Free Printables: 2012 Calendar

We're slowly getting back into our (school) routine after a few weeks of celebrating Christmas, visiting with family, eating delicious food, staying up way too late and relaxing on the couch doing absolutely nothing (so wonderful!).

To start the new year and the month of January, the kids and I created a calendar.  We do this at the end of each month to prepare for the month ahead (we're a little late this month!).  The kids love having their own calendar to decorate and find out some exciting (and sometimes not so exciting) events happening during the month.

To complete the calendar, the kids use scissors to cut out the month, day and year, then they glue each cut-out to the correct spot on the calendar.

Then comes their favorite part.... stickers and drawing!  I get out my calendar and tell them the plans that we have during the month, then they select stickers that relate to the event or draw on the day (sometimes write)....

 

After the calendar is completed, we string yarn through punched holes at the top and hang two in the girl's bedroom and one in my son's room on his nailhead bulletin board).  Then each day, we designate a certain time to go over the calendar.... it prompts us to talk about the days of the week, months of the year, practice counting from 1-30, grasp the concept of yesterday, today, tomorrow, and even more.

On a side note, we're big on putting memorization to song.... it really helps my kids (and me) retain the information we're learning.  For example, when we say the months of the year we sing it to the tune of "Ten Little Indians", for the days of the week I made up a silly little tune and even my two year old can sing them (even if the pronunciation isn't exactly on target).  Songs are like magic!

Here's a free printable calendar for you.... with an option to print in either pink or blue.  As always, my printables are available for personal use from me to you, for FREE!  So, go ahead.... download, print, or just pass along the link... enjoy!!!

Click the arrow above to download the pdf file or click the printer icon above to print.  Print on 8.5/11" paper (preferably white/cream colored card-stock), then trim along the bottom of the calendar and have the kids cut out the month and days of the week to glue and decorate the calendar.  Have fun!