No parent should rely on gimmicks to encourage appropriate behavior, but there are times when nothing else seems to work. One of my favorites is Simon Says.
Try it: Next time your toddler/preschooler is running through the house, stop chasing him and start playing Simon Says with yourself. It helps if there’s a sibling you can rope into being an accomplice. If your kids are anything like the little ones in my class, they will stop dead in their tracks. Some of the best rampage stopping commands (in my experience) are Simon Says: clap your hands, pat your cheeks, touch your toes and say “shh!”
Simon Says doesn’t just stop a wild kiddo, it helps them learn too. Playing in general teaches children to listen, self-regulate and mimic another person. You can also work on more specific skills:
Identifying body parts – Simon says touch your knees! (For older kids use tougher parts like shins, eyelids or collar bone.)
Social-emotional development – Simon says make a happy/sad/angry face. Make sure you model it and give feedback.
Counting – Simon says clap 3 times.
Coordination- Simon says stand on your tip-toes. (Great for 2 year olds.)
