Advent Calendars - alternatives?

[MrsForgetalot]

Is anyone else done with advent calendars?

Dc are mid teens and we’ve dropped a lot of our pre Christmas traditions and activities. The last couple of years we’ve had advent calendars, and had a December 1st breakfast together to open them which was a bit of an event as our schedules in the morning are so different.

I think advent calendars may have run their course. Ds always got Lego. He’s autistic with limited interests and not impressed by this years offerings. Dd has had a different one each year - I could see her enjoying a skin care one, maybe. Dh always had a sweet one but has lost weight this year and wouldn’t welcome daily sweets. He doesn’t drink, is fussy about socks, and not into puzzles, trivia, sports or building radios and old enough to have everything he needs. I’m not interested in sweets, cheese or skincare. And I hate unnecessary waste.

I think advent calendars have probably had their day in our house, but I liked the little bit of connection and fun they provided and with grumpy teens, during one of the busiest months, it’s hard to replace that. It’s the only thing that we all do together - ds doesn’t enjoy looking at lights, shows, carols, ice skating or hot chocolate. I do those things with dh or dd, and ds and I go for walks, read each others books, and build lego decorations. I also liked how advent calendars didn’t require extra effort from me .

I’d love any suggestions either for alternatives, or if you’ve seen any unusual advent calendars I’m listening! Or just some solidarity for chrissmassing through the teen years.

Honestly I enjoy so many over the top festivities but consumerist count downs to a day based around consumerism is just nuts to me. Whats wrong with a simple small chocolate one?

@completelyjo I largely agree with you but it became a huge thing in school when they were 6/7 and we went along with it. Dh is insanely busy in December and it seemed an easy way to draw him into the family fun, when he was missing out the rest of the build up.

Why not get just a traditional picture one there's some beautiful ones

I noticed last year that the traditional picture ones were move available. DS is 16 and asks for a percy pig one. I got a jigsaw one last year. DH doesn't bother with one.

What about a 4 week candle one, so you could have the 4 pillar candles, light the first one and everyone gets a small present each candle lightening. Could be a book, a moisturiser, a screwdriver, a miniature bottle of spirits, handcream etc

My sister and I (both early 60's) still buy each other an advent calendar. We usually try and get something a bit different. There are ones with small daily challenges ie compliment someone on something they are wearing, say hello to a stranger kind of thing. One year I had one that was a packet of seeds for each day. We usually get them from independent shops or somewhere like Etsy or Not On High Street.

@Justhereforthechristmasthreads I love these but I can’t see my family being interested ☹️

@YellowphantGrey thats not dissimilar to what I did when they were small. I’ll think about that. Thanks.

@Els1e I’ll have a browse through Etsy.

Maybe look at Degusta. You could have the one for you all and share the opening. We did this last year and it was fun. It is a huge calendar

@YesItIsNovemberAndMyChristmasTreeIsUp
oh that is big!!!

I'm intrigued. Off to look.

Loads of unusual ones on ‘not on the high street’ .
Do your teens watch tik tok? They have a tik tok one on there where each day it gives you a funny tik tok video to watch.
Also there’s a selfie a day one where you take a selfie each day of December .
What about wax melt advent calendar?
There’s also a 24 days of Christmas quizzes one
You can even buy your own 24 pouches where you put a little something in each one such as a face mask or mini toiletrie

@Isittoolatea thanks, I’ll take a look

How much do you want to spend? I tend to think that Advent calendars are now completely over the top- Advent is supposed to be about waiting. But Fortnums have some lovely ones

We did this last year (with two teens) and all enjoyed it. One per day, or doubled/tripled up when we missed one. They're nothing too mentally strenuous but was a nice thing to gather together for.

https://www.hidden.games/en/product/professor-charlies-world-tour/

We love advent calendars even the adults - get one each every year from a beautiful local shop but many of them are also on here www.traditionaladventcalendars.co.uk/

I think I’ve seen an escape room one, would that appeal?

my daughter has had expensive ones the last 3 years (well, £20-30) - Gruffalo books, craft and Lego. However she was insanely jealous of her cousin’s chocolate one last year and is adamant that’s what she wants - suits me as it’ll only cost about £2!!

you can also get fill your own ones, so you could tailor to what they want; hot choc sachets, nail polish, sweets etc? A lot more work for you mind….

We have some numbered drawers that fit 4 small chocolates in (like a lindor each or similar). Then on the Sundays I add a little extra for the kids like A gets to choose a movie for us all to watch or B gets to pick what we have for pudding. As they get older the treats have changed, but they still seem to love them.

I was going to say a drawer one- could have sweets some days or a wee note with an activity on other days… but this is extra work for you I guess…