Listening and Following Directions Games for Preschoolers: 7 Picks

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Listening and Following Directions games for ages 3 to 5. Listening and following directions are big skills for school. These games build them through music, rhythm, and silly rules.

  • 7 games
  • Ages 3–5
  • 5–30 minutes each
  • Safety tips for every game

Supervise every game. Young children should never be left alone with small objects, water, bubbles, magnets, or craft supplies. Follow product age labels, and stop any game that is not safe or fun for your child.

Quick Picks

Compare the games, then tap a name to jump to the directions.

#GameMain skillAgesPlayersTime
1Simon SaysListening3–52 or more10 min
2Copycat RhythmsRhythm3–52 or more5–10 min
3Hot and ColdListening3–51 or more5–10 min
4Musical SpotsListening3–52 or more10–15 min
5Whisper Down the LaneListening4–54 or more5–10 min
6Sound Matching ShakersListening3–51 to 210–15 min
7Freeze DanceListening3–52 or more10 min

Why Listening and Following Directions Games Help

Careful listening

Children tune in to sounds and words.

Self-control

Stopping and starting builds impulse control.

Following directions

One-step and two-step directions get easier with practice.

Rhythm

Copying rhythms builds memory and coordination.

7 Listening and Following Directions Games

1. Simon Says

  • Ages 3–5
  • Players: 2 or more
  • 10 min
  • Listening
  • Self-control
  • Body parts

What you need

  • No supplies needed

How to play

  1. Choose a leader to be Simon.
  2. The leader gives directions like 'Simon says touch your nose.'
  3. Players follow only when the leader says 'Simon says.'
  4. If a direction comes without 'Simon says,' players stay still. Take turns being Simon.
How it helps your child: Strengthens listening, impulse control, following directions, and body-part vocabulary.
Safety precautions: Keep directions safe. No jumping off furniture or spinning until dizzy. Don't eliminate children, so everyone keeps playing and no one feels left out.
Make it easier
Use one-step directions and skip the tricks.
Make it harder
Use two-step directions like 'touch your toes, then clap.'

2. Copycat Rhythms

  • Ages 3–5
  • Players: 2 or more
  • 5–10 min
  • Rhythm
  • Memory
  • Listening

What you need

  • Hands and feet
  • Optional: a drum, or a pot and wooden spoon

How to play

  1. Clap a simple pattern, like clap, clap, stomp.
  2. Your child copies the pattern.
  3. Make it longer or change the order.
  4. Let your child make a pattern for you to copy.
How it helps your child: Builds auditory memory, pattern skills, and coordination.
Safety precautions: Keep the volume comfortable, and make sure there's room to stomp safely. Don't bang hard objects near anyone's ears.
Make it easier
Use two-beat patterns.
Make it harder
Use four-beat patterns or two instruments.

3. Hot and Cold

  • Ages 3–5
  • Players: 1 or more
  • 5–10 min
  • Listening
  • Position words
  • Problem solving

What you need

  • A small, safe object to hide, like a stuffed animal

How to play

  1. Have your child close their eyes while you hide the stuffed animal in the room.
  2. Your child searches. Say 'warmer' when they get close and 'colder' when they move away.
  3. Add position words as hints: 'under the chair,' 'next to the lamp.'
  4. Switch roles so your child hides it.
How it helps your child: Builds listening, position words (near, far, under), and persistence.
Safety precautions: Hide objects only in safe, easy-to-reach places, not on high shelves, in closets with heavy items, or near sharp edges. Keep the room clear of tripping hazards.
Make it easier
Use 'close' and 'far' with only a few hiding spots.
Make it harder
Give position clues instead of warm and cold.

4. Musical Spots

  • Ages 3–5
  • Players: 2 or more
  • 10–15 min
  • Listening
  • Colors
  • Cooperation

What you need

  • Paper plates or paper spots in different colors
  • Music

How to play

  1. Place a spot on the floor for each child, plus one or two extras.
  2. Play music and have children walk, dance, or hop around the spots.
  3. Stop the music and say, 'Find a red spot!' Children stand on a spot of that color.
  4. Everyone keeps playing, and nobody is out. Take away one spot each round and practice sharing.
How it helps your child: Builds listening, color recognition, and cooperation without competition.
Safety precautions: Play on a non-slippery floor and tape the spots down. No one is eliminated, and children should share spots gently, with no pushing.
Make it easier
Use one color per child.
Make it harder
Call shapes or letters written on the spots.

5. Whisper Down the Lane

  • Ages 4–5
  • Players: 4 or more
  • 5–10 min
  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Memory

What you need

  • No supplies needed

How to play

  1. Sit in a line or circle.
  2. Whisper a short message into the next person's ear, like 'Red apples are yummy.'
  3. Each person whispers it to the next.
  4. The last person says it out loud. Compare it with the original and laugh at the changes.
How it helps your child: Builds careful listening, clear speaking, and short-term memory.
Safety precautions: Whisper softly so no one's ear is bothered, and keep messages kind. Don't use hurtful words.
Make it easier
Use a two-word message.
Make it harder
Use a short sentence.

6. Sound Matching Shakers

  • Ages 3–5
  • Players: 1 to 2
  • 10–15 min
  • Listening
  • Matching

What you need

  • 6 matching opaque containers with lids (small plastic bottles or spice containers)
  • Fillings in pairs (rice, pasta, large beads)
  • Strong tape

How to play

  1. Fill 3 pairs of containers with the same material.
  2. Close the lids tightly and seal them with strong tape. An adult should do this.
  3. Mix them up. Your child shakes one and finds the one that sounds the same.
  4. Line up the matches and talk about the sounds: loud, soft, fast, slow.
How it helps your child: Builds listening, matching, and the ability to tell sounds apart.
Safety precautions: Seal lids tightly so the filling can't spill. Rice, beans, and pasta are choking hazards, so check the tape often and stop play if a container opens.
Make it easier
Use 2 pairs with very different sounds.
Make it harder
Put the shakers in order from quietest to loudest.

7. Freeze Dance

  • Ages 3–5
  • Players: 2 or more
  • 10 min
  • Listening
  • Self-control
  • Gross motor

What you need

  • Music
  • Space to move

How to play

  1. Start the music and dance together.
  2. Stop the music and call 'Freeze!' Everyone holds still like a statue.
  3. Start the music again. Try freezing like an animal or a tree.
  4. Take turns being the one who starts and stops the music.
How it helps your child: Builds listening, self-control, and big-muscle coordination.
Safety precautions: Clear the floor of toys, wear shoes or non-slip socks, and keep the volume comfortable. Don't eliminate anyone. Everyone keeps dancing.
Make it easier
Use short songs and give a count to freeze.
Make it harder
Freeze in a certain shape, like a circle or a letter.

Tips for Playing Listening and Following Directions Games

  • Start with one-step directions.
  • Say directions clearly and slowly.
  • Model first, then let children try.
  • Keep it playful and avoid elimination.

Safety Basics for All Games

  • Supervise every game. Young children should never be left alone with small objects, water, bubbles, or craft supplies.
  • Watch for small parts. The CPSC advises avoiding toys with small parts for children younger than 3. Use large counters, cards, and game pieces that can’t fit in a child’s mouth, and check for loose pieces before you play.
  • Use only large, child-safe magnets. The CPSC warns that swallowed magnets can cause serious injury, and advises avoiding play sets with small magnets for children under 6.
  • Prevent slips and trips. Clear the play space, tape down paper spots, and wear shoes or non-slip socks for jumping and hopping games.
  • Seal homemade shakers and jars. Fillings like rice, beans, and sand are choking hazards if a lid opens.
  • Keep food and allergies in mind. We use pretend food in these games. If you add real snacks, cut round foods small, and check for allergies, especially at playdates.
  • Stay within arm’s reach near water. This includes bubble solution and any small tub of water.
  • Play fair and kind. Avoid eliminating children from games, praise effort over winning, and stop a game if it leads to teasing.

Pair These Games with More Learning

Listening and Following Directions Games FAQs

How many directions can a preschooler follow?

Many 3-year-olds follow one step, and many 4- and 5-year-olds can follow two steps. Go at your child's pace.

Why do kids find Simon Says hard?

It needs listening and stopping, which are still developing at this age.

Should I eliminate children who make mistakes?

No. Keep everyone playing and cheer for trying.

More Game Types

Keep the Learning Going

Pair these games with free printables, easy activities, and our 12-month preschool curriculum.

Free WorksheetsMore Activities

12-month curriculum · Coloring pages · Toys

Sources and Credits

This guide is general educational information for parents. It is not medical advice. Always supervise young children and follow product age labels. If you are concerned about your child’s development, talk with your child’s doctor or teacher.