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Kids Countdown: 4 Easy Visual Countdown Methods for Kids.

Kids countdown visual
Kids Countdown: 4 Easy Visual Countdown Methods for Kids. 

Time. It's an abstract concept that can be hard for kids to understand. Helping kids understand time with visual countdown methods can help ease transitions during your daily routine, and demystify when major events will take place. 

Perhaps your child is looking forward to going back to school, celebrating a birthday or holiday, or going on vacation. Maybe he's excited for something more immediate, like going to the park or on a play date. 

Whether something is taking place sooner or later, a visual countdown method can help! Let's look at 4 easy visual countdown methods for kids.

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4 Easy Visual Countdown Methods for Kids. 

Kids countdown visual timer
Visual Timer 

Best suited for more immediate happenings, a visual timer can take some of the mystery out of the concept of time for your little one. The timer goes up to 60 minutes, but stick to a smaller chunk of time.

Tell your child that when the color is no longer visible and the alarm sounds, then it's time to go. I just love the rainbow design on this visual timer.

Hourglass Set

This hourglass set has 6 options of varying lengths from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. This is a nice alternative to the visual timer for short term waiting periods.

I love that you can see the sand of the hourglass moving while you wait, as opposed to the more subtle movement of a visual clock timer. Great opportunity to talk about concepts such as gravity and volume as well. 

Calendar

Kids countdown visual calendar
This visual countdown method is best suited for events that are days or weeks away.

Use a paper calendar or dry erase board calendar. Have your child cross off each passing day in anticipation of the upcoming event. 

Being able to see the monthly calendar makes it easy to count the days that have passed and the days that are left until the big day.

Paper Chain

A paper chain is also best for events that are days or weeks away. Practice fine motor skills by making the paper chain with construction paper, scissors and tape.

Make the paper chain as long as the amount of days until the upcoming event. Cutting or tearing one link of the chain each day will be exciting as your child can see the paper chain get smaller, and count the remaining links until the time comes. 

Summary

Time is an abstract concept that can't be touched. Use visual countdown methods to help kids understand time. Prevent meltdowns and build anticipation for exciting events near and far using easy visual countdown methods for kids such as visual and hourglass timers, calendars and paper chains. 

What exciting events do you have coming up that could benefit from a visual countdown?

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