Enhance Attention with This Fun Activity: “Stop, Go, or Go Slow?”

This article is part of our weekly series Executive Function Tips for Families.

A Quick and Engaging Way to Practice Self-Control and Focus

Parents, this simple game has a big payoff for supporting executive function. With a few minutes and some visual cues, you can help your child work on listening, attention, and inhibitory control. Let’s get started!

What is Executive Function?

Executive function (EF) refers to a set of mental skills that includes working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. These skills are essential for planning, focusing, and managing multiple tasks. By building EF skills early, we set children up for long-term learning success. Read on to find out how this game supports EF skill development.

This Game Builds the Following EF Skills:

Working Memory: Players must remember and follow verbal and visual cues.
Inhibitory Control: Your child will need to start and stop their actions based on instructions.
Cognitive Flexibility: As the game progresses, they will adapt to different rules and cues.

What You’ll Need

Time: 10-15 minutes
Space: A large room or outdoor space
Materials:
- Red, green, and yellow paper circles

Ready to Play? Game Levels and Step-by-Step Instructions

Choose a level that best fits your child’s age and let them practice! If your child has trouble resisting the urge to run, have them take slower, larger steps when playing. If they have trouble remembering instructions, have them repeat instructions out loud, step by step.

Game Level 1 – Stop and Go (2-3 years)

Have your child stand near you so they can see and follow visual and verbal cues.
Say: “We are going to play a game! Can you run and move your body like me?” Model by running slowly in one direction.
Introduce the stop cue: “When you see this red circle and hear ‘STOP,’ freeze like a statue!”
Repeat several times using different movements until your child understands the verbal and visual cues.

Game Level 2 – Traditional Rules (3-4 years)

Have your child face you and stand approximately 20 feet away.
Hold up a visual cue and say the matching verbal cue (red paper = “red light”; green paper = “green light”) at the same time.
Say: “This game is called red light/green light. When you hear me say GREEN LIGHT and see the green sign, run toward me. When you hear me say RED LIGHT and see the red sign, you FREEZE your body and stand very still!”
Repeat several rounds, gradually increasing the speed of cues.

Game Level 3 – Add Yellow Light (4-5 years)

Repeat Level 2, introducing a yellow cue for “Go Slow.”
Tell your child: “When you hear me say GREEN LIGHT and see the green sign, RUN toward me. When you hear me say RED LIGHT and see the red sign, FREEZE your body and stand very still. When you hear me say YELLOW LIGHT, move your body very SLOWLY toward me – slow as a turtle!”

Game Level 4 – Take Away Visual Cues (5+ years)

Repeat Level 3 using only verbal cues, removing the visual aids.
Announce each cue: “Green Light – run! Red Light – freeze! Yellow Light – go slow!”
Repeat until your child responds accurately to just the spoken instructions.

After You Play: Talk & Reflect

At the end of each activity, take a few moments to chat with your child about the game. Ask open-ended questions to help them reflect on their experience:

“Was it hard to remember the rules?”
“What did you do to help yourself remember?”
“How did it feel when you had to stop suddenly?”

Model reflection by restating their responses, and be sure to acknowledge the difficulty of the task. Reflecting together can reinforce your child’s learning and build their awareness of these developing skills.

Additional Ideas & Resources

Invite a group of friends or older siblings to join in the fun!

Try the activity at different times of the day and in different settings.
Incorporate math or literacy by using numbers or letters on the circles.

For older preschoolers in group play, have one child lead and direct traffic.

This easy, adaptable game will provide your child with fun opportunities to develop focus, flexibility, and self-control. Enjoy playing!