TinyStepper
Parent and curly-haired toddler cuddled on a green sofa reading a picture book together

What Comes First?

Put daily routine steps in the right order — wake up, eat breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed — building the narrative sequencing that underpins reading.

Activity details

3y–4y10 minslowindoorConstruction PaperCrayons

Instructions

Get ready
  • Draw 5-6 simple pictures on separate cards: a bed (wake up), a cereal bowl (breakfast), a toothbrush (teeth), clothes (get dressed), a door (go out), a book (bedtime story).
  • Mix the cards up and spread them on the floor: 'Oh no, our day is all jumbled up! Can you fix it?'
  1. Draw 5-6 simple pictures on separate cards: a bed (wake up), a cereal bowl (breakfast), a toothbrush (teeth), clothes (get dressed), a door (go out), a book (bedtime story).
  2. Mix the cards up and spread them on the floor: 'Oh no, our day is all jumbled up! Can you fix it?'
  3. Ask: 'What happens first when you wake up?' Place their chosen card first.
  4. Continue: 'Good — breakfast! Then what comes next? What do we do after eating?'
  5. If they get stuck, act it out: 'After breakfast, do we put on shoes or brush our teeth? What do you do?'
  6. Once the sequence is laid out, read it together, pointing to each card: 'First we wake up, then we eat breakfast, then we brush teeth, then we get dressed, then we go out!'
  7. Try a different sequence: bath time routine, or going to the shops, or making a sandwich.
  8. Let them draw their own cards for a routine they know well: 'Can you draw what we do at bedtime?'

Parent tip

Set out construction paper and crayons before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

Relaxed child lying on a floor cushion with blanket and pinwheel in a cosy calm corner

What success looks like

A few quiet minutes together without pressure. If your child relaxes even slightly, that’s self-regulation building.

Draw or print 4-6 simple pictures of daily routine steps and ask your child to put them in order. What happens first when we wake up? Then what? Then what? Sequencing daily events builds narrative understanding — the ability to organise events in temporal order with cause and effect — which is the same cognitive skill children need to follow and retell stories, a key pre-reading milestone.

Why it helps

Narrative sequencing — understanding that events happen in a specific order with causes and consequences — is identified by the EYFS Literacy framework as a key pre-reading skill. Children who can sequence daily routines before school entry find it significantly easier to retell stories and comprehend narrative texts. The physical act of arranging cards also builds working memory, as the child must hold the sequence in mind while deciding where each piece fits.

Variations

  • Use photos instead of drawings — take photos of your child doing each step and print them out for a personalised sequence.
  • Deliberately put one step in the wrong place and see if your child spots it: 'We put shoes on BEFORE getting dressed? That is silly!'
  • Extend to story sequencing: after reading a favourite book, draw 4 key events and ask your child to put the story back in order.

Safety tips

  • If laminating cards for durability, ensure edges are smooth — freshly cut laminate can be surprisingly sharp.
  • Supervise drawing time if using markers — washable markers are less likely to cause stains on clothes or furniture.
  • Keep small cards out of reach of younger siblings who might mouth or tear them.

Want to try another?

Bedtime Story Basket

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