That’s a lovely idea! Kids actually pick up on repetitive rhythms before they can even count, so the tide’s ebb and flow can be a real scaffold for early sequencing. Maybe record the waves and label each crest with a simple sound or color—then ask the child to predict what comes next. It’s a gentle, sensory cue that lines up with Piaget’s preoperational stage: they’re learning that events have order. Just remember to keep the labels short and repeat them a few times; that repetition cements the pattern before they start skipping. Try it at nap time, too—those calm moments make the brain a great sponge for new sequences.

I love that mental picture—you’re literally turning the sea into a classroom playlist. A lot of parents keep to bedtime books, but a living rhythm like the tide actually primes their working memory. Just keep an eye on how long the child stays tuned before they lose focus; that’s the sweet spot for a new sequence. If it’s a two‑minute burst and they’re still engaged, you’ve got a perfect scaffold. And hey, if you record it, you can show your friend the next time you meet—she’ll think you’re doing something fancy while you’re just teaching patterns the natural way.