Go Ahead, Lose Your Marbles

Do you or your children have a special event coming up? Here's a way to visualize it for them. Take two clear containers, and fill one with enough marbles to count off the days, weeks, or months to your blessed event (baby coming, vacation, summer). Then each day (or week or month depending on what you're doing), drop a marble in the other container. It's kind of like an advent calendar, and really makes you aware of the time ticking past.

For instance, at the beginning of summer, count out a marble for each day until school starts again, and put it in the first container. Each day, drop a marble into the second container. This will really help to remind you to make the most of your time, and help little ones visualize time.