"I packed my trunk and in it I put…" Take turns adding an item — each player repeats the WHOLE list first. How long can your trunk list grow?
Harder: add actions instead of words.Classic Simon Says — but give TWO instructions at once ("touch your nose THEN spin around"). Build up to three-step instructions.
Harder: say the steps in reverse order.Read a short story aloud. The child retells it — who, where, what happened, the end. Prompt with "and then…?" only when needed.
Harder: retell it starting from the END.Clap or tap a rhythm — the child copies it back. Start with 3 beats and grow. Swap roles so they test YOU.
Harder: add a knee-tap and a head-tap into the pattern.Play music and dance WILD. When the music stops — FREEZE like a statue, even mid-move. Hold for 5 seconds. Wobbles allowed, giggles guaranteed.
Harder: freeze in the shape of an animal we call out.Have a whole conversation in whispers only — even the exciting bits! Controlling volume is brake-pedal practice in disguise.
Harder: whisper while playing a thrilling game.Leader says "jump" — you crouch. "Loud" — you whisper. "Fast" — you go slow-motion. Doing the OPPOSITE means stopping the automatic answer first.
Harder: three commands in a row, opposites only.Place a small treat or toy in front of the child. Wait TOGETHER for one minute before touching it — chat, sing, watch the clock. Waiting is a muscle!
Harder: two minutes, and the adult leaves the room.Name things in a category (fruits!) back and forth. When someone shouts "SWITCH!" jump to a new category (animals!) without missing a beat.
Harder: switch every 3 answers automatically.Tell a familiar tale but WRONG — "Goldilocks and the three… penguins?" The child catches the changes and bends the story onwards.
Harder: the child tells the mixed-up version.Show a picture (or arrange 6 objects) for 10 seconds. Child closes eyes; change ONE thing. Can they spot it? Swap roles!
Harder: change two things, or change nothing (sneaky!).Grab any object — a spoon, a sock. Take turns inventing new uses for it (hat! oar! moustache!). Wrong answers don't exist.
Harder: uses must fit a theme (space! under the sea!).Set a 5-minute timer to tidy a space — but FIRST make the plan together: what goes where, in what order? Plan first, race second.
Harder: the child makes the whole plan solo.Make a sandwich or simple snack with the CHILD as captain: they say the steps in order, you follow them exactly — even the silly mistakes!
Harder: write or draw the recipe first, then follow it."We're going to the pool / park / Granny's — pack the bag!" The child lists what's needed, gathers it, and checks it off. Missing items discovered at the door = learning!
Harder: pack for TWO different trips at once.Draw a simple plan of a tower or den FIRST — then build exactly what the drawing says. Plan → do is the whole skill in one game.
Harder: builder and architect are different people.At breakfast, everyone gives their "weather report": sunny, cloudy, stormy? At dinner, check — did the forecast change? Noticing feelings early is the skill.
Harder: predict what might change your weather today.Act an emotion with your body only — no words. Others guess it, then everyone shows what that feeling needs ("worried" needs… a hug? a plan? a run?).
Harder: act two mixed feelings at once.Play a quick game where the ADULT loses dramatically — and models good losing out loud ("Arghhh… okay. Deep breath. Good game!"). Then swap: child practises a graceful loss.
Harder: play a game they really care about.Start with your BIGGEST lion roar… then make each roar softer and slower until it's a purr, breathing slower each time. Big feeling in, calm body out.
Harder: child leads the whole roar-down solo.Count down together "5-4-3-2-1… LAUNCH!" and start the task the second you hit zero — like a rocket. No thinking allowed after zero!
Harder: the child counts themselves down silently.Cut the boring task into "slices" (one drawer, one sum, one shoe). The deal: do just ONE slice. Starting usually keeps itself going — but one slice still counts as a win.
Harder: child slices the task up themselves.Write 6 mini-tasks, number them 1–6, roll a dice — do the one it lands on immediately. The dice decides, so the brain doesn't have to argue!
Harder: two dice, do both tasks back-to-back.Pick a favourite song and race it: can you be dressed / packed / started before it ends? Music is a brilliant external engine for ADHD brains.
Harder: no song — beat a silent 2-minute timer.