Alternative to Lego advent calendar? Ideas please

[Squirrelfruitandnutkin]

The dcs have had a Lego advent calendar for the last couple of years. Tbh last years was a bit lame and looking at the contents online this year doesn’t look very exciting either. The Star Wars version looks even worse.

Anyone got any good recommendations for an alternative?

I’ve done the breaking up a Lego set into bits for each day for years (waves to Misty9 in case we know each other )

It’s great. It does take organisation, but my dc (x3) have always loved it.

One of the best bits is they don’t even know what they are building until at least half way through December, and it keeps everyone guessing and involved.

I’ve used Christmas themed ones before, or any small ish set (the ones around £8-10 are a good size)

Dd2 branched our recently, and didn’t want a Lego one anymore so got her a Tinc one. From what I’ve heard, it’s better quality than the snuggle ones. The tinc one is really fabulous - great quality stuff, nothing useless. Really worth a look.

That's a genius idea with the broken up Lego set. Lego calendar is about 20 odd euros, you'd get a really decent set for that, instead of the collection of useless tiny bits and pieces you get off the calendar.

Tbh, you don’t necessarily have to spend a huge amount to get a set that works well.

The vignette scenes work really well, or brick headz size sets. I’ve also used some of the freebie sets given away with bigger purchases before now - eg the gingerbread house one, or the snow globe one, which is a total bonus as is a set dc haven’t seen, so no idea what they’re building, and free - win-win

And yes, means a usable set, or useful bricks after Christmas, which is always handy.

The birthday Lego minifigs are currently £1.50 in Sainsbury’s. The ninjago, Batman and series 16 and 17 ones are buy one get one free in WHSmiths. My son collects minifigs so I have made him an advent calendar using these (and a dozen I got as a bundle second hand). It hasn’t cost much more than the Lego calendar to do, but he will actually have something he wants behind each door!

Those who have broken up a lego set, how did you present it?

Did you use plain envelops with the bits and instructions for the day?

I have a fairly big set I plan to use, that I got in the summer sales.