Time is a strange concept for preschoolers. Their life is made up of 5 minute increments and tomorrow is a year away. This simple Christmas countdown craft for preschoolers is fun to make as a family and gives preschoolers a clear passage of time so those last few weeks before Santa comes aren’t quite so frustrating.

Take this easy Christmas craft to the next level by writing simple holiday activities on each strip of paper so that your preschooler has a new activity to do each time he removes a ring from his Christmas countdown. Activities could range from singing a favorite Christmas song, reading a Christmas story, or reading a specific Bible verse.

Christmas Countdown Craft Supplies

• Construction Paper (Yellow, Red, and Green)
• Child Safety Scissors
• Tape

Christmas Countdown Craft Instructions

Cut out a bell shape from a piece of yellow construction paper. Write or help your preschooler copy the following poem:

Christmas Chain

Christmas day will soon be here
And I can hardly wait
I’ve made this little Christmas chain
To help me celebrate.

Please help me hang my chain up high
I’ll cut one loop each day
And when we reach my pretty bell
It will be Christmas day!

Cut the red and green construction paper into 2 inch wide strips. When you have enough strips for each day until Christmas, form a loop with the first strip of paper and tape it closed. Use a second strip of paper in whatever color you did not use for the loop and slide it through the loop. Close the second strip of paper and tape it. Continue, alternating colors, until you have enough paper loops for each day until Christmas.

When you are done, tape the chain to your Christmas bell and hang it somehwere your preschooler can reach it. Remove one loop from the chain every day until Christmas and do the activity written on the loop together as a family.