The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CHILDREN'S GAMES - SIMON SAYS

THIS GAME CAN BE PLAYED INDOORS OR OUTSIDE. THE LEADER TELLS
THE PARTICIPANTS WHAT TO DO, SUCH AS SIMON SAYS STAND ON ONE LEG,
SIMON SAYS KNEEL DOWN, SIMON SAYS HOLD YOUR RIGHT ARM UP. AT
THE LEADER'S DISCRETION, SHE COMMANDS THE CHILDREN TO DO SOMETHING
WITHOUT PRECEEDING THE COMMAND WITH SIMON SAYS. IF THEY FOLLOW
THIS COMMAND THEY ARE OUT. THE GAME PROGRESSES IN THIS MANNER
UNTIL ALL OF THE CHILDREN BUT ONE ARE OUT. THIS ONE BECOMES THE
NEW LEADER.

Submitter comment: THE TRICK TO THIS GAME, IF YOU ARE THE LEADER IS TO GET THE PLAYERS
INTO A DIFFICULT SPOT TO MAINTAIN PHYSICALLY, THEN SAY A COMMAND
WHICH RELEASES THEM FROM THIS SPOT WITHOUT SAYING SIMON SAYS.
THE PLAYERS WILL BE SO GLAD TO GET OUT OF THE DIFFICULT SPOT THAT
THEY WILL NOT REALIZE THAT THE SIMON SAYS COMMAND WAS NOT GIVEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT