Boys 9-11 advent calendar ideas

[anonymousblobfish]

We have always done fill your own advent calendars, which have worked well whilst my DS have been into hot wheels cars, pokemon cards etc.

This year feels trickier, they’re both footy mad but don’t collect the cards, play various games in Roblox (grow a garden, steal a brain rot, 99 nights in the forest). Both also play other sports but nothing that is inspiring me.

Should I just end the trend and go chocolate calendars? Or any other ideas very much welcomed!!!

Could you still do the fill your own advent but with slightly nicer chocolate/sweets like all their favourites.

If you wanted them to still have a 'gift' in there maybe a £5 robux gift card or 2! The sweets plus the gift card would probably be about what you usually spend on cars or pokemon cards etc

What about an exit calendar to do together? It's an escape room themed one, think they're probably a great age for it (you can help too). Cheap chocolate one each and the exit to share maybe?

Go to chocolate.

Lego minifigures?

Go chocolate. Advent calendars end up costing a small fortune.

I've started putting in fancy sweets from the American candy store, small toiletries like hair gel, deodorant, shower gel, gift voucher, tickets to a Christmas event, hot chocolate set, bits and pieces from shops like Flying Tiger, elastic bands, magnets. But ot is expensive and a lot of work to wrap them all!

How about a lego one from Build up to Christmas? They do packs that you can put in your own calendar Build up to Christmas. Or the Taskmaster one looks fun.

I had to change tack with mine as I couldn't fit 2 things into the drawers so now I put a scroll of paper in each that has a silly riddle (I reuse each year, not smart enough to think up that many) and then i hide the 2 things which then can be bigger in silly places. The boys like finding the things, even the 14 yo although he pretends he doesn't.

End the trend and go chocolate! Advert calendars are an expensive nightmare once they’re teens!

Some great ideas thanks! I’m torn between plain chocolate, or ones with sweets they like & little gifts at the weekend (robux etc)

Also really like the escape room idea!!