What comes next?

2–3 years · Cognitive · 10 minutes

What you need

How to do it

Take three objects from a routine your child knows by heart — toothbrush, pyjamas, storybook.

Lay them out in the wrong order and describe what you are doing: 'first the book, then the toothbrush...' Look puzzled and let it hang.

Ask what really comes first. Rearrange together as they direct, saying the sequence aloud once it is right.

Why it works

Ordering a familiar routine requires holding a whole sequence in mind and comparing it to what is in front of them. Being the one who spots the adult's error puts the child in the position of authority, which is where they think hardest.