Family advent calendar suggestions

[Willow4987]

I’m trying to be more eco friendly and not have the chocolate calendars anymore

So I’m looking for an advent calendar big enough for the whole family - so 2 adults and 2 children (1 currently 14 months, 1 unborn - I’m just future planning )

I’m thinking it needs to be big enough to fit maybe chocolate coins or small toys or something as they grow and tastes changes etc but all the ones I’ve found on the internet seem to have quite small boxes

Ideally looking for wooden

Does anyone have one like this or seen one?

We have a wooden one that we use each Christmas. My auntie used to use it for me and now does it for my children. She fills some with chocolates but then hides other little things around the house and just puts a clue in the box (usually a little rhyme for each one). So for example, she may put a clue that leads to the shoe box and then there are 2 little presents wrapped up for DDs. Half the fun is rushing round the house each morning searching for the present!

Hobbycraft have a few and I see they have a 15% off first order offer.

Definitely hold out for one with decent size drawers as the small ones are a nightmare to think up ideas to fill.
I’ve no idea where to find one though?

I'd buy two packets of empty matchboxes and make a chimney out of card and paint it. You can then fill each day with something or a piece of paper with an activity or planned event on. www.amazon.co.uk/Folia-2407-Matchboxes-Blank-12-Pack/dp/B008CO0RFY/ref=pd_sim_21_1/259-2343736-7943713?psc=1&pf_rd_p=e323aefa-0fb8-4e75-9bef-479c25fd70eb&_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_wg=ANtK6&pf_rd_r=HJW2HGJ31N3Z2DFT9525&pd_rd_i=B008CO0RFY&pd_rd_w=Mkoyc&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&refRID=HJW2HGJ31N3Z2DFT9525&pd_rd_r=d0c26e2b-cd28-45b8-8f5b-4f5caabd6768

We had a premade one growing up and loved it.

Not On The High Street is usually worth a look for that sort of thing.

My first thought was not on the high street too but I’m unsure how big the actual boxes are...

Not wooden, but I always hang up socks for an advent calendar. For a family of four it's 3 new pairs of socks each (6 socks), I find they always come in handy. And v easy to buy multipacks of 3 socks. I try to get Christmassy colours so they look festive hanging up.

I usually put a chocolate in each one, and it makes a nice decoration as they look like little stockings - especially cute with baby and toddler socks. I hang them up on a piece of ribbon.

I've been doing it for years, DC absolutely love it and are honestly more excited about the new socks than the chocolate!

We had a wooden one with tiny drawers, it got so stressful trying to find small chocolates to fit in them, I gave it to charity in the end.

This is card but the draws are a good size. www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/d6257.html
This is quite large www.gltc.co.uk/products/wooden-advent-calendar-woodland-christmas?cjevent=8fd6333df35c11e983cf010e0a18050d

I decided to go for a fabric one rather than wooden as it gives a bit more flexibility over present size, plus it won't take up as much storage space for the 11 months per year that we're not using it! I've ordered this one: https://www.madeindesign.co.uk/prod-house-christmas-calendar-ref24087-ferm.html?esl-k=sem-google%7Cnu%7Cc344012252614%7Cm%7Ck745619076631%7Cp%7Ct%7Cdm%7Ca70356541598%7Cg1784534111&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3NWK3smr5QIVh63tCh2bZwuFEAQYASABEgKyPDD_BwE

We make a new one every year using envelopes. 24 envelopes, family of four = 6 envelopes each, which just nicely fills a winter afternoon. Then chocolates in each envelope, hang them from a piece of string over the mantelpiece with clothes pegs and we're done. This is literally our only Family Craft activity we do all year, and the kids are 16 and 13 now and still love doing it. If you're the kind of person who likes a very tasteful Christmas then this may not work, but we love it.

Sorry to be clear, we do actually decorate the envelopes! Paint and glitter and stickers and felt tips and everything.