Doodlebark
“Is it Christmas yet?” “How many more days?” “Is it Christmas NOW?” For little kids, the days before Christmas can feel like forever. A countdown turns all that waiting into something they can see and do.
Why countdowns help
Young kids don’t really understand time yet. “Seven more days” doesn’t mean much. But seven stars, and coloring one each night? That they can see. A countdown makes the wait something they can track instead of something they just have to sit through.
Easy countdown ideas
- A bedtime countdown. Draw one star for each night left. Every night at bedtime, your child colors one in and says “Six more sleeps!” It also gives you a calm way to end the day.
- A paper chain. One link for each day. Tear one off every morning.
- A countdown of small activities. Instead of a treat a day, plan a little thing to do: bake cookies, make cards, watch a Christmas movie, drive around to look at lights, wrap a present for someone.
- A coloring page a day. Print a stack of Christmas coloring pages and color one each day. It’s a nice quiet-time activity too.
- A book a night. Wrap a few Christmas books, or ones you already own, and open one at bedtime.
Keep them busy
Waiting is easier when your hands are busy. Baking, crafts, making cards for friends and wrapping gifts for family all help the days go faster. Bonus: kids get to feel the fun of giving, not just getting.
Christmas Eve jitters
The last night is the hardest. Kids are so excited they can’t fall asleep. Keep the routine the same as any other night, read a calm Christmas story, and try a few slow breaths together. Smell the flower, blow the bubble.
Watch the free read-along
Want to share the story with your kids? Here’s Penny’s Merry Little Christmas read aloud, page by page, in a calm bedtime voice.
Get the printables
In Penny’s Merry Little Christmas, Penny can hardly wait, so Mama makes her a bedtime countdown with seven stars. The printable book comes with a countdown page your kids can color too.
Need something to fill the days? Penny’s Holiday Pack has Christmas coloring pages and activities.
Looking for a gift? We also make a personalized version, “[Name]’s Merry Little Christmas,” with your child’s name right in the story. It makes a sweet stocking stuffer or Christmas Eve book.
Questions parents ask
When should a Christmas countdown start?
Many families start on December 1st. For toddlers, a shorter countdown of 7 to 10 days is often easier, because 25 days is a long time when you’re 3.
What’s a good countdown for toddlers?
Something simple and visual, like coloring one star each night at bedtime or tearing one link off a paper chain. Doing it at the same time each day helps.
How can I help my kids handle waiting for Christmas?
Keep the days busy with small holiday activities, use a visual countdown so they can see the days shrink, and practice a calm breath when the excitement gets big.