Uh, yeah this chart thingy

I don't know what to call this chart I made... the' date, weather and season chart' seems a little wordy. I'm sure there's a better name for it, but you can just look at  the pictures to know what I'm talking about. I'd seen a number of bloggers either purchase these or make them recently... and because I am too cheap to buy one and because my 'craft' room is finally complete I decided to make my own. It took me awhile to get around to making one since I had a lot on my plate recently, but things eased up a bit. A tiny, itty, little bit. And it turns out that I find measuring and cutting, and sticker sticking, and marker writing especially relaxing.

I definitely got the overall idea to make this chart from other bloggers and from searching the web, but as far as the design that was pretty much my own (although I am sure there is someone else who has done this as well... and better). It started with knowing that I had some foam board. Unfortunately, the white one I had was severely water damaged and the black ones had bits torn off. While I was at Target without my husband (this is important to note since he keeps us on track to follow the shopping list) I wandered around and decided to buy a new white foam board and some stickers.

I had seen some boards that utilized dry erase markers, but I wanted something that Riley could really grab on to and be active in the changing of the chart daily. I decided that I would cut out individual pieces for each word and date and attach Velcro to the back. So I counted out all the words and numbers I would need and measured out sections on the white foam board. I sliced up the board with an art knife (is that what you call it?), but you could use a utility knife as well. Just make sure it is sharp.

I decided to use a combo of stickers and markers, partly due to cost and space issues (boy does this post make me sound cheap). I also didn't want to buy another white foam board and didn't like the look of the beat up black one as the background so I used some white contact paper I had laying (or lying - I never know) around and (mostly) covered the black foam board up.

As you can see I am such a geek that I figured out all the letters and numbers I would need on that big piece of cardboard just in case there was a chance I could use stickers for the entire board. I really knew the answer before going through that whole process, but again... I found this weirdly relaxing to do. If only someone could pay me to do this crap.

We had some leftover Velcro, but not enough so I made a quick stop at Home Depot on the way home from the gym this morning so I could complete this project. Riley helped me with the finishing touches even if she doesn't really get this yet, but that's the whole point - it's a way to teach her. Once completed, Riley helped me put the correct information on it for today and placed it upstairs so she can see it early in the morning. I think I might post a print out next to it so she can see what day/month/season follows the next with the hope that she can check it and think "oh, Monday comes after Sunday". She seemed to get that we only change the chart once a day... at least for now, and appeared genuinely excited about it. 

Right now I think Riley is more excited about the letters and numbers on this chart, but I look forward to the first time she is able to tell me what day or season it is. It's so cool to see a little one's brain 'get' something new and to know that you helped them in some way to understand. For me, these accomplishments are way more rewarding that anything I could do at my paid job.