Construction Paper Chain Link Calendar {Tutorial}

Autumn brings the hopeful anticipation of many fun events and holidays. Every day when Chica wakes up, she bounds (LOUDLY) down the (2 SETS) of stairs and eagerly asks, 

"Is it Halloween today?"

"Is it Thanksgiving today?"

"Is Austin [Chica's cousin] coming today?"

"Is it CHRISTMAS YET?"

It breaks my heart to have to tell her, day after day, no, today is not that day.  I've tried looking at a real calendar with her, but all those boxes and numbers seem to go over her head. After today's bombardment of calendar questions, I was struck with inspiration.

I remembered back to elementary school when we would cut strips of construction paper, form loops, and interlock them into chains. Often, we used this as a measurement of time to a certain event (ie: Halloween). Each day, one student got to rip the bottom link off, indicating it was one day closer to The Big Day.

I thought this project would be perfect for Chica. Seeing the chains would give her a visual of time, and cutting the bottom link each day would give her the comfort that time was passing. Over time, we can watch the chains shrink as certain events get closer.  The project needed minimal supplies and many of the steps were Preschooler Friendly.


With such an easy (and fun!) project on hand, I couldn't believe I had forgotten about "Chain Link Calendars."  Since some of you may have as well, I thought I'd post a quick tutorial on how to put one together. It's the perfect time of year to create them with your kids. Today, Chica and I made two: Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Since the Christmas one would be SO LONG, we'll wait until November to put that one together.

Here you go!

Supplies:

• Several pieces of construction paper (colors of your choosing)
• Scissors
• Tape or Glue

Step 1:  

Figure out how many strips (ie: days) you need for your Chain Link Calendar. Cut 1-inch wide/6-8 inches long strips from your construction paper.

This was for our Thanksgiving Calendar 

Step 2: 

Glue one end of the paper strip.

Step 3: 

Bring the ends together to make a loop. Take the next strip and repeat Step 1. Weave the strips through the completed link and close to make a loop.

Getting my weave on

Make sure the links are roughly the same size.

Press tightly to seal the link

Step 4: 

Add more links until you have the right amount of "days" for your Calendar. Watch it grow!

Halfway done!

Chica was my strip hander-over.

(Optional) Step 5: 

Make special markers for the Events. We have special visitors coming in for Thanksgiving, so I made a special marker for when they arrive, and then for Thanksgiving, which is 2 days later.

Step 6:

Find a place to hang your Chain Link Calendar for display. We chose the dining room. The one on the right is for Thanksgiving, the one on the left for Halloween. 

Can you tell Chica is SO proud and excited? And all,
"Mom, stop taking pictures."

It kind of acts as a festive decoration as well, don't you think?

Step 7:

Each day, cut the bottom link off of your respective calendars. The Chains will grow shorter and you can get excited for the holidays and events to come!

~~~~~

This was a great project for Chica. I think it will help her understand time (days, weeks, months, etc) better, and while we put the links together, we worked on patterns. As you can see in the Thanksgiving Calendar, there were 4 colors, and I used the opportunity to quiz Chica on what color came next. She caught on quick, and corrected me when I was about to put the wrong color on next!  

Make sure adults do the cutting, unless you have child-safe scissors. If you aren't jazzed about using glue, I recommend tape. That was my original plan, but there was a bit of a meltdown at Walmart, and we needed to make a quick exit!

I'd love to see YOUR Chain Link Calendars! So let me know how this project works for you, and share your pictures on the Confessions of a Stay-at-Home Mom Facebook Page!

{Baking with Kids} Pie Dough Cookies

In an effort of full disclosure: I'm what some might call a control freak. 


Not like crazy controlling or anything. But I'm not one of those moms who can send her kids outside after a rainstorm to play in the mud.  I envy those moms who are laid back and go-with-the-flow.  I think my life would be easier and full of less anxiety if I could just loosen up a little bit!


If you've been around this blog, you know I love cooking and baking. I'm not open my own restaurant caliber, and I won't be writing any cookbooks anytime soon. But the kitchen is my happy place. I love finding new recipes to try, and on the rare occasion, I can create some new recipes on my own.


One of the areas I struggle to relinquish control with my kids is in the kitchen.  Kids are messy, unpredictable and most definitely, at times, out of control! And Chica seems to grow 10 arms when we're in the kitchen. She is just shy of 4-years old, so listening is not yet in her Top 5 Strong Skills, and the temptation of digging her hands in a bowl of ingredients usually gets the best of her.


My mom was great about letting my sisters and I in the kitchen when we were little.  Perhaps we were better listeners or better behaved. But she let us watch, explore and try things on our own. I'd like to think that's why I love being in the kitchen to this day. I knew that if I wanted to help Chica have a positive experience cooking and baking, it started with her being my Kitchen Sidekick. 


Even if it meant getting a little messy.


I've spent some time thinking through simple, easy and fun activities to introduce her to cooking and baking. I thought it might be fun to share them with you, so you can try them too!  Our kitchen adventures haven't been without mess, and at times, can be stressful. But knowing she will find joy in the kitchen is worth the effort!


Today's {Baking With Kids} activity is one inspired by my Mom (love her!).  Mom used to bake pies a lot. Her pies almost always called for a double-crust recipe. And once the top layer was covering the pie, there was usually some leftover dough.  My mom wisely put it to use!  She let us create our own little cookies in a safe and controlled environment.  So fun - and an easy way to let your kids create culinary masterpieces!

• Leftover Pie Dough (I use the scraps from the Better Homes and Gardens double pie crust recipe)
• Cinnamon
• Sugar (refined or raw - your choice!)

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. If you are already baking a pie, you can work on the cookies and pop them in the oven with the pie during the last 12-15 minutes of baking.


2) Line a baking sheet with foil (for easy clean up - this is optional), and lightly grease with non-stick cooking spray.


3) Roll the leftover dough to a 1/4-1/8 inch thickness (if you child is on the younger end, roll for them. If they are older, let them try it out).

4) Let your child sprinkle the dough with sugar and cinnamon (if your child is younger, consider putting the sugar and cinnamon in a salt shaker, just to give them more control).

I may have jumped in here and spread the
cinnamon and sugar out with a knife....shhhh

5) Use cookie cutter to make shapes, or give your child a plastic child-safe knife (I use this children's cutlery set from Ikea, which I love!). As you can see, we made random geometric shapes because Chica really wanted to use the knife and cut them out herself!

I love pudgy little kid hands <3

6) Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet.

7) Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown. (As noted above, you can pop them in the oven with the pie you are baking for the remaining 10-15 minutes)

Enjoy!

~~~~~

I have a few more {Baking with Kids} activities to share, so check back!  

IF you have some great recipe ideas that are perfect to try with children, send them my way and I'll try them out!  moderndaydonnareed@gmail.com

Mommy Advice Wanted: Separation Anxiety

Little Chica is now 12+ months old, and she has been starting to experience separation anxiety. She does well with family or close friends watching her while we are gone, but has had a tough time while I work out for about an hour at the YMCA. The staff there are very friendly, but she cries the instant I leave - and a few times on and off throughout my workout.

It makes me feel horrible!

But, I know as a stay-at-home Mom, she needs to see and trust more than just me. I think that it is healthy for the both of us, and I do not think it has an adverse affect on our attachment as mother and daughter, as some might allude. As she is growing and becoming more independent, I think being away from me while in the care of safe people is a positive and helpful practice.

So now the question: how do I go about it?

I have only recently started to make a concerted effort in taking her to the gym. My thought is taking her 2 or 3 times a week for roughly an hour is not only good for ME (read: my body), but for her ability to cope and know that I will come back for her. I'll be starting a study in the Fall at a local church, and I will need to put her in the nursery there for about 2 hours. I'd love to work on it with her before we get to that point.

So...what is YOUR advice? Tips? 

Thanks in advance for your willingness to share!