Advent Calendar

Last year, my in-laws got E the Little People Nativity Scene.  I loved that he was able to play with the characters and we could talk about them in preparation for Christmas.  

This year, I had my eye on the Little People Nativity Advent Calendar that matched the nativity scene.  I talked myself out of buying it so I was thrilled when my in-laws surprised E and T with it for Thanksgiving.  

E and I started officially using it today, but I introduced it a few days ago and tried to explain how it all works.

We started off by taking all the pieces out and talking about who and what they represent.  Then, we practiced our numbers by putting them all back in the right spots.  I love that the numbers are on the back.

Now that December is here, we are going to keep it hung in E's room and remove one piece each morning after he wakes up.  This morning he jumped out of bed and proudly placed Mary on top of the stable (the pieces have velcro on the back and can be placed in the nativity scene at the top of the calendar).  I asked him if she should go inside and he said "No. She go on top, Mommy".

He can't wait to get to number 25 which is baby Jesus.  E has been planning His birthday.  He thinks Jesus would like a Mater and Lightening McQueen party and a cake with sprinkles.

Make it in Minutes - Number Line

I found myself with a large collection of foam stickers (from the Dollar Tree) and was trying to find a way to use them for E's Tray Time.

I decided that I could write numbers on the stickers and we could make a number line.

I cut card stock sheets in half and taped them together as we went along. Each day, we added 10 stickers. I would write the numbers and set them all on his tray. E would count and pick the next number to put on.

I was planning on only doing this for a few days but E wanted to keep going. It now stretches across one wall of his room. He also keeps counting it over and over, telling me he needs to "check it".

Make it in Minutes - Parking Lot Spaces

This was an activity I made for E in less than 5 minutes and he absolutely loves it. In fact, we have "recycled" it many times and he still sits to play it over and over when I bring it out for Tray Time.

I took a piece of card stock paper and taped down rectangular strips with numbers printed on them. I then took some white labels and attached matching numbers to the underside of some cars we had around the house.

E takes the cars and drives them to the correct parking spot on the sheet. This activity forced him to try and remember the number while he was pushing the car.

Sometimes he will play independently, but I will also play with him so that we can practice saying the numbers. For instance, he sometimes says eleventeen instead of eleven, so if I would pick that car I would say "E, I have to go park in the parking spot marked eleven. Where do you have to park?".

I am planning on remaking this activity with a new concept or new numbers that I would like to work on.

E is currently 28 months old.