Helping Kids Retell Events in Order
Helping Kids Retell Events in Order
Why Retelling Matters in Early Learning
When children retell events in order, they’re strengthening skills that directly support:
reading comprehension
early writing
memory recall
sequencing
attention to detail
logical thinking
Retelling is how children learn to understand:
“This happened first… then this… and finally this.”
These sequencing skills become crucial in kindergarten and beyond.
The Brain Science Behind Sequencing
Sequencing activates:
working memory (holding details in the right order),
executive function (plan + recall),
language organization (narrative flow).
These are foundational for:
story structure,
following directions,
problem-solving.
(Try this too: Using Play to Build Executive Function Skills)
Step 1: Start With Daily Routines
Daily routines are built-in sequencing practice.
Ask:
“What did we do first this morning? Then what?”
Examples:
Wake up
Brush teeth
Eat breakfast
Get dressed
Real routines = real relevance.
(Related read: Exploring Numbers Through Daily Routines)
Step 2: Model Sequencing Language
Your vocabulary matters — teach the words:
first
next
then
after that
finally
Use them casually during the day:
“First we put on shoes, then we’ll go outside.”
The more they hear it, the more they’ll use it.
Step 3: Use Pictures to Support Order
Draw 3 simple pictures:
Put on coat
Play outside
Come back in
Mix them up. Ask:
“What happened first?”
Visual scaffolds make sequencing concrete.
(Try this too: Introducing Graphing and Sorting at Home)
Step 4: Retell Using Favorite Books
After a story, ask:
“What happened first?”
“What did the character do next?”
“How did the story end?”
Support with finger puppets or toy props.
This builds comprehension and fluency.
(Related read: Using Puppets to Reenact Books and Stories)
Step 5: Act It Out With Movement
Children remember better when moving.
Example:
Tiptoe to show “first”
Jump to show “next”
Clap to show “last”
Movement anchors memory.
Step 6: Practice With Snacks (Fun!)
Create a snack sequence:
Spread peanut butter
Add fruit
Place on plate
Then ask:
“What did we do first?”
Delicious sequencing = engaged learning.
Step 7: Use Simple Three-Part Stories
Keep early retellings short:
a beginning,
a middle,
an end.
Avoid overly long retell tasks—attention matters.
(Try this too: Helping Kids Make Connections Between Stories and Real Life)
Step 8: Encourage Retelling After Outings
After a:
park trip,
grocery store visit,
playdate…
Ask:
“What happened when we first arrived?”
“Then what did we do?”
“How did we finish?”
This links sequencing to real experience.
Step 9: Give Kids “Teacher” Roles
Let them teach a stuffed animal:
how to brush teeth,
how to wash hands,
how to pack a backpack.
Teaching builds mastery.
Step 10: Capture Sequences in a Journal
Use drawings, stickers, or photos to record:
Making pancakes
Playing at the park
Taking a bath
Journaling:
reinforces order,
builds early writing skills,
creates emotional memory.
Helpful Sequencing Prompts (Use Often!)
Try these:
“Tell me what happened first.”
“And then what?”
“What happened at the end?”
“What did you do when ___ happened?”
Be patient. Pause. Let them think.
When Kids Retell Out of Order (Totally Normal)
You’ll hear:
detail overload,
skipping main events,
mixing up sequence.
Stay encouraging:
“Hmm, can we think about what came before that?”
Gently bring focus back to order, not perfection.
Avoid Over-Correcting
Instead of:
“No, that’s not what happened!”
Try:
“Oh! Can we add what happened before that part?”
Curiosity > correction.
Fuzzigram’s Favorite Sequencing Activities
✅ “First, Next, Last” hand motions
✅ Story card mix-ups
✅ Puppet retellings
✅ Snack assembly sequences
✅ Picture journals
✅ Play-dough sequence stamps
Popular Parenting Articles
Recommended social-emotional learning tools & activities: