#Simon says games how to#

Of course, thereвЂ™s only so much that parents can do. So can games that help with self-regulation, like good old Simon Says.All of these activities can help children practice the art of self-regulation, which comes in handy when itвЂ™s time for them to focus on language and reading. Establishing routines-like a regular bedtime-can help.

вЂњParents can help children to regulate their behaviors by being very conscious of childrenвЂ™s day-to-day environments.вЂќ Practical steps might include вЂњhelping children understand whatвЂ™s coming next in their dayвЂќ-for example, talking to your child about how after she finishes breakfast, youвЂ™ll both get dressed and go to school. вЂњConsistency seems to be a good thing for children,вЂќВ Lori Skibbe, the lead author of the study and an associate professor in the human development and family studies department at Michigan State, told Quartz. But there are things that all parents can do to help their children get better at it. Some kids are more naturally inclined to good self-regulation skills than others.

#Simon says games how to#

The earlier kids develop self-regulation, researchers say, the faster those skills develop.В The advantages of self-regulation donвЂ™t fade over time in fact, the study found вЂњa large and enduring advantage for developing self-regulation earlier,вЂќ because, they wrote, вЂњchildren who did so had higher predicted language and literacy scores throughout the range of our study, from preschool through second grade.вЂќ How to teach kids self-regulation The researchersВ foundВ that kids who were better at self-regulation developed stronger language and literacy skills. It also evaluated childrenвЂ™s ability to self-regulate through the first grade by asking them to play a variation of вЂњSimon Says,вЂќ assessing their ability to follow instructions ( touch your head and your knees) as well as to do the opposite of what theyвЂ™re asked ( donвЂ™t touch your head). The study, which followed a group of 351 US childrenВ from preschool throughВ second grade, measured childrenвЂ™s reading comprehension, phonological awareness, and vocabulary.