For Christmas, we did our own version of Elf on the Shelf. Not as a discipline thing ("Ooh, I wouldn't say that in front of the elf") but more as a fun tradition. Each day Ella Elf came with a note and a fun activity or treat. Some mornings she was climbing the Christmas tree, sometimes sleeping in the dog bed, but she always had a little letter with something fun to do. Kay looked forward to it each morning.
So when her birthday was edging closer, we decided to do something similar. Of course, there could be no elf, and I wouldn't have to feign ignorance this time around. I got 12 envelopes and put the date and the number of days left until the "big day" on the front. Then I taped them all to the wall.
Originally I had played around with forming them into a number 5, but I decided on just the rows.
If you're a planner you could really decorate the envelopes and make them fancy. Mine were more last-minute, so they just got colored!
Each morning I put a simple little note inside with something that Kay enjoyed that we would do together. It was nothing elaborate and no gifts (except once!) - just together time.
Each morning I put a simple little note inside with something that Kay enjoyed that we would do together. It was nothing elaborate and no gifts (except once!) - just together time.
For example, one was a just for fun photo shoot. Others were similarly basic:
~*~Who wants to play hide and seek?? I'll count first! (I hate playing, so this was special!)
~*~Storytime! Let's read 5 books with 5 friends! (Stuffed friends, of course!)
~*~I've hidden five number 5s in the den. Can you find them all? (Really pushing the 5s!)
~*~Pool party time! Get your bathing suit and meet me in the bathtub! (where a beach ball and even floaties were waiting!)
~*~Who wants to play hide and seek?? I'll count first! (I hate playing, so this was special!)
~*~Storytime! Let's read 5 books with 5 friends! (Stuffed friends, of course!)
~*~I've hidden five number 5s in the den. Can you find them all? (Really pushing the 5s!)
~*~Pool party time! Get your bathing suit and meet me in the bathtub! (where a beach ball and even floaties were waiting!)
~*~ Let's make cookies! Can you make one shaped like a 5?
~*~ Painting time! Can you paint a picture of what you'll look like when you're 5? (Are you starting to see a "5" pattern?)
~*~ Let's build a fort to have a fruit party in! (Fruit and forts...life is good!)
~*~ There's a surprise hidden somewhere. Ask Mommy for the first clue! (This was a favorite clue game, but with a twist...the final clue had only a word - no picture to help. Her first attempts at "sounding it out".)
~*~ Painting time! Can you paint a picture of what you'll look like when you're 5? (Are you starting to see a "5" pattern?)
~*~ Let's build a fort to have a fruit party in! (Fruit and forts...life is good!)
~*~ There's a surprise hidden somewhere. Ask Mommy for the first clue! (This was a favorite clue game, but with a twist...the final clue had only a word - no picture to help. Her first attempts at "sounding it out".)
I like to think it made waiting for her birthday to get her just a little easier!
