I was putting dates on our family calendar for the frig and began to think about how long we have had a family calendar. Well, I am pretty sure I started setting it up when my oldest was in preschool and kept asking, "How long until....?" or "When is the ....?" Ever happen in your house?
Well, we still have a family frig calendar that helps keep track of where everyone is, where they are supposed to be and who is doing what and where. I buy the large desk top calendars (available at most discount stores and office supply stores). I bought this style when my kids were little so I could write down events and the words would be fairly large and easy to read.
I drew pictures and used stickers for visual word clues (don't like to draw? use clip art) or use your computer to create a calendar for your child. As the kids got older and things became busier, I used a different color for each of us. Really. I am pink, my husband is green, one of my sons is red and the other blue. Don't want a gi-normous calendar on your frig? Put it in your child's room. Make sure it is located in a place that they can look at daily and mark off the days.
The idea is to create an additional opportunity to put the written word with meaning into your child's every day life. Post dance class, music lessons, sports practice and games, karate lessons, holidays, birthdays, family events and special events at school.
Then when they ask "How long?" or "When is?" you can say "Go count the days and tell me."
Enjoy a busy and fun filled 2010!
