Learning and remembering the 12 months of the year can be a challenge for young children.  Using this idea will have a child remembering the months in order while using small motor skills.

You will need a dozen clear round plastic tops.  Use the kind found on margarine or other plastic containers. Other materials needed are a permanent magic marker, a calendar, single paper punch, and a long shoe string. Using the paper punch, place a hole near the edge of the plastic top Looking at the calendar with a child, write the name of one month on each of the 12 lids with a permanent magic marker. Depending on the age of the child help him string the months in order on the shoelace. An older child can string the lids in order independently by checking a calendar.

This activity can also reinforce how birthdates are written.  If you have filled out information forms you know how important it is to know how to write dates using only numerals.  Teaching this to children is a skill that can be presented using the monthly lids.

Review how a child's birth date is written.

A child born February 1, 1999 would be written 02/01/99.  Review that February is the second month of the year and is written 02. Punch small cards that fit inside the lids and write the number for each month---01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12 on each of the 12 cards.  Lace the number cards by the month lids so children can learn or review the order of the months.  TIP: Keep a ring of assorted sizes of plastic lids available for a child to use when they need to draw a circle for art projects.