Family Weekly Calendars: They're About Time

You see these three people here? I love them all. They are my life. 

Atley is apparently not thrilled about being grabbed and prodded by her brother, but adorably chubby-cheeked still the same.

See that handsome little boy with the blue and red stripey polo? I really love him. And he? He really really loves church. He had to stay home from church about 3 weeks ago because he was recovering from being sick and I suspected he might still be contagious. Apparently, he didn't like missing out on church because he has made sure ever since that day to tell me every morning, "Church!" And every evening before bed, "Church!" And about 15 times each day, in the car, at home, and anywhere else we might just happen to be, "Church!" "Church!" "Church!"

I really love church, too. And I'm thrilled my little boy loves to go to church. I also think its important to appreciate each day for whatever treasure it might hold - don't you? :) I'm hoping to foster an appreciation of the now, as well as a better understanding of time with this weekly family calendar I made for Lincoln. (Of course, it is also for Atley once she gets old enough to care what day of the week the garbage truck comes, or whether or not we will be celebrating a birthday, holiday, or blowing bubbles in the back yard.)

Our laminated family weekly activities calendar.

The star is moved each day to indicate which day of the week it is. The calendar has space for 3 activities each day. Every morning when Lincoln wakes up, I bring him to the calendar and we look to see what we will be doing that day. If he brings up stuff we won't be doing that day, like going to church for example, I simply say, "Nope! Not until Sunday at the end of this week! But today we will work in the garden, bake a cake for daddy's birthday, and have family home evening!"

Other activities, holidays, and things we might do with a day.

We've only had it for about a week, but so far this whole weekly calendar thing has been awesome. Not only is it helping Lincoln focus and appreciate each day and its activities better, it also has been an excellent tool to keep me accountable to Lincoln. It forces me to choose and keep my word about (at least) one specific activity I will actively do with him, every. single. day. Whether it be something small like playing with his blocks together, or something bigger and more time-consuming, like going to the Zoo or Children's museum.

Like the ghetto Ziploc bag on my fridge? :) Yep, that's how I roll.

I'm sharing this: #1 Because my Granny Shanks told me she wanted to see pictures of it. #2 Just in case you have a child who really likes to go to church and won't stop talking about it, too. :) Feel free to send me an email if you would like the general template I used.

Do you have a family calendar to help your children understand days of the weeks and schedules, too? How did you teach the concept of time to your little ones?