Lego/Playmobil Advent calendars, Yea or Nay?

[ragged]

DS10yo wants one which means getting them or similar for 2-3 younger siblings, too. We haven't managed any sort of Advent calendars for several years (complicated reasons, probably not applicable to toy-contents Advent calendars), so am minded to get them this year, but am mulling over...

*They seem quite expensive for what you get.
*Don't want DC to expect one every year.
*Are Lego/Playmobil only options, any other makes of toy-content Advent calendars I could look for (might be more suitable for some of my children)?

What do you think? Do you like them?

[onadietcokebreak]

Watching with interest........DP wants one for 3yo DS!

[sethstarkaddersmum]

my nephews have a Playmobil one.
they put the bits back after Xmas so they don't get a new one every year.

[hitmouse]

I got one between my three and they took it in turns to open the doors - we still have the pieces several years later and they come out as part of our Christmas decorations and the children love playing with them when they do so it was worth the money!

[Fimbo]

Oh ffs, ds wants the Lego one. Just looked them up on Amazon - £25. Dream on.

[ragged]

I wouldn't consider it (because of the high cost) if we hadn't missed so many years before now. And that's why I don't want to get one everyyear for each child, too.

Playmobil one is a fair whack cheaper, methinks.

[Tortoise]

I got my DC playmobil/lego ones last Christmas. They loved them, i thought it was expensive for what you got plus after Christmas it all got added to toy boxes. I didn't see the point in packing it all away after as they wouldn't be so interested the 2nd time. Plus didn't want to spend all that money for it to be out for one or two weeks a year!
Back to chocolate ones this year i think!

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

I've got Playmobil calendars for DS the last couple of years -- as DD and eventual DC3 get older they are just going to have to share. I think I've paid around £12-£15 which hasn't actually been particularly bad value compared to the cost of Playmobil sets of equivalent size.

[AlCrowley]

You could always just buy a refillable advent calendar and a medium sized LEGO toy they actually want then give them a stage worth of bricks every day?

The model needs to have at least 24 stages obviously -or if more, just give 2 steps on the last few days or if less you could use 2 toys etc

They get something everyday, plus the thrill of finding out what its going to be (don't tell them beforehand) AND a toy they will actually play with after the event.

Might not work out much cheaper but should be more fun.

[wfrances]

got a playmobil one last year for my 6 yr old ,he loved it,weve put it away for this year.all 4 of my dc get chocolate advents but 6 yr old was very into playmobil last year so i got him a calender,warning ,took dp a while to set it up ,it didnt come ready to go..

[cornsilk909]

I've got them the last 2 years. My ds's love them. Ds1 might be a bit old this year but bet he still wants one!

[bytheMoonlight]

Are they intrested in the same set the second year?

I am thinking of getting one second hand from Ebay but only if it will become a tradition and the dc will be like the same set being pulled out year after year.

Really not keen on choc. advent calenders

[cornsilk909]

I got different sets. I think they must change them each year. I got mine from the lego site but I think Argos do them.Always loads on ebay but not much cheaper.

[bytheMoonlight]

I just had a quick look at Ebay and you're right cornsilk - not much cheaper

[cornsilk909]

might be best getting them from argos to avoid P&P.

[catinthehat2]

I think they are a fantastic idea and help everyone understand the true meaning of this famous shopping festival.

I'm sure Mary & Joseph got one for the little baby Jesus and it's definitely what Christmas is all about, esp @ £25.

[DilysPrice]

I've got them for lego-mad DCs in the past - one shared between them, taking turns to open the number for the day. Not 25 quid though - I think it was about 14?
I got them because the little people + accessories have got really good play value, and have become a big part of their games. I'd say that they're reasonable value for what you get. I wouldn't dream of putting the toys back and reusing them though, they're there to be played with.
I might do Playmobil this year as DD is playing with our limited Playmobil collection a lot at the mo, and we could do with some more for free play.

[Tigerdrivesbackin]

Sorry to be contentious here, but why don't you just get a traditional advent calendar with just the little cardboard pictures and no goodies and then save the £25+ for Xmas day? My DS is quite (very?) materialistic but loves the pictures and doesnt want lego bits etc.

[pinkthechaffinch]

I've got a wooden Advent train, which has little drawers I pop sweets into every day of Advent.

Ds (8) and dd (will be nearly 2) should both love it.


www.lakeland.co.uk/wooden-advent-train/F/product/41716

I got mine for £24.99 last year at local garden centre.

[pinkthechaffinch]

I have those as well, Tiger. I love the religious germanicy ones with lots of silver glitter

I think they are a festive decoration in their own right.

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

If I were religious I would probably go for a pictures-only traditional calendar. I'm not. So I don't.

And I'd rather spread out spending than have it all arrive in one big splurge -- £15 between all three DCs spread out over a month doesn't seem a terrible deal to me.

[mrsgboring]

We've had them the past two years and love them but we're all massive Lego fans in our family. You need to be aware that they aren't generally very Christmassy things inside - pictures are of Christmas but the things inside are just clever little models or figures, occasionally seasonal, generally not.

We had the pirate one last year and it had loads of fab little figures - swordfish, mermaid etc. Compared to getting them either in sets or in collectible packs of minifigs the Advent calendar was no more expensive but it does depend how much you actually want them whether you consider it value for money.

Wouldn't dream of putting them back for another year. Apart from anything else, DS1 had to dismantle the box for parts (built on a very good plastic tray we still have in the craft stuff )

[CaptainNancy]

We have a playmobil one- the santa woodland scene.
It was £11 from Woolies a few years ago- DD loves it! It all goes back in the box on Twelfth Night for the next year, and is part of Christmas tradition in this house!

[pinkthechaffinch]

When I was a dc, I had to share an advent calendar with my 2 siblings. Every day before school would be started with vicious arguements over whose turn it was, followed by jealous sulkings and parental shoutings.

One year, my youngest spoiled sister eventually admitted after a lengthy interrogation that it was she who had opened 24th dec.

And then one year, she was given a choccie one all to herself !




this is why I overcompensate treat my dcs Fairly now.

[Tigerdrivesbackin]

Er

If you're not religious why would you have an Advent calendar anyway? Or have I missed something here?