WAITING CHAIN

Helping little ones see how soon CHRISTMAS will be here.  Find a clipart picture for the children to color.  I like Carson-Dellosa Clipart.  Glue the picture onto a red cutout bell.  Have the child write his name beneath the clipart picture.  The adult makes a slit beneath the child's name.  At the bottom of the bell write: Have a Merry Christmas! DATE.  On the back of the bell  glue a typed poem.

WAITING CHAIN

Each night before Christmas

After prayers have been said,

Take off one loop

Then hop into bed.

When Christmas will come

It's easy to tell,

For that is the night 

You come to the BELL.

Have the child make a paper chain with red and green construction paper strips.  Glue the strips together to make a chain the length needed for the Christmas Countdown.  Have the child place the bell chain near his bed.
OTHER POETRY:

How many days til Christmas?

It's mighty hard to tell

Take a link off every night

When the Sandman casts his spell

And Christmas Eve will be here

By the time you reach the bell.

My Christmas Chain

Christmas Day will soon be here,

And I can hardly wait.

I've made this little Christmas Chain

To help me celebrate.

Every day I'll slip one loop from it

To help me to remember

That happy, happy Christmas Day

Is the twenty-fifth of December.

Please help me hang my chain up hgih

I'll cut one loop each day.

And when we reach the golden loop

It will be Christams Day.