Advent calendars for 9 and 12 yo

[musicalfrog]

I'm v low on inspiration please help! Boy and girl options pls x

Mine have the Cadbury ones

I share your problem for the 12 year old at least. My 12 year y/o DS is probably going to end up with the lego Hogwarts which is usually a good choice but then he gets it every year and I was hoping to find something a bit different this year. We also usually have a homemade chocolate one (wooden one we've used for years that I stick random sweets in).

mine want percy pig

Just go with bog-standard chocolate ones, Cadburys or whoever.

Don't get drawn into spending £££ every year, it's ridiculous.

I got a proper old-school one for myself last year with pictures behind the doors, and both DSs (13 and 15) LOVED it. They found the random pics of e.g. a bell or candy cane really amusing. They have both asked for one this year!

Dd went for a charm bracelet one from amazon & ds a Highland cow (!) One.... random

I’m one of the mugs who has been sucked into spending a lot on advent calendars 😩

DD12 will be getting the Boots beauty one, but last year (pre secondary school and growing up lots) had the most beautiful Harry Potter calendar. DS10 will be getting the build a remote control car one from Menkind. Last year he had a ginormous Candy Kittens one; I don’t think they’re doing it this year though. The calendar itself was as big as a dolls house. I think it will go down in family legend 😂

What are they interested in? You can get advent calendars for most things - sweets, pork scratchings, harry potter, stationery, pokemon, dnd, jewellery, popcorn, mashed potato!

Otherwise - chocolate is classic for a reason! And even there you can be personal to them with whatever their favourite chocolate is

Boy and girl options? What does that even mean? Pink and blue or some such shit?

Just go to a supermarket and pick up a couple of chocolate ones…🙄

Well I've got one of each so that's kind of what I mean. Lol

We used to do this and I loved it! They got bored after a few years and want something more substantial now 😄

Mashed potato?? 😄 This is exactly why I made the thread, I would never have considered this as an option. Inspirational, thank you 🙏

My daughter is 10 and chose a Chupa Chups one from Lidl if that's any use. Though she can think again if she thinks she's having lollies for breakfast all of December 😅

We usually go for Lindt chocolate ones in my house, but I just saw a Lynx one which my 12yr old boy would probably love. I don’t like the hype around advent calendars but this one seems reasonably priced for what you get, practical and will get used!

This Build a Bear one is cute too - good 9yr old option?

www.buildabear.co.uk/2024-advent-calendar---25-pieces-included/432850.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21832944383&gbraid=0AAAAADwNIvzDNR85PRd_qNGuVnnMksUM7&gclid=CjwKCAiA2svIBhB-EiwARWDPjgm3a3JKuqKNefNwKek_z6cekIxmjMswVkgjZ56j6v9o_jf5H0tYtRoCrlIQAvD_BwE

I found the Lego ones went over well at that age.

A fossil and gemstone advent calender was popular with my dc.

This year we've got one with tiny figures of Totoro in, so there are calendars for most interests!

I have a reusable one with tiny drawers. It's a challenge to find things small enough but polished stones and seashells have been hits before and this year I have painted beads. This was supposed to be to save money on expensive advent calendars but never ends up being that cheap. I think chocolates or haribo should be fine really

How about these unique Lego ones?! I love that they’re pretty as well! www.builduptochristmas.com

Thank you all for your suggestions. During my search I found one called a cold case calendar where you get daily clues drip fed to solve a crime. Not for the kids but I was sorely tempted for myself! I can't wait till they are older and I can spend a bit more money on myself. The advent calendar market these days is mad!

Where do people put all the stuff that comes in these?! Dozens of tiny things. I’ve only ever done chocolate and we have a wooden one with little drawers in which I put a joke a day (Xmas themed!)

Aww I love getting my 2 a fun advent calendar and just consider it one of their presents. One has popcorn this year and the other has candy kittens. We've done Lego ones in the past and I've made my own with make up bits, erasers and other little bits. DD had a Playmobil one year before last that went down well. I've also done a jigsaw one (a wasgij) that I made up and spilt into 24 boxes, that went down really well and was so much fun. But it's a lot of work to make up the jigsaw before hand in secret. Wasgij are doing their own advent calendar this year, although it's pricy.