Disney Countdown Calendar

In December 2011 I finished the two year Early Childhood Education program at Sheridan College. It had been a long road for my family as I often found myself saying "I'm too busy" to my kids and mom guilt had taken up residence inside me.

I knew all I wanted once I was finished was more time with my husband and children, but with dreams of expanding my entrepreneurship in 2012, time was bound to remain a luxury.

So, my husband and I decided it was time to plan the best family vacation ever and that meant Disney World!

We told the children about the trip on Christmas day as part of their gift even though we weren't planning to go until the end of January. I didn't want to hear "is it time to go yet" every day for the next month, so I made them a countdown calendar (also part of their gift).

It has been the highlight of each morning in our house as the kids race over to it each day to read the fun fact inside and move the counter another day closer to our dream vacation. And I haven't been asked even once "is it time to go yet". (Yay)

A similar calendar can be made to countdown to anything. You can make one for Christmas, Birthdays or your own family vacation.

Disney Countdown Calendar

What you'll need

- Large Foam Board (Foam is more durable than bristol board)
- Library card pockets
- Numbers (either: stickers, printed from online, or hand written)
- Fun Facts
- Popsicle Stick
- Tape
- Glue stick

How to Make it

1. Collect/create enough fun facts to fill your calendar (one fact per day). I typed them up on the computer and cut them out and glued them to card stock folded like a card. I used a coloured circle sticker to seal the fact shut (so little eyes wouldn't be tempted to peek).

2. Put your numbers on the library card pockets

3. Lay all the library card pockets on the foam board, from highest number to lowest number, until you have them how you want it. Peel and stick your library card pockets on the foam board.

4. Stick your fun facts in each pocket.

5. Make a counter. I used a mickey face that says "Days 'til Disney" on it. I used packing tape to cover the whole thing to make it durable and appear laminated. Then, I taped black hockey tape around the popsicle stick and taped the mickey face to the top on the popsicle stick.

Extra: I bought Mickey die cuts on eBay to add some colour to the pockets and to help decorate the board. I also printed some text to give the calendar a title; "Days Till Disney". You could use stickers, die cuts or your own artistic skills to help add some colour to your board.

Some example fun facts I used:

"In Florida lizards walk around the same way squirrels run around here"

"At some restaurants characters come out to greet you while you eat"

"The plane ride to Florida will be almost 3 hours long"

And this is what my finished calendar looks like.