Halloween is one of the most exciting holidays of the year for children. For months before the actual day, children spend time deciding on a costume to wear, planning on how to make the best costume, and getting excited about school parties. As if this level excitement is not overwhelming as it is, making a Halloween Countdown Chain is a great craft for kids who love the Halloween season. This craft has many variations that make each chain an individual project. If you think you or your kids might be interested in making a Halloween Countdown Chain, make sure you have the following materials:
-construction paper
-scissors
-stapler or tape
-markers
-glitter
-glue
-newspaper
Step One: Cover your work area with newspaper. This makes cleaning up after the project is finished really easy!
Step Two: Cut each piece of construction paper into strips. You can cut the construction paper horizontally or vertically depending on how big you want the diameter of each loop in your countdown chain to be. Each strip should be between one and one and a half inches wide.
Step Three: This is the most creative part of the project. You can plan up to an entire month's worth of activities with your kids! One side of each strip of paper should have an activity on it. Activities can include things like pumpkin carving, autumn walks, Halloween costume shopping, and so on. Activities can also include things like cleaning rooms, doing dishes, and taking the garbage out. It is recommended to mix both types of activities, as this will make the fun activities seem like treats, and the "less fun" activities will help to pass the time before the big Halloween day. Use marker to write down an activity for each day on one side of each strip. Cut between fourteen and twenty-one strips to account for two or three weeks before Halloween.
Step Four: Apply a thin layer of glue to the side of the strip opposite of the side with the activities. Sprinkle glitter over the glue and let it dry completely.
Step Five: Make a loop out of the first strip of paper and secure it with a piece of tape or a staple. A stapler works best for looping, because it will not pull of the glitter and it will secure the loops better than tape. Next, loop the next activity strip around the first and secure it with a staple or tape so that the two loops are together like two rings. Continue to do this until you have secured all strips of paper as loops on the chain. Remember to go in chronological order according to when you want to do your activities.
Step Five: When all loops are stapled together chronologically, you can hang your countdown chain above a child’s door, on a wall, or from the refrigerator. Enjoy counting down the day until Halloween!
Tips:
-Orange and black construction paper look great for a Halloween theme. Most office supply stores carry markers made specifically for writing on black paper.
