SEQUENCING ACTIVITIES

Hi to all Inspire me Online customers and followers. The cold days are fast approaching and I trust that you are all keeping warm.

Inspire me online is constantly adding new, interesting products to our store and this blog aims to highlight some of those products.

In all my years of teaching , I always made an effort to highlight the importance of sequencing activities to the parents. It is a very important step in the learning process , especially for the younger ones, but it is often overlooked and not given the attention that it deserves.

Sequencing refers to the process of putting events, stories ,thoughts, ideas, objects etc in logical order.

In the early childhood development phase, sequencing exercises play an important role in developing reading, writing, spelling and maths skills among others.

It allows children to use and develop their memory and attention skills. It assists them in remembering information in a particular order. It teaches them to focus on details. It is vital in helping them to identify the necessary steps needed to complete tasks. It also assists them in developing sequential memory.

There are many sequencing aspects that assist the young ones to learn about and understand sequencing in a fun way. These can be found through story, pattern, number, shapes, colour sequences to name a few examples. Children also enjoy putting numbers and letters in the correct order. These are important  skills for future maths and reading/spelling aspects.

Story sequences are quite popular with children. They are required to place pictures in the correct order in order for the story to make sense. This encourages logical thinking because  each picture has to be analysed to see where it fits in in  the sequence. It promotes language development, it increases the childs vocabulary and it provides an opportunity for conversation.

 When children are able to use sequencing skills successfully they can :

• Put a series of objects or events in a logical order
• Understand words such as first, next, last
• Have an understanding of story elements like beginning, middle, end
• Comprehend stories
• Retell stories and past events
• Recognise patterns
• Make predictions
• Put words and sounds together in the correct order
• Follow daily routines at home and at school
• Approach unfamiliar tasks in a logical manner
• Understand when a task is completed

Instore, we have the Headu Storytelling flashcards and RGS Tell me a story card game which are good examples of placing stories in sequence so that they make sense. Children are then encouraged to retell the stories according to the cards thus developing language skills at the same time.

Trio logic game. Sequencing cards, Life cycles are further examples of children needing to use logic and reasoning to place the cards in the correct sequence.

Thread a bead, threading beads and laces, alphabet train, pattern blocks etc are also more examples of activities that will assist your little one in developing his/her sequencing skills.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog.
Prisheen signing off saying…. stay warm and cosy this winter