This activity helps to develop children’s concentration and listening skills by encouraging them to react in a different way from the established norm. By thinking about the opposite of the instructions given to them, children are testing their cognitive skills.
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Top tip!
Make it a fun group game! One player could read out the actions for the other players to race to complete. Alternatively, one child could read and perform the actions whilst the others watch and guess what's written on the cards.
Equipment needed
- Flash cards with actions written on them
- A hat/container
- Timer (optional)
About the activity
Step 1
Preparation: Prepare a selection of flashcards with simple actions written on them, including opposites; e.g. stand up, sit down, touch your head, touch your toes, etc.
Step 2
Put the flashcards into a container, such as a hat, and mix them up. Ask the player to select one of the cards and read it aloud.
Step 3
As quickly as possible, the player should perform the opposite of the instruction they have just said, for example, sitting down as they say “stand up”.
Step 4
Play until all the different cards have been used. To make the game more challenging, you could play again with a timer. Can they complete all the cards/actions more quickly the second time around?