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It is a really popular tradition to have an advent calendar that you begin on December the 1st. Some think it is just for children however many adults love the opportunity for an advent calendar and a nice little surprise each morning. Traditionally it might have been the chocolate advent calendar you had, where each day you opened up a door and there was a nice little chocolate treat. But things have moved on, and there are so many other thighs you could do. Here are some of the best advent calendar ideas that are a little different.
- Advent calendar ideas for the children
- Advent calendar ideas for adults
- General advent calendar ideas that will work for anyone
Advent calendar ideas for the children
Children love an advent calendar. It is a nice and easy way for them to count down to the big day and when Father Christmas will be making a visit. But, if you want to step away from the traditional chocolate advent you might buy in the shop, here are a couple of other suggestions that you might want to try.
Toy advent calendars for Children
A great option is to consider a toy advent calendar and there are so many now to choose from. You can find that there are toy advent calendars that will suit a theme or specific TV show or characters that your child may like. Playmobil also does great advent calendars, especially a Christmas-themed one, where you can collect little things each day and build up a display that they can then play with.
Another option is a playdough advent calendar or ones specific to younger children whereas here as a parent you might not want them to have sweets or chocolates. A toy advent can be so exciting for your little ones.
Little Crafters’ Advent Calendar
Keep little fingers busy and entertained this Christmas, with a selection of cleverly crafty gifts for kids.
Released by Little Crafters Boxes, choose from a festive or vehicle-themed build-at-home advent calendar for 24 days of creative fun – perfect for those who want an eco-friendly present.
Or there are lots of crafty festive DIY decorations – from winter scenes and trees, to stockings and baubles – all of which make for wonderful keepsakes.
For more information, visit www.littlecraftersboxes.co.uk
Plus Plus Advent Calendar 2024
Retailers: Amazon
Imagine waking up to a brand-new construction adventure every morning. With the Plus-Plus Advent Calendar, each day reveals a surprise project and its accompanying instructions. From delightful ornaments to charming characters, your Christmas story takes shape piece by colourful piece!
Santa’s World 2024 calendar offers fun for each day of December. Let your little ones get creative and keep them entertained with a daily festive Christmas build. The pieces in the kids advent calendar 2024 are BPA and phthalate-free and can be easily washed in a washing machine or dishwasher, ensuring hygienic play with Plus Plus blocks.
Lego Advent Calendars 2024
Retailers: Amazon
Is there ever an age where we grow out of LEGO? I guess that is why they put age-99 on some of their boxes as everyone can’t seem to miss the opportunity to build a LEGO pack or two. This Christmas there is a wide range of different LEGO Advent Calendars available no matter which of their themes you love the most.
- LEGO 60436 City Advent Calendar
- LEGO 43253 Disney Princess Advent Calendar
- LEGO 42637 Friends Advent Calendar
- LEGO 76438 Harry Potter Advent Calendar
- LEGO 76293 Marvel Spider-Man Advent Calendar
- LEGO 75395 Star Wars Advent Calendar
A book advent calendar
Another option to think about would be a book advent calendar. There are two ways you can do this. You can buy one where there will be small books in a pocket each day ready for your little one. Or you could look at buying some Christmas books either searching in charity shops or buying them over the course of the year, and then wrapping them individually and numbering them for your little ones. It is a nice way to have some reading time with your child before bed.
The Enchanted Christmas Treasury
Retailers: Amazon
The Enchanted Christmas Treasury (aimed at readers aged five to eight) features stories of ninja nans, brave pups and fallen angels finding their way back to the top of the Christmas tree, in tales that will charm everyone. Children will be delighted by the whimsical characters, enchanted settings, and heartwarming messages contained in each of the pages.
The best part? The magic will transport children and parents alike to a world of enchantment and wonder, as they read together and create special memories lasting a lifetime.
All the proceeds raised from sales of The Enchanted Christmas Treasury will help fund the work of SENStory, a UK-wide not-for-profit Community Interest Company, helping children, young people, and families with Special Educational Needs navigate their journeys in nature through therapy, play, learning and training opportunities.
Little People, BIG DREAMS: Advent Calendar Book Collection
Retailer: Amazon
Unwrap some Christmas magic with this advent calendar of 24 mini books from the iconic Little People, BIG DREAMS series.
Inside each envelope, children will find stories about inspirational people from across the world, from groundbreaking musician Elton John and eco hero Steve Irwin, to freedom-fighter Martin Luther King and visionary artist Frida Kahlo.
Discover the incredible lives of these bold little dreamers:
Charles Dickens, Dolly Parton, Amelia Earhart, Aretha Franklin, Martin Luther King, Stephen Hawking, Jane Austen, David Bowie, Albert Einstein, Elton John, Ernest Shackleton, Malala Yousafzai, Taylor Swift, Frida Kahlo, Astrid Lindgren, Muhammad Ali, Jane Goodall, Lewis Hamilton, Neil Armstrong, Steve Irwin, Anna Pavlova, Zaha Hadid, Marie Curie, Nelson Mandela.
Disney Princess Storybook Collection Advent Calendar
Retailers: Books2Door, Amazon, The Works, eBay
Ages: 4-6 years
Count down to Christmas with all the Disney Princesses! With 24 books to unwrap this festive season, enjoy a magical tale every day in the run-up to Christmas.
Create your own with sweets and chocolate
If you still want to give your child a sweet treat, then instead of buying one, you can create your own with sweets and chocolates. You could purchase ornaments with little doors or a fabric advent calendar that you hang up and reuse each year. You can create your own with sweets and chocolates instead of buying one
VistaPrint Personalised Advent Calendar
Retailer: VistaPrint
Why not go the extra mile this year by treating someone you love to a personalised advent calendar? VistaPrint offers a range of advent calendars which can be personalised in terms of design and the sweet treats found hidden behind each door. You’ve got five different chocolate options to choose from: Lindt® LINDOR Truffles, Lindt LINDOR Mini Truffles, CELEBRATIONS™, Kinder® Chocolate Mini and our unbranded, solid milk chocolate option.
Winter Farmhouse Wooden Advent Calendar
Retailers: Lights4Fun
Why not countdown to Christmas with a farmhouse advent calendar from Lights4fun. With a warm and inviting look, the windows of this 43cm tall advent calendar are illuminated by 3 warm white LEDs for a nostalgic Christmas glow. Place a small treat behind each door as you work your way up to the big day with an extra big treat on Christmas eve. This classic decoration is hand painted in red and white making it the perfect traditional statement piece for styling anywhere in your home.
Personalised Real Santa Letter
Retailer: Real Santa Letter
Real Santa Letter is the place to get a fully personalised magical letter written and signed by Santa Claus himself and delivered via Royal Mail. Their letters are printed on high quality paper straight from Santa’s desk, delivered in an envelope from The North Pole, and addressed directly to your children, friends or family for a truly magical experience.
The Real Santa Letter has a range of gift options that make the perfect family activity leading up to Christmas, including its personalised letter, certificate and activity sheet.
Whilst this might not seem an obvious advent calendar option, it is something that will welcome children into the countdown to Christmas. Who wouldn’t want a letter from Santa??
Advent calendar ideas for adults
As adults, we don’t want to have to miss out on all the fun. So there are a few options that you might want to consider for yourself this year.
Advent Calendars for Coffee Lovers
Contact Coffee Christmas Advent Calendar
Retailer: Contact Coffee Co.
Are you looking for a speciality coffee advent calendar to start your Christmas countdown? Look no further. The Contact Coffee Christmas Advent Calendar is arguably the best coffee advent calendar this year. It boasts some of the best coffees from around the world, all individually packaged so you can enjoy a great coffee every morning.
This calendar was specially designed to sit on a coffee lovers kitchen side, with an access window at the bottom, to quickly pull out your coffee one day at a time.
Each coffee is meticulously packed in a sachet, specially designed to lock in the maximum freshness. Inside each sachet, you’ll find 18g of perfectly ground filter coffee, enough to satisfy even the most discerning coffee enthusiast with a generous and single serving.
Nespresso x Jean Imbert Original Advent Calendar
Retailers: Nespresso
The Nespresso Advent Calendar elevates every step on the magical journey towards Christmas. Behind each door lies a new taste adventure, with a daily coffee pod from the Original coffee line, including three evocative new flavours co-created with chef Jean Imbert.
The calendar is an elegant centrepiece in the festive season with a graphic foil relief depicting the Nespresso Festive Odyssey, inspired by Belmond’s art of travel, and it contains a limited-edition porcelain mug behind the 24th door to continue the journey of taste long after the festive season has ended.
Nespresso x Jean Imbert Vertuo Advent Calendar
Retailers: Nespresso
The Nespresso Advent Calendar elevates every step on the magical journey towards Christmas. Behind each door lies a new taste adventure, with a daily coffee pod from the Vertuo coffee line, including three evocative new flavours co-created with chef Jean Imbert.
The calendar is an elegant centrepiece in the festive season with a graphic foil relief depicting the Nespresso Festive Odyssey, inspired by Belmond’s art of travel, and it contains a limited-edition porcelain mug behind the 24th door to continue the journey of taste long after the festive season has ended.
A beauty calendar
One advent calendar that has massively grown in popularity recently is a beauty calendar. There are some incredible ones that have over £500 worth of products in them, and companies like Liberty London and The White Company are always hugely popular. You can get more budget-friendly ones such as the Cath Kidston Beauty Advent Calendar that still work out worthwhile, ones specific to skincare or makeup. The options are endless and you are bound to find a beauty calendar that you will love.
NIVEA Advent Calendar 2024
Retailers: Amazon
Countdown in style this year with the NIVEA Advent Calendar, and you’ll discover 19 NIVEA favourites and five beauty accessories that you or a loved one won’t want to miss. Each day, they will open the door to a new surprise. Will they reveal a lip balm first? Unwrap a body lotion? You’ll be just as invested in what they receive as they open the door daily.
NIVEA Men Advent Calendar 2024
Retailers: Amazon
Unlock a grooming surprise everyday. What’s behind this advent calendar? 24 day of festive NIVEA MEN fun! Get excited this Christmas with the NIVEA MEN Advent Calendar, packed with 24 surprises that make it the perfect gift for yourself or someone special.
The ultimate collection of NIVEA MEN favourites and handy grooming tools to keep your skin and body in top condition throughout the festive season. Will they reveal a moisturiser first? Unwrap a post-shave balm? Watch them open the doors to find out!
Talking Tables Holly Advent Pillar Candle
Enjoy the Christmas countdown with this statement pillar advent candle by Talking Tables. A pretty and purposeful table decoration, this advent calendar candle has the dates 1st-24th December printed with a traditional holly leaf pattern.
Place it in the centre of a Christmas wreath as a table centrepiece or on a mantelpiece, and light it each morning or evening in the lead-up to Christmas Day.
A boozy advent calendar
Many people love an alcoholic beverage at Christmas, and now you can get advent calendars dedicated to your favourite drinks. There are wine advents, prosecco, and even gin advent calendars that you could have – or how about a Dead Man’s Fingers Rum Advent Calendar? This is a lovely way to build up a little collection to enjoy over the Christmas period.
General advent calendar ideas that will work for anyone
Lastly, there are other advent calendars that could work well for children, adults, or as a family advent. Here are some of the suggestions that you might want to try.
A random acts of kindness calendar
If you have your own advent then instead of filling it with chocolate you could fill it with random acts of kindness suggestions. It might be things like donating to a food bank or litter picking. Search online for some ideas to fill yours.
A reverse advent calendar
A reverse advent calendar is usually done in November, but you could do it in December if you wanted. Each day instead of taking something you put something into a box such as a food staple or toiletries. You can then donate your box of goodies at the end of the month to your local homeless shelter or food bank.
Advent Calendar Jigsaw Puzzle
Whilst you might be mistaken in thinking that completing jigsaw puzzles is something that is relegated to young children or at your grandparent’s house, they can, in fact, be really good fun. Count down the days to Christmas by completing a fun and engaging ‘Stand-up’ character Christmas jigsaw puzzle. Make the age-old ritual of the advent calendar part of your loved ones’ cherished memories with this charming wooden keepsake.
Retailers: Wentworth Puzzles – Check out their Christmas Jigsaw Puzzles collection.
Don’t dismiss a chocolate advent calendar
One of the benefits of the countdown to Christmas has to be the opportunity to munch on a piece of your favourite chocolate each morning! There is a wide range of chocolate advent calendars available, with some available for selected diets too – easily picked up from your local supermarket or high street retailer and cost anything from around £1 to £10+ depending on what type of chocolate advent calendar that you go for.
Hopefully, this has given you plenty of ideas for advent calendars this year.
Be sure to check out our other Christmas Gift Guides!
