Countdown Calendar help

[cemeb4dk]

I know there have been many discussions about how we tell our kids and coutdown the trip.

I am in the process of creating a countdown calandar, for my 2 1/2 year old daughter. She already knows about the trip, and I was just thinking of a way to create some fun in the final 25 days. We are just about 92 days or so out. So I have plenty of time. My thoughts are to make it like an advent calender so each day she opens it up and gets a prize type of thing. Each date will have about a 2x2 space for an item.

Now I need help filling 25 spaces, LOL. She is really into the princesses, so I thought I would get her the five main princesses and tinkerbell and then a landyard. I am not sure if she'll wear it but I figured why not try. Then for the first day of the countdown I am going to give her the new TB DVD. Day 25 is the day after its release. Iknow the dvd wont fit, but figure she's is going to get it anyways. I was also thiking some stickers and what not.

If any of you have suggestions please share. I will keep updating as I progress on my project.

 

[lac628]

I have a 2 1/2 y/o DS. I am pretty sure I could fold one of his size 3t shirts small enough to fit 2x2. Maybe a new Disney shirt. I just got some on disney online shopping for $5 each.
I think she is probably too young for pins (I know DS wouldn;t care, but maybe girls are different). That's another idea though.
BTW...when is her bday? It must be close to DS's.

 

[Boray]

Maybe you can find some stuff at a Dollar store or the Dollar Spot at Target? I know Target occasionally has Disney-themed stuff.

Or, you can make it really simple, like a paper chain, which is what we do every year. My son was 4 the first time we made a chain, and we counted the final 35 days. He was very involved with telling me the next number to write on the strip, as well as being able to decorate each one. My kids (DS 9 and DD 6) are currently working on their chains for our upcoming trip. I draw lines for 12 links on a sheet of construction paper (you could also use Disney-themed scrapbook paper), the kids cut them out, number and decorate each link, then we assemble them and hang them in each of their bedrooms (from the ceiling) and then they remove a link everyday. I figure, I'll be buying enough stuff for them at Disney, so I don't need to give them a little toy everyday to count down to the trip (perhaps, it is just me that thinks that way....) but rather let them rip off a link every morning and they can see that each day to the trip is represented by a link. (Besides, we drive down, so I also give them little gifts and new DVDs to watch for the trip.)

We've done it for the past 4 trips and we're doing it again this year. Good luck with the countdown!

 

[RebeccaMA]

Well I have a 2 year old daughter, and I have posted about trying to find ways to tell her too. I was going to do a paper chain, but what most people told me was that at this age the kids don't really have a good sense of time yet. 25 days is forever to them. The girls aren't going to understand. Maybe when you are about a week out, you could do something then. I think if nothing else, I am going to start really drilling it into my daughter's head about a week before we go. She has never flown before so the whole process of going to the airport, dealing with security, and flying will all be a big deal to her. Then once we get down there I will be like "tomorrow we are having lunch with Mickey Mouse" etc. I'm not going to overwhelm her with too much at a time. The weekend before we go, and the days right before we go there will be some shopping and packing that needs to take place, and we will talk about it a little then too. I'm going to save the presents and rewards etc, for when we are there, or on the plane etc. I'm sure I'll be buying souvenirs like crazy, especially at Downtown Disney.

 

[WhatJaneSays]

That's an adorable idea! I wish I would of thought of that.

The dollar store is the way to go. They always have little rolls of Princess stickers and the little plastic figures, they might have those mini coloring books or the packs of plastic jewelry. If you're feeling crafty you might even want to put some supplies in a few days and make something with her like a shirt or hat or a button she could ware on the trip.

Good luck!

 

[cemeb4dk]

Thanks for the input, never thought of the dollar store.


My daughter will handle the countdown I believe, Although she has no idea of time reference ( maybe some) she has been counting down with me since 100 days. We are driving down, and she has been to the world 6 times already so she is quite familiar with it. I agree with the pins, but thought they were cute and if nothing else she will think its a necklace and she now has so many necklaces and beads so I am hoping that she will like them.

Her birthday is Jan 11.

Boray, we love your chain idea and where going to do that but I came up with this idea so we are going to try it, and if I am not happy the chain is our default.


Thanks again for everyones input and keep the ideas comming, as I said before I will update as I finish it with pics.

 

[RebeccaMA]

WOW! She's been 6 times already?? LUCKY kid.

 

[Boray]

Cemeb4dk, maybe you can do the chain idea when she's older. Like I said, my son was 4 when we first started the chains, so he would help me by telling me the next number (working on his counting). Now, I can just turn my kids loose on the project themselves. I just draw lines on the paper, they cut them out, number, decorate and assemble them themselves. :sohappy:

I'm sure your daughter will have a wonderful time counting down the last few days.

Good luck, we KNOW you'll have a great time! :wave:

 

[cemeb4dk]

Just an update:

Its progressing alot faster than I thought,

Got the calender made, and its drying. I am hoping paint it later tonight. I have some decals, Disney Scrapbooking decals are great looking and add dimension to it. So after its painted will start to decorate.


Also bought some stuff for the boxes, we know day 25 will be the new tink movie as day 25 is one day after its release ( although DVD wont fit in box will have to come up with something) Then I bought some pins, all the princesses, tink and the disney bear. She has the original Disney bear and it goes everywhere with her. I also got her the lanyard. So a 1 pin in each box and the lanyard in another. I will decorate each box with that particular princesses theme. Once painted and decorated will surprise my wife with it, and let her fill the rest of the boxes. Once its painted and decorated I will take pics and post them here.

 

[RebeccaMA]

Wow. Sounds like fun. Good luck.

 

[cemeb4dk]

Here it is

 

[1DisneyDad]

Very nice! She'll have fun with that!

 

[DivineMadness7]

Very cute, nice job!

 

[SnowWhiteMomma]

My 2 and a half year old knows about out upcominh Disney trip too! This summer we had a beach trip and a trip to a waterpark resort i marked those on the calendar as well. She is aware when she gets to the blue squares we are going on a trip. I added a few days to the countdown. So, the day we are supposed to leave the countdown will still have a couple days. I plan on saying "You know Brynn I cant wait anymore, lets go now." Have the car packed and head to the airport.

 

[Raven66]

When we go our DD and I make a countdown calendar. We just take some plain white paper and we start 30 days out. We cut out pics from the Disney catalog and we also use Disney stickers. We tape and stick pictures on each page, with the final page being the best one. With sayings, stickers and pictures all over it. Then each morning she would pull off a sheet and we would do a little "another day down" Disney dance.