How to Make a Countdown or Advent Calendar

We will use items from around your house to make a pretty countdown towards Christmas (or any other special occasion). My five year old is always asking me "how long until x occurs?" This will help solve that problem.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• posterboard or large cardboard
• markers
• folded origami or other small decorative items
• thematic stickers (optional)
• scissors
• glue or tape

1. Decide the occasion you are counting down towards. We usually use it for Christmas, and this example is Christmas, but you can use it for counting down for any special holiday or birthday.

2. Decide on a central picture for your calendar. The outline of a Christmas tree is easy to draw. Draw your outline.

3. Make boxes for the days left until the occasion. Mine are usually about 2 inches by 2 inches. You can line them up straight or just put them randomly on the blank space around the tree. One box for each day.

4. Decorate your central symbol with folded origami (something we have a lot of around here) or anything your child thinks is beautiful. Cut out pictures from magazines, or collect small toys, or anything. Tape them or glue them to the poster.

5. 
    
   Filled-in calendar

   Hang it on the wall or the refrigerator in easy reach of the child. Each day stick a sticker in a box, or color it in, or x it out. When they are all filled up your day is here!

[JMOrganizations]

on 2/3/2008 We do one every Christmas but I had not thought of doing one for any other days. Thanks for the great idea.

[JMOrganizations]

on 2/3/2008 We do one every Christmas but I had not thought of doing one for any other days. Thanks for the great idea.

[JMOrganizations]

on 2/3/2008 We do one every Christmas but I had not thought of doing one for any other days. Thanks for the great idea.

[joycetpchen]

on 8/23/2007 Very cool idea and a fun way to engage children!