Recommendations for advent calendar (non choc)

[jumpyjan]

I know I am a bit of a meanie but am still trying to stay away from the choc advent calendars - mainly because on busy nursery days its either eat choc first thing in the morning or just before bedtime - neither is ideal. Also I really hate the choc ones that are nothing to do with Christmas - i.e. Ben 10!

Anyway, for the last couple of years I have managed to find really lovely and exciting pop up style non choc advent calendars which have gone down really well and hopefully make up for the lack of chocolate.

Just wondered if anyone could recommend a good one for this year as haven't found one yet.

Also am I the only mean mummy who goes for a non choc one!

We don't have choc! Ds has a Playmobil one, but also a traditional paper one with pictures in. He and I have a competition every year, to see who can guess what will be in the window each day (he usually wins!)

I have bought this one from Lakeland for my sister.

Or these from Calendar Club look quite good.

Got the playmobil one for DD this year. It looks amazing. Got it on amazon for £15. Quite pricey so it's almost like an early xmas present in itself.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Wow there are loads on the Calendar club website - hmm decisions, decisions.

I bought one from either Red House or the Book People - I think it was Usborne, where you colour in the picture every day ... it looks quite sweet.

I have bought DS the Playmobil post office one... No chocolate! I hate the idea of them eating cheap chocolate that was probably made in China 3 years ago...

You can buy felt advent calendars with little pockets online or I saw some the other day in TK Maxx. You can then either sew little hoops and hang little presents on them - a small animal rubber for school, a hair clip etc or do a mini treasure hunt each day, hiding a little present and then putting the clue in the pocket on the calendar...not that breastfeeding my 12 week old DD gives me the time to do this but a girl can dream

These from Phoenix Trading. There is a lovely new Advent Calendar House & also a Reindeer Stable where you add a reindeer or other piece each day. The trader does mail order.

Oxfam have some lovely non-chocolate ones for not a lot of money.

This year we are getting these 'make your own' from lakeland. Its something we can make together and will last for years

I bought a nice 3D one from Aldi last week. No chocolates, just pictures and a few designs (some traditional, some cute). I think it was only about £1.50.

Thanks for all the lovely suggestions. Have put it on my to do list for my afternoon's shopping tomorrow.

starWars
I know this is VERY pricey, at £34, put it could be considered as an actual present, to a big Star Wars fan Kid, of which there are LOADS. Just a thought.

I got the Aldi one too. Really nice for £1.50. I don't like chocolate ones either, and it really annoys me that the non-chocolate ones are more expensive and harder to find.

I love the non-chocolate/non-3d ones on the Calendar Club website, they remind me of the ones we used to have as children with the glitter and lovely Christmassy scenes, but £5.99? Wow!

There's a wonderful German advent calendar firm, Richard Sellmer Verlag, but unfortunately the postage is expensive. Shame, because it does those great snow scenes with sparkly bits.

Orchardcards.co.uk have some nice ones this year

I can also reccommend the ones from phoenix trading, i bought the reindeer stables one on sunday and saw some of the others on display...they really are lovely

They are a bit pricey at £7.50 but they are reusable so no need to buy another next year.

DD cant wait to get started!!

Also saw some cheap traditional ones on ebay last week. As i much prefer these to chocolate ones...might get one of those as well!!!!