My wife and I have done this for many years with me calling out the
control movements

Just had a terrible thought, check out this scenario.........

My whife doesn't come to the airport much anymore, so I ask the pretty
little thing who's been interrupting my assembly to help with a
control check. She says sure and jumps in the cockpit (like Herb
recommends). We go through the left aileron, left spoiler, elevator,
right spoiler, right aileron...................she hasn't missed a
beat. Then I say, Oh I forgot the flaps. Which one of these handles
does that, she asks sweetly? It's that little black one down on the
left side.................BAM the ships alams to the ramp as the
landing gear retracts!

Errrrrr, the OTHER little black handle down there on your left!!!!

Here's how I handle the control check (solo for above reasons) I have
automatic hook-ups.

I assemble with the aileron control locks in place. When she's
together, I attach a stiff bungee from the stick to the left rudder
pedal, which keeps the stick full forward and rudder full left. Then I
move out to the left aileron, remove the control lock and try to move
the aileron. If I can't move the aileron, it's connected. I then
replace the control lock and try the same thing with the right
aileron, If I can't move it, it's hooked up also. Next I pull full
spoilers and check to see they're both wide open and that the wheel
brake is locked. Then I close and lock the spoilers and check to see
that both spoiler caps are down and flush, indicating ther're hooked
up. Then I go to the rear and try to move the elevator and rudder. If
I can't move them, ther're hooked up also.
JJ
PS, I have seen a pilot retract the gear when asked to do a control
check.........it can happen!