To keep the child on edge and in suspense and make the game more exciting, try to trick the pupil into letting go of the scarf by suddenly moving as if to catch them while suddenly saying a word. That will make them jump, even though you did not say, “I’m hungry.”  However, avoid that technique with 3-year-olds or shy kids. Instead, go gently. Adapt how you play to the age and the temperament of your child.

In this listening skills game, the pupil needs to recognize the words before they play. Therefore, it’s not a game you would use to introduce new words. However, it’s excellent for revision and as part of the learning process once you have played a couple of introductory listening games, like this one.

I strongly recommend that you never catch your pupil – at least not until they are at least eight years old. Younger children cannot handle losing, and they usually see it as a terrible sign of failure. Furthermore, it can cause floods of tears and put them off English! So remember, they are sensitive little beings who have not been on earth for long, so be gentle.

Siblings

You may also use this listening skills game with  siblings. Either use two scarves or have children share one scarf while you say the words.  That said, take care that an older, stronger child does not  knock over their sibling in the excitement of the game. If this could be a risk, let the children take turns holding the scarf.

Video

On this link, how to teach a child to speak English, you can watch this game in action right at the start of the video.