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Countdown to Christmas Bell

by Chris · 14 comments

in Christmas, Crafts, Printables, Scouting, Seasonal

This is a fun way to keep track of the days until Christmas, especially for younger kids.  It’s also a good way to get in a little counting practice if you make them count the days off each day.

But don’t think it’s limited to younger kids — This is a big deal at our house where we make a big production of tearing off the next ring after dinner each night.  The kids absolutely love it!

What You’ll Need:

  • The template below printed on yellow construction paper
  • Red construction paper
  • Green construction paper
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Stapler
  • Crayons (optional)

What to Do:

1.  Cut 13 strips of red construction paper that are about 1 inch wide and 8 inches long. Cut 12 strips of green paper with the same dimensions.

2.  Print out the bell pattern below on yellow construction paper. Color with crayons if desired and cut out. (You could also decorate the bell with glitter, sequins, markers, etc. if you want.)

3.  Roll one of the red strips of paper into a loop and staple it onto the bottom of the bell. Loop a green strip of paper through the red loop to get the chain started. Continue to alternate the red and green strips of paper to make a chain that has 25 links in it.

4.  Hang the bell and chain up in a prominent place and tear off one link at the end of each day until Christmas.

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Cindy December 1, 2009 at 11:04 am

I’ve worked with kids 25 years and never have seen this. How cute. I plan to make it this year. Thanks

Reply

Doris December 1, 2009 at 11:23 am

I have made the Christmas Chain before to count down. I usually write down an activity on each chain for something to do that day (ex: make someone smile today, a Christmas joke or tongue twister, play pin the nose on frosty, etc.). The bell is a nice way to finish it off though and I think I will be adding it to mine. Thanks for the idea!

Reply

Cindy December 1, 2009 at 2:06 pm

I like the idea of adding activities on each chain. It is cute, but I couldn’t find the template to print and I would like to make it today. Thanks

Reply

dee mastro December 1, 2009 at 11:08 pm

I really like this idea please send me the template and the poem to print out, thanks
Dee .

Reply

Chris December 2, 2009 at 5:15 pm

Hi Dee and Cindy!

All you have to do is click on the big bell and it will open up in a new window/tab. Then you can print it.

Sorry about the confusion!

Reply

B Barrett December 2, 2009 at 10:14 pm

I am a family day carer and all the children loved this christmas activity suitable for all ages. They were so exited to see the length of the chain, and talked about were to hang it. well thought of idea

Reply

Ashlyn December 11, 2009 at 3:15 am

Thanks for another awesome craft idea!!
Hugs, Ashlyn

Reply

D. Rios December 12, 2009 at 7:34 pm

Thanls for craft idea.

Reply

karen December 13, 2009 at 11:47 pm

I did this with my 2 girls home and then with our Brownie troop to fill some extra time. They loved it. I know it is going to become a yearly tradition!

Reply

Crafts for Toddlers Onna June 15, 2010 at 10:54 am

What a fun craft!! Kids get so excited for Christmas it’s great to have fun ways to count down the days until it comes. They have such a hard time understanding time!! It’s always helpful for them to see it!!

Reply

Lynn December 6, 2011 at 10:04 am

We did the paper loop chain every year when I was a child, but there was never a bell, until later. I came home several weeks before my wedding, and found my mother had made me a chain with a wedding bell at the end. What a happy memory!

Reply

Leighanne December 16, 2011 at 9:05 am

I love this I do the crafts for a toddler group, we made this and the kids loved it
We got the parents to write thing to do and/or bits of the Christmas story to read each day and it has been a massive hit thank you

Reply

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