Alternative advent calendar for kids?

[BlondeWaves]

Shock horror, my 4yo doesn't like chocolate! Are there any alternative advent calendars out there for kids? Had a look briefly at toy advent calendars but most seem to be Lego or 'squishy' toys (he's a bit small for Lego and don't want 24 random squishy toys going to landfill because he gets bored of them). Any suggestions?

The works do a 24 Christmas story book one? It's about £25

When mine were little I bought one you fill yourself, intending to put all kinds of cute treats in there. I mainly put vitamin gummies in it 😂

Haribo do an advent calendar

Picture one? My kids always loved them (they are not chocolate fans) and they are fully recyclable so no landfill

Schleich and Playmobil do some lovely advent calanders.

Calendars.

Goodness me I need some more coffee. 😂

www.amazon.co.uk/Schleich-Christmas-Advent-Calendar-Unisex/dp/B08W4L2L4C/ref=asc_df_B08W4L2L4C/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=535047112697&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16064543625549797697&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006888&hvtargid=pla-1432511914994&psc=1

www.amazon.co.uk/Playmobil-71088-Adventskalender-Toys-Multicolor/dp/B09P4BKWPL/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1P8HKHY6Y188W&keywords=playmobil+advent+calendar&qid=1668502880&s=kids&sprefix=playmobil+ad%2Ctoys%2C117&sr=1-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

I used to make one myself with pictures of stuff they liked behind the doors - their favourite Octonaut, Pokémon, toy, grandparent, pet, cbeebies presenter, etc.

That was before they worked out that you could get ones with sweets! It might still work for a four year old

Ours have a lovely reusable wooden one where a Nativity figure comes out every day (angels, animals, palm trees, manger etc) and you build up the stable scene with them bit by bit. Rapidly becoming a family favourite, and no tat involved! Think it was from JoJo a couple of years ago. They might have had other ones too.

Schleich do a dinosaur one. DS is four and is going to have Lego City. He will need some
support to build the fiddly bots but it’s not really
too young if you think he might be interested.

Otherwise a traditional picture one.

We just do a picture ones. My eldest is allergic to milk and the dairy free chocolate ones are expensive.

Meri Meri does a beautiful wooden nativity one

We got a wooden tree that had magnetic baubles that you added to each day of the month. I think you can get it from JoJo Bebe

Thanks everyone. I only say he's too young for Lego because we have tonnes of pkaymobil and duplo that he hasn't grown out of yet and I'm not quite ready too add Lego into the mix as he's finds it hard to build it himself and will almost definitely lose the pieces and get bored of it!

Playdoh advent calendar - £15 on amazon

Mine loved a picture one at that age.
It surprised me how excited they were to see what was behind each door.

Make your own?

www.hobbycraft.co.uk/kraft-fillable-advent-calendar/6591691000.html

If he doesn’t like chocolate would you consider a jelly sweet etc?

Deal: The Gruffalo and Friends Advent Calendar Book Collection (2022) amzn.eu/d/5n613hx

We've got book ones this year. The Gruffalo and friends one linked above and a disney one.

A word of warning on the book ones as we were given one and it sent me absolutely demented - the books are tiny and difficult to read, and you will find. them. everywhere. Have storage ready for them to be put away every day. If I were going to do books again I’d go to a charity shop or the Works and get twenty-four proper books.

The schleich ones are lovely but having a look through, I think I've decided I'd like something Christmas themed. We can put in our Christmas box and get out next year. Argh! The stress over a bloody advent calendar 😅 nativity ones look lovely but we already have a nativity set which was gifted to us.

I would get a wooden refillable one and fill with things he does like - sweets, nuts, raisins, stationery, bouncy balls etc. it can grow with him and you can change the fillings year to year.

We had a Playmobil one and bring out the toys from it every year for a Christmas display.

Forgot that we also have a fabric one which is shaped like a Christmas tree, and you Velcro a new decoration on every day. Plus a beautiful cardboard one with a picture behind each door (again, reusable for several years). I think DC like the familiarity of seeing them again each year.

This!!!
Schleich dinosaur advent calendar is awesome (if they have one this year and you can get hold of).
Otherwise 100% playmobil

Got my DD the Aldi craft one..12days on it and each one has a mini craft behind the door. Think it was a tenner.

My kids always have a picture one. I try to find a really nice one but it is a running joke because they really want a chocolate one but I object on principle. I couldn't even tell you why now but I'm not budging and they are not chocolate deprived otherwise. We did get a musical one in lockdown but it was German and we didn't know many of the songs! I think it is my hobby to wind the kids up about chocolate advent calendars now.