Holiday Planning: Holiday Countdown Chain

This holiday craft will make everyone merry with good cheer throughout the year.

Submitted by
Barbara Shelby

Time is a hard concept for young children to grasp—just ask anyone who's heard that familiar backseat moan, "Are we there yet?!?!??"(repeated 1,000 times). A good holiday planning activity for kids to count off the days to the holidays is with a paper chain. Kids make the chain, then rip off one link per day till The Big Day Arrives.

Red and green construction paper
Stapler, tape or glue stick
Kid-safe scissors

Cut paper strips from construction paper approximately 2" x 8".
Staple, glue or tape strips to form links, as you would any paper chain.
Depending on the number of days till Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, number the loops from 1 up to 24 (24 will be at the top of the chain and 1 at bottom).
Hang the chain from a doorway or hook.
Each day remove one loop from the chain.