A must for every home with a preschooler, calendars offer so many learning opportunities for young kids. They can learn the days of week, months of the year and names of the seasons. They can learn to recognize numerals in sequence, better understand concepts such as tomorrow, last week, and next month – and so much more. Putting a little money (or time) into a calendar for your preschooler is well worth the investment.
Looking to buy rather than make your own? Here are some top-rated suggestions:
Update: I ran across this awesome LEGO calendar, and I just had to add it to the list!
LEGO Brick Calendar
How great is this? Your child will learn more than just the days of the week by putting this together every month. You could probably make this out of Duplos, but at $27, why bother?
Learning Resources Calendar and Weather Pocket Chart
This large vinyl pocket chart includes pre-printed, double-sided cards for dates, days of the week, months, years, yesterday, today, tomorrow, holidays and celebrations. Plus there are pockets to store the unused cards in.
Learning Resources Magnetic Learning CalendarThis magnetic calendar has all the elements you need – numbers, days of the week, months, seasons, and weather, but is smaller and less expensive than the pocket chart above. Some of the reviewers complain the magnets are a little weak.
Tell Me About Today Wall Hanging & Weather ClendarThis cute balloon calendar has velcro for attaching the fabric seasons, months, days, year, and weather tags.
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magnetic CalendarThis Melissa & Doug Calendar comes with 134 magnets (numbers, activities, weather, holidays, months, etc.), doubles as a white board, and folds up for storage.
Alma's Designs Today Is
This calendar is made of felt and includes months, numbers, years, seasons and weather. There are a few pockets but mainly the pieces just stick like on a felt board.
About Today Fabric Calendar
This fabric calendar with wooden hanging rod has weather, months, seasons, and numbers that are attached with velcro.
Prefer to make one yourself? Here are some links to other homemade calendars for your inspiration:
- Counting Cocunuts uses a cork board with a combination of push pins and pockets and it looks amazing – check it out here.
- Parent Hacks has a simpler laminated version that looks easy to make and durable. See it here.
- Montessori for Everyone has a free printable calendar activity kit that includes a blank calendar page and holidays and month names.
- You could also print out some calendar pages, then fill them in with your own stickers, words, or drawings. Print the templates for free at Super Teacher Worksheets.
