Simon Says Yoga: The Kids Yoga Game (Rules, Best Poses & Age-by-Age Variations)
Simon Says Yoga is a kids yoga game that turns the classic listening game Simon Says into a yoga practice: a leader calls out poses, and players only move when the command starts with the words Simon says. If the leader gives a command without the magic words and a player follows it anyway, that player is out — or, in gentler versions, simply holds a freeze pose for one round. It is one of the easiest, lowest-prep ways to get children doing yoga, because the game format supplies the motivation that a list of poses on its own never will.
Teachers and parents like it for a second reason: the game quietly trains impulse control and careful listening. Kids have to hear the whole instruction before moving, which is the kind of self-restraint that classroom teachers spend all year building.
How to play Simon Says Yoga: the rules
- Pick a leader (Simon). With young children, an adult leads the first rounds; older kids can take turns.
- Spread out so every player has arm's-length space on all sides. Mats are nice but not required — a rug or grass works.
- Simon calls poses. Commands that start with Simon says must be followed: Simon says do Tree Pose. Commands without it must be ignored: Do Downward Dog.
- Catch-outs. Anyone who moves on a command without Simon says is caught. Decide in advance what happens: sit out one round, hold a balance pose for five breaths, or just laugh and keep playing (best for under-6s).
- Hold each pose for 3 to 5 breaths before the next call, so the game stays yoga rather than aerobics.
- Rotate leaders every few minutes — calling poses is its own learning exercise in naming and sequencing.
The best poses to call (and why)
Choose poses that are safe to enter quickly, easy to recognize by name, and fun to embody. These are reliable favorites:
| Pose | Call it as | What it trains |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Pose | Stand like a tree | Balance, focus |
| Downward Dog | Be a stretching puppy | Whole-body strength |
| Star Pose | Make a giant star | Posture, body awareness |
| Frog Pose | Crouch like a frog | Hip mobility |
| Butterfly | Flap your butterfly wings | Gentle hip opening |
| Warrior | Be a brave warrior | Leg strength, confidence |
| Cat / Cow | Arch like a cat, moo like a cow | Spine mobility, fun |
| Child's Pose | Curl up like a sleeping mouse | Calming, rest between rounds |
Step-by-step cues for all of these are in our guide to yoga poses for kids, and animal-themed calls get extra mileage from the ideas in our animal yoga article. Star Pose in particular is a perfect Simon Says shape — we cover it in detail in our Star Pose guide.
Age-by-age variations
Ages 3–5: no eliminations
Preschoolers do not handle being out well, and the listening trick is too subtle for many of them. Drop the catch-out entirely and play it as follow-the-leader with pose names, sneaking in the Simon says rule occasionally as a giggle moment rather than a penalty. Keep rounds under 10 minutes.
Ages 6–9: the classic game
This is the sweet spot. Kids understand the rule, love catching others, and genuinely compete to listen well. Use the full rules, rotate leaders, and add silly non-pose commands (Simon says wiggle your nose) to keep the laughter in.
Ages 10+: harder poses, faster calls
Older kids need challenge to stay engaged. Speed up the calls, introduce balance poses like Eagle or Dancer, chain commands (Simon says do Warrior, now switch sides — the switch had no Simon says), and let the last player standing design the next round. For children who get frustrated by elimination, run it as a cooperative round — everyone plays to the end and the leader picks the next round's theme. Partner poses also work at this age — see our guide to 2-person yoga poses for kids.
A 5-command sample round (copy and use)
For a first-time leader, here is a ready-made round of five commands to call in order. Pause 3 to 5 breaths between calls.
- Simon says stand like a tree.
- Simon says be a stretching puppy.
- Touch your toes. (No "Simon says" — anyone who moves is caught.)
- Simon says flap your butterfly wings.
- Simon says curl up like a sleeping mouse and breathe like a bear.
The last command doubles as a built-in savasana, which is the easiest way to end a kids' yoga session. If you want a longer flow after the game, our guide to yoga flow sequence shows how to chain poses for an older or more experienced group.
When Simon Says Yoga doesn't work (and what to do instead)
The game is simple, but a few setups break it:
- Too many kids, not enough room. Above about 12 children in a single space, the listening trick falls apart and the game turns into a stampede. Split the group or move to a different activity.
- Kids with sensory or processing differences. Group commands can overwhelm a child who needs one-to-one cues. Switch to a follow-along format, or let a helper model each pose next to them.
- Groups where elimination causes upset. Some children take being "out" hard. Run a no-elimination version, or have "out" players hold a balance pose for one round instead of sitting down.
For the same age group in a calmer mood, a freeze game ("yoga freeze" — move on music, freeze in a pose when it stops) works just as well, and a story-based follow-along keeps younger kids engaged for longer stretches.
Why this game works: the real benefits
- Inhibitory control. Waiting for the words Simon says before moving trains the same self-restraint that classroom teachers build all year.
- Movement without resistance. Children who would refuse a yoga class will happily play a game that happens to be one.
- Balance, strength, and flexibility from the poses themselves, in short, age-appropriate doses.
- Listening and language. Players must process full sentences before acting; leaders must name and sequence poses out loud.
- Zero equipment and zero prep. It works in a living room, classroom, gym, or backyard.
For the broader picture of what yoga realistically does for children — and what it does not — see our evidence-based overview of yoga for kids.
Tips for leading a smooth game
- Demonstrate each pose the first time you call it; after that, names alone are enough.
- Alternate energizing poses (Warrior, Star) with calming ones (Child's Pose, Butterfly) so the group does not spin up.
- End every session with Simon says lie down and breathe like a sleeping bear — the easiest savasana sell in existence.
- Keep catch-outs light. The goal is movement and laughter, not a strict tournament.
- In a classroom, a 5-minute round makes an excellent transition or brain-break activity.
If you lead kids regularly and want full class structures, games, and a 30-minute plan, our guide on how to teach yoga to kids goes much deeper.
No external research is cited in this article. For the broader picture of what yoga realistically does for children, see our evidence-based overview of yoga for kids.
Simon Says Yoga is a children’s game that combines the classic Simon Says listening game with yoga poses. A leader calls out poses, and players only move when the command starts with the words Simon says. It turns yoga practice into a game, which makes it one of the easiest ways to get kids moving and stretching.
Roughly ages 3 and up, with adjustments. Ages 6 to 9 are the sweet spot for the classic rules. For ages 3 to 5, drop eliminations and play it as follow-the-leader with pose names. For ages 10 and up, speed up the calls and use harder balance poses to keep it challenging.
The game trains careful listening and impulse control, since children must wait for the words Simon says before moving, while the poses themselves build balance, strength, and flexibility. It also requires no equipment and works in classrooms, living rooms, and outdoor spaces, making it a practical movement break.
Five to ten minutes per round works well for most groups. Preschoolers tire of any single game quickly, while older kids can enjoy two or three rounds with different leaders. As a classroom brain break, a single 5-minute round is usually enough to reset attention.
Yes. The game works well outside on grass, in a backyard, or on a school field — just keep enough space between players for balance poses like Tree and Warrior. On hard surfaces, watch the wrists for poses that load them, like Downward Dog.
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