Download the zip file of Christmas snowmen from Mom's Break (the link is shown below).
You'll need:
- Mom's Break Free Printable Snowmen, numbers 0 to 9.
- Red or green construction paper
- Cardboard and/or foam board (two pieces, one for the backboard and one for the hinge board)
- Glue stick (I prefer Elmer's, it goes on purple and dries clear)
- Red or green yarn or twine
At the same time, make holes in the other piece of cardboard (or foam board), to make the hinge board (see the last picture of this craft to help you visualize the backboard and the hinge board).
The example countdown calendar shown here is for days 9 to 0. However, you can start the calendar at 25 days before Christmas, or 12 days before Christmas, depending on your preference.
Put the backboard (with the numbered snowmen) on the hinge board. Line up all the holes. Now run colored yarn or twine through the holes, and tie at the top.
Note that the hinge board (shown here as a piece of white foam board) is a little thicker that the cardboard backboard). This helps to make the countdown calendar a little sturdier.
If you don't have two pieces of cardboard, then you can just make the backboard, and use two pushpins to put up the calendar on a family bulletin board.
You can also just print the numbered snowmen and put up Snowman 9 on the refrigerator with a couple of Christmas magnets.
Now instead of your child asking you how many days until Christmas, you can help him/her to "count down" and understand both numbers and the concept of "waiting" until Santa Claus comes!
Go to Mom's Break to download the free printable snowmen:
Go to Jan's Reading Room, click on Holidays, click on Christmas.
There are also more Mom's Break Christmas Crafts available, along with helpful tutorials for using many of the features of Mom's Break free printables!