First, Next, Last: Drawing Teaches Sequencing

Step-by-step drawing teaches sequencing because each picture is built in order: first the head, next the ears, then the face, last the details. Kids learn that order matters, which is the same idea behind retelling a story, following a recipe or solving a math problem.

Sequencing is the ability to put things in a logical order. It sounds simple, but it is a big deal in early learning. Children use it to retell stories, follow morning routines, understand time and follow multi-step directions.

Order you can see

Most instructions are spoken and then disappear. A step-by-step drawing lesson keeps the sequence on the page. Kids can look back at step two, see what changed in step three, and work out what comes next. The sequence becomes something they can see and check.

In Kevin Coulston's How to Draw books, each character is built in six steps. A light gray outline of the whole finished drawing appears on every step so kids can see the goal, and each step adds a few black lines. Children quickly understand that you draw the big shapes first and the small details last.

Baby animals make a gentle start

For younger kids, How to Draw: Baby Animals is an easy way to practise sequencing. The characters are round and simple, so each step is a small, clear change. Point to each step and use sequencing words: "First we draw the head. Next the ears. Then the eyes. Last, the little tail."

Sequencing games with drawing

• Story strip. Fold paper into four boxes and draw a simple story in order: wake up, eat breakfast, go outside, play.
• Mixed-up steps. Cut a finished drawing lesson's steps apart (on a photocopy) and ask your child to put them back in order.
• Recipe drawings. Draw the steps to make a sandwich.
• Plant growth. Draw a seed, a sprout, a stem with leaves, and a flower.

Why sequencing helps reading and math

When children retell a story in order, they show they understood it. That is why teachers ask "What happened first?" When kids solve a math problem, they also follow steps in order. Drawing in steps gives them a fun, visual way to practise the same thinking. For a related skill, see following directions through drawing.

Tips for young sequencers

Use the same sequencing words every time: first, next, then, last. Let your child say them too. If they skip a step, do not correct right away; ask them to compare their drawing to the book and spot what is missing. Finding it themselves is better practice than being told.

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