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Pre-K preparation · Listening games

Listening & Following Directions

Classrooms are full of directions: “Wash your hands,” “Come to the rug.” These games make listening fun and give children lots of support to succeed.

5–10 minutes per game

Setting your child up to succeed

Get close first

Move near your child and say their name before giving a direction. Calling from another room is much harder to follow.

Show as well as tell

Point, gesture, use a picture or do it yourself while you say it. Many children understand visual cues more easily than words alone.

Wait a little longer

Count silently to ten after giving a direction. Many children need extra time to process words before they move.

Keep it short

“Shoes on” works better than “Can you go and find your shoes and put them on because we need to leave soon?”

Listening looks different

Eye contact is not required to show listening. Some children listen best while moving, looking away or holding something in their hands.

Notice success

Name exactly what went well: “You heard ‘shoes on’ and did it!”

One-step games

Start here. One clear action at a time.

5 minutesOne step

Grown-up says

You’ll need

  • Nothing needed

How to play

  1. Give one simple action at a time: “Touch your nose.” “Jump.” “Wave.”
  2. Do the action with your child the first few times.
  3. Then say it without showing, and wait.
  4. Let your child have a turn giving the directions.

Make it easier: Keep showing the action every time.

Add a challenge: Speed up, or add silly actions like “Walk like a penguin.”

5–10 minutesOne step

Treasure fetch

You’ll need

  • Familiar household objects

How to play

  1. Ask your child to bring you one item: “Bring me a spoon.”
  2. Point toward the room if needed.
  3. Celebrate the delivery, then swap roles.

Make it easier: Set three items on the table and ask for one.

Add a challenge: Add a describing word: “Bring me the blue cup.”

5–10 minutesListening for a signal

Freeze dance

You’ll need

  • Music

How to play

  1. Dance while the music plays.
  2. Freeze when it stops.
  3. Add a visual cue too — hold up a hand when you stop the music.

Make it easier: Pause the music slowly and freeze together.

Add a challenge: Give a direction when the music stops: “Freeze like a tree!”

Trying two steps

When one-step games feel easy, gently add a second step. Keep supporting with gestures and pictures.

5 minutesTwo steps

First… then…

You’ll need

  • Two simple actions
  • Optional: two picture cards

How to play

  1. Say: “First clap, then jump.” Hold up one finger, then two.
  2. Do it together.
  3. Try new pairs: “First sit, then touch your toes.”

Make it easier: Show a picture card for each step, or go back to one step.

Add a challenge: Make the steps unrelated: “Touch the door, then find a book.”

10 minutesTwo steps & movement

Obstacle course

You’ll need

  • Pillows, a blanket, a box

How to play

  1. Set up a simple course.
  2. Give two directions: “Crawl under the blanket, then jump on the pillow.”
  3. Cheer at the finish.

Make it easier: Walk through the course together first.

Add a challenge: Let your child design a course and give you directions.

Safety: Clear sharp corners and set up on a soft, open floor.

5 minutesReal-life directions

Tidy-up helper

You’ll need

  • Toys to put away

How to play

  1. Give a two-part direction: “Pick up the cars, then put them in the box.”
  2. Point to the box.
  3. Thank your child for helping.

Make it easier: Break it into two separate one-step directions.

Add a challenge: Add a sorting step: “Put blocks in the bin, then books on the shelf.”

Sources we checked

We used these public resources to check safety, nutrition and development guidance on this page. Linking to them does not mean these organizations endorse Boogie & Bean World.