Countdown to Preschool | Pencil Paper Chain Craft
There’s still plenty of summer left – especially if you are in the same boat as us and don’t start school until after Labor Day. However, I know some areas of the country are already gearing up for back-to-school. Here in SC, we actually still have 49 days to go until the kiddos head back to preschool. But the school year ahead is a special year for us. My 4.5 year old is heading into his last year of preschool, and I am feeling all the feels. He’s been enrolled in preschool since the week after he turned 2, so needless to say, preschool has been a huge part of our lives the last few years.
Since this is somewhat of a monumental year for him, I thought I would do something special to count down to his last 1st day of preschool. This pencil paper chain countdown is perfect for 1st time preschoolers or rising kindergartners, too!
This past week the kids and I got to work on our back-to-school countdown. Here is everything you need to make your own pencil paper chain:
Supplies Needed
Construction Paper (yellow, black, brown, pink, red & blue)
Aluminum Foil
Scissors
Elmer’s Glue and/or Glue Stick
Pencil (to trace out shapes)
Sharpie Marker
How-To
First, start by cutting out the various shapes needed to make a pencil – a long yellow rectangle, a small pink rectangle, a medium brown triangle, and a small black triangle. Then cut out a small rectangle from your piece of foil.
Second, glue everything together (as shown below). This step would be great to get your little preschooler involved, especially if they are too young to help with cutting out shapes.
Next, start cutting out long strips from any color of construction paper you’d like. We chose red, yellow & blue to keep with the school house theme. These strips will become your paper chains. Count out how many days are left till your little one starts school. Then attach the paper chains with a glue stick (another great opportunity for your kiddos to help).
The final step is to attach your paper chain to your pencil by making a small slit at the bottom. You’re now ready to hang it up and start counting down!
Starting a back-to-school countdown is also a great reminder for all of us to soak in these final days of summer. Don’t forget to keep marking items off of your summer bucket list, too!
Do you have a little one heading into their last year of preschool? Have you started a back-to-school countdown yet?
xo,
Sumer
42 Comments
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-ups
This is so cute, what a fun way to prepare for the last year of preschool.
Sumer
Thanks, Emily! It’s a big year! 🙂
Divya
Oh my gosh, I used to make one of these crafts to count down until Christmas. It was so much fun to tear one off each morning!
Sumer
Me too! This craft totally brought back memories from my childhood! Loved these paper chains for Christmas!
Kristen
This is too cute! I love how simple it is. My son is heading into his last year of preschool and started when he was 2 as well! He loves counting down the days so this will be perfect for us! BTW I love the name of your blog, sounds similar to my life with 2 kids as a SAHM!
Sumer
Thanks so much, Kristen! Best of luck to your little guy as he heads into his last year of preschool! And thank you so much for reading and the sweet words! 🙂
Amanda
I absolutely love this idea! What a great way to interact, and shake off some of the school jitters.
Sumer
Thanks so much, Amanda!
Dee
What a cute idea!!! This one is for me more than her 🙂
Sumer
Haha! Totally!! 😉
Jill
How adorable!!! I may do this for my little K5-er. <3
Sumer
Thanks, Jill! I hope you will try it!
toby
this is such fun! i will try this with my toddler!
Lisa Doyle
So cute! My little one will be in preschool next year, def. pinning for later! Great post!
XOXO
Your Redlocks and Shamrocks Girl,
Lisa Doyle
http://www.redlocksandshamrocks.com
Sumer
Thanks, Lisa! 🙂
Angela Fry
This is such a cute idea. I’ll have to make this for my kidoos. They will be starting Pre-K very soon!
Sumer
Thanks, Angela! Hope your kiddos enjoy counting down to Pre-K!
Ashley
This is the cutest preschool craft for back to school I’ve ever seen! So darling!
Sumer
Aww! Thanks so much, Ashley!
Amanda
What a cute idea! It could be used anytime a countdown is needed.
Sumer
Totally! I can’t wait to do Halloween and Christmas themed countdowns with the kids!
Lauren
My kids looooove a countdown! Great idea for a visual way of showing them the days left. So much better than trying to explain the realm of time. They always get a glazed look over their face lol.
Sumer
Haha! I totally know what you mean, Lauren! Thanks so much for reading!
Brittany Ferrell
I am definitely making this for my soon-to-be preschooler! We have been doing our own version of preschool at home, but this fall she will have a first teacher outside of mommy. We both are super excited and as a work-from-home teacher, she and I have never really been apart! This activity would help her visualize exactly how much time is left before she begins. I love it!
Sumer
Aww! What an exciting year for you! I hope she enjoys the countdown! 🙂
Kristen Raney
What a cute idea! My son is going into Kindergarten and it would be really fun to do this together.
Sumer
Thanks, Kristen! Best of luck to him this school year!
val
So cute! We just made one for countdown to vacation 🙂
Sumer
How fun! I love that idea!
Tina
This is really cute and very simple to make! ?
Joleen Pete
This is too cute! We still haven’t done a paper chain to count down but I think this is our year! My son will love it.
Sumer
Yay! I hope you’ll give it a try!
Anna Barton
How fun! My almost -preschooler would love this!
Darby
This is so adorable! My daughter will be going into preschool this year and she keeps asking when she is going to start school. I think this will be a project for us in the near future!
Sumer
I bet she’ll really like this countdown! Best of luck to her (and you) this school year!
Justine @ Little Dove
This is such a cute idea! Two of mine start up right after Labor Day, but my Pre-School student starts end of August… I think… I should probably check into that. 😉
Sumer
Haha! I know keeping track of all the dates gets crazy!! The summer is flying by!
Aseky bonnaire
Going to make this, this weekend with the kiddos!! Such a cute idea!
Sumer
Yay! I’m so glad! Enjoy!
Heaven
This is so cute and fun! My kids would love this!
April
This is a cool way to get my child excited for preschool. So fun!
Stefanie
That’s such a cute idea! We’ve done that for vacation and holidays, but love the idea for back to school!