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Maths hiding in home: family calendars

Count days to birthdays, trips and events.

Quick answer

Maths hiding in home: family calendars helps you count days, plan events, and understand time. You can use calendars to figure out when birthdays, holidays, or fun trips are coming up by counting the days between today and those special dates.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to count the number of days between today and a special event on a calendar, using a simple counting method or a number line. Success signs:
  • You can find a special date on a calendar
  • You can count the days between today and that date
  • You can explain how many days are left until a birthday or trip
  • You can use a number line to help count days

Why this matters

Calendars help you know when important things happen in your family. When you learn to count days on a calendar, you can:
  • Plan for birthdays, holidays, or family visits
  • Understand how long you have to wait for something fun
  • Help your family keep track of events
  • Use maths to solve real-life problems
Whether you're waiting for a trip to the park or a birthday party, calendars are full of maths that help you count and plan.

How it works

Counting days on a calendar is like taking steps from today to a future date. Here’s how to do it:
  1. Find today’s date on the calendar
  2. Find the special event date
  3. Count each day from today to that date
  4. You can use a number line or a calendar to help you count

Examples you can see

Let’s say today is Monday, 5th of October, and your birthday is on Friday, 16th of October. Step-by-step counting:
  • Monday 5th – today
  • Tuesday 6th – day 1
  • Wednesday 7th – day 2
  • Thursday 8th – day 3
  • Friday 9th – day 4
  • Saturday 10th – day 5
  • Sunday 11th – day 6
  • Monday 12th – day 7
  • Tuesday 13th – day 8
  • Wednesday 14th – day 9
  • Thursday 15th – day 10
  • Friday 16th – day 11
So, you have 11 days until your birthday! Using a number line: You can also use a number line to show the days:
  • Start at 5 (today)
  • Count up to 16 (birthday)
  • Count the jumps: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
  • That’s 11 jumps – so 11 days!

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Calendar Countdown Challenge You are the family’s official calendar keeper! Your job is to count how many days are left until these family events. Event 1: Grandma’s birthday on 12th November Today: 5th November Event 2: Family picnic on 20th November Today: 5th November Event 3: School holiday starts on 25th November Today: 5th November How to solve:
  1. Find today’s date (5th November)
  2. Find the event date
  3. Count each day between them
  4. Write the number of days
4th time: Counting days from 5th to 12th = ? days 5th time: Counting days from 5th to 20th = ? days 6th time: Counting days from 5th to 25th = ? days Try it with a real calendar or a piece of paper with dates drawn out.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to count today as day 1 Why it happens: Kids often start counting from the day after today Fix: Remember that today is day 1, not day 0
  • Mistake: Counting the start and end dates twice Why it happens: Confusion about whether to include the first or last day Fix: Decide if you're counting the days in between, or the days from start to finish
  • Mistake: Not using a calendar or number line Why it happens: Kids try to count in their head without a visual aid Fix: Use a calendar or draw a number line to help count

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Using a real calendar together to find dates
  • Counting days aloud with your child
  • Letting your child draw a number line or mark days on a calendar
  • Asking questions like: “How many days until your birthday?” or “How long is it until the school trip?”
  • Encouraging your child to check their counting by using a different method
What to say:
  • “Let’s look at the calendar and find your birthday”
  • “Count the days together – we can do it!”
  • “How many days are between today and the picnic?”
What not to worry about:
  • It’s okay if your child makes a mistake – it’s part of learning
  • Don’t rush – take your time to count together
  • Let your child explore and find their own way to count

Practice questions

  1. Today is 3rd October. How many days until 10th October? Answer: 7 days
  2. Today is 15th November. How many days until 22nd November? Answer: 7 days
  3. Today is 8th December. How many days until 15th December? Answer: 7 days
  4. Today is 1st January. How many days until 10th January? Answer: 9 days
  5. Today is 20th March. How many days until 27th March? Answer: 7 days

FAQ

What is a calendar?

A calendar is a chart that shows the days of the month and year so you can keep track of dates and events.

How can I use a calendar to plan events?

You can use a calendar to find when events are, and count how many days you have to wait for them.

Why do we need to count days?

Counting days helps us plan and know how long we have to wait for something special, like a birthday or a holiday.

Can I use a number line to count days?

Yes! A number line helps you see the days as jumps and makes counting easier.

What if I don’t know the date of an event?

You can ask a parent, look it up, or write it down on a calendar so you can count the days.