Use a magnetic calendar

When children approach age 3, they often begin to have a fascination with time, but don’t yet have a way to grasp it. You may answer their excited question of, “When does the garbage truck come?” with “Tuesday,” but that means nothing if the child doesn’t know when Tuesday will come around again. Magnetic calendars are a great way to make this abstract concept much more concrete for your little one. There are many on the market, but the one I’ve found to be the best deal for the price is sold at Super Target, in the puzzle section. I think it was around $10, no more than $15, and I see years and years of use in its future. (I can not find it online, otherwise I would post a link. As of the date of this posting, they are still on the shelves at Super Target. A good, but more expensive, substitute is the magnetic calendar by Melissa & Doug.) The calendar comes with magnets for the dates, months, years, holidays, weather, activities, “firsts,” and other events. Depending on your child’s age and maturity level, you might choose to hang the calendar at his or her level, or you may need to keep it out of reach (to avoid the choking hazard of the magnets, especially if you have a toddler around).  We use the magnets on our calendar to keep track of what days we have doctor appointments, hair cuts, trips to the museum, trips to the library, when our library books are due, when we’re going on vacation, etc. We’ve even made our own markers using Post-it notes for when grandparents are coming to visit, and for that all important day of the week when the garbage truck stops by! (Garbage day is practically a holiday to most little boys!) The calendar also has magnets for the weather, so your little one can play “weather reporter” and update the weather daily (or as it changes through the day). An added plus is that the calendar will help with number recognition, counting, and, eventually, adding. So, the next time your little one asks what day it is, or when tumbling will be, send him or her to look at the calendar!