hearing and doing is receptive language growing.*

## In short
Simon Says is a wonderful home activity for building **receptive language** — your child's ability to understand and follow spoken instructions. Start slow with one-step commands, use clear words paired with actions, and keep it playful with lots of praise. A few joyful minutes a day matters far more than long sessions.

## How to play it for language growth
**Start where your child is**
- Begin with **one-step, familiar actions**: "Simon says touch your nose," "Simon says clap." Pair the words with the action yourself at first so your child can copy and learn.
- Speak slowly and clearly, and give your child a few seconds to process — understanding takes time before doing.

**Build up gradually**
- Once one-step commands are easy, add **two-step instructions**: "Simon says touch your head and jump."
- Introduce position and describing words — "Simon says put your hand *up*," "Simon says tap the *big* block" — to stretch vocabulary.
- Add the classic twist (only act when you say "Simon says") only when your child is confidently understanding the commands; this layer is about attention, not language, so don't rush it.

**Keep it warm and winnable**
- Celebrate every correct response with a smile, a cheer, a high-five.
- If your child looks unsure, gently model the action — this is teaching, not testing. Never make it about "getting it wrong".
- Five to ten minutes, woven into play, is plenty. Try it during bath time, dressing or in the garden.

## When to check in with a professional
Simon Says is a play activity, not an assessment. If your child consistently struggles to follow simple one-step instructions that peers manage, seems not to understand familiar words, or you have a quiet worry that's not going away, it's worth a conversation with a [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) professional. Early support is gentle, hopeful and effective.

## The Pinnacle way
At Pinnacle Blooms Network, our therapists weave games like [Simon Says](/receptive-language-simon-says) into structured, joyful sessions that grow listening and understanding step by step. 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 an online score. With 25 million+ therapy sessions and 4.95 lakh+ families served, we're here to walk alongside you.

## Trusted sources
Guided by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) on receptive language development, and the CDC's developmental milestone guidance for understanding and following instructions.

**Next step —** to understand your child's listening and language strengths, book a developmental check with our team on WhatsApp: +91 91001 81181.

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

## Sources
- ASHA — Speech and language development: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/
- CDC — Developmental milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development

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

## Related question paths

### At home & in everyday life
- How to Play the Following Directions (Simon) Game at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-following-directions-game-simon-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 to Play the OneStep Command Game at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-onestep-command-game-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 Receptive Language Skills at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-receptive-language-skills-with-my-child-at-home
- How to work on Receptive Language Activity Following at home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-receptive-language-activity-following-with-my-child-at-home