Paper Chain Countdown for Kids to make...

[bigkid@disney]

Hello Everyone,

We are going to Disney World in January and my children can't wait! Okay, it's really myself that can't wait

To help the kids pass the time, I designed a paper chain for the kdis to count how many days till we leave. It consists of the countdown 96 days out, Disney characters/themes from around the parks and even a note of where to place the glue. I set it up so my 7 and 5 y.o. could cut them out, glue them together as a chain with little help.

The kids love it, every night before bed they get to remove a link which continues the countdown.

If anyone wants the chain, email me or post your email address here and I'd love to send it to you. My email address is dndb1@hotmail.com

I hope your kids enjoy it also. It was a family event to build the chain.

Thanks,

Dennis

 

[FreeTime]

I actually did the same thing for our last trip. The kids loved it and it helped them understand how many days away the trip really was.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

what a great idea!

 

[kylie&haley'smom]

It's a great idea! My dd7 and I made ours with 30 links. She loves cutting a link off everyday. We hung it across her window,and she loves the fact that it's in her room . Everytime she cuts one off,she gets so excited!

 

[buffett010]

We are doing our countdown by using mickey heads. These are three circles cut out together so they look like Mickey's ears and head (two smaller circles on one larger one). Each head has a number, and we remove one each morning, until we finally get to 0. I think we're at 32 right now!

 

[bigkid@disney]

Wow....

Thanks for all the emails and the interest everyone has had. I'm glad others will enjoy the chain as much as my kids have. They can't wait each night to tear off another day and update me on how many more days left. (like I don't know)

I didn't realize how much my kids would enjoy the different characters on each day and telling me about them. My DD looks ahead for her favorites.

Did I mention lately I love these message boards.....

 

[Local_Girl]

Thanks, everyone, for some great ideas! I had heard the paper chain idea before, but when reading this thread thought of an idea and got right to work. I made a chain to countdown our last 38 days, and inside each, I wrote something new we would be doing at WDW on this trip. Yep, I came up with 38+ things that we would be trying as a family for the first time. Can't wait till the kids see it tonight!!

 

[BeverlyJ]

We brought our DD Natty for her second trip to WDW in May. She was 2yrs 4mths. We made a huge paper chain - 100 days. We used lots of different colours (sticky paper) and each one had a character, ride or other favourite thing to do written on it.

We all loved the excitement of that chain getting smaller, talking to Natty about the wonderful things we were going to see and do, and even learning colours!!!

If you plan to do this - ENJOY! We certainly did.

 

[bigkid@disney]

I'm glad so many have enjoyed the chain....

 

[Daisy64]

I've just emailed you!! Thanks..Daisy

 

[Madi100]

We brought our DD Natty for her second trip to WDW in May. She was 2yrs 4mths. We made a huge paper chain - 100 days. We used lots of different colours (sticky paper) and each one had a character, ride or other favourite thing to do written on it.

Where did you find sticky paper? I remember when I was a kid that my mom bought a prepackaged paper chain kit. All we had to do was put the pieces together with the sticky on the paper already.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I haven't told my DD (4 1/2) that we are going in January. I'm going to wait til after Christmas to tell her and thought I'ld do a chain with strips of a photo (just printing on card stock with an ink jet printer) of her at Disney. Then she can put the photo together when she takes the strips off.

 

[bigkid@disney]

I've had a great response and I will keep sending it as long as people keep requesting it.

Our chain is getting very small.....

I'm soooooo excited, ohhhh, I mean my kids are soooo excited!!!!

 

[cyndibelle]

I MUST GET MY PAPER CHAIN STARTED TODAY...we leave in less than 30 days!!!!..the kids ask me every day when we leave..this is a great idea!!!

 

[sgfun]

We started with a chalk board and just moved to the paper chain for the trip in 9 days. In addition what I have done in the past and will do again this year is about a week out they get a Disney Bag. Each day we add t the bag. This year I hit the Disney store and got sweatshirts and Pjs on sale, disposable cameras (found Princess and Power Rangers at Target), new sticker/coloring books, small Disney radios (Disney Store), new autograph book, new pen. You get the picture. They love getting something each day and then when we get there we limit the purchase to one going home gift of their choice. Plus we use all this stuff on our trip. It was great idea someone gave me 4 years ago when we did our first trip with kids and it is great.

 

[Kate-n-sam]

we just finished making one for our april trip 117 days out. We made the chain all one color except for special days to add in a different color. DD 7 and DD 1, will both have birthdays, (as will I) so those links are decorated and a different color. A different color for Easter and other no school days, such as MLK and presidents day. That way not only is it a Disney countdown chain it includes other exciting events as well. Thanks for the great tips!

 

[bigkid@disney]

 

[bigkid@disney]

Anyone needing a chain???

My kids love it and we are using it again this year....

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

I would love one!!! We are going in January.
My email is JenDaveBrendan@comcast.net
Thanks!!!
Jen

 

[tricia]

Sure. We have usually made one, but just with plain old construction paper. Would love to see what you have done. twhelan@ntl.sympatico.ca