When it comes to Christmas, nothing is more exciting as a child than slowly peeling back the cardboard folds of an advent calendar to countdown the days until Santa’s arrival.
Well, except for the day itself, of course!
And these days, there is so much variety on the market when it comes to buying advent calendars. Chocolates or chewy sweets, shop bought or homemade – where do you start when it comes to picking one?
That’s where you can do something a little differently this year.
If you want something the kids can keep and play with again and again, or would prefer not to give your children chocolate every day in December, why not take a look at some of these epic advent calendars? They follow the same rules as the traditional sweet-filled ones, only behind each door is a toy!
Whether your children are Lego lovers or stuck on stationery, and with costs to suit every budget, there is a very special toy advent calendar for every child.
The best toy advent calendars for children in 2016
Play-Doh Advent Calendar
This is a fantastic option for the little tots who love to get creative with Play Doh. The set includes five pots of the colourful doh and behind each door is an array of festive cutters and shapes. The kids will love it!
Despicable Me Minions Movie Advent Calendar
Everyone’s favourite little troublemakers now come in advent calendar form! If your children would love a countdown accompanied by the cheeky bespectacled minions from the Despicable Me movies, then this is the one for them. Collect a new minion or accessory daily!
LEGO City Advent Calendar
Lego has seen a resurgence in popularity over the last few years thanks to the brilliant movies, so why not treat your kids to a fun Lego advent calendar? It comes with mini-cars that have a remote-control element, town clocks, gifts, and a train with a wagon.
LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar
This is the ultimate advent calendar for Star Wars fans! Not ony does it include eight minifigures, your little ones will also get a range of vehicles to play with. A great way to countdown to Christmas and build a galaxy far, far away …
Thomas & Friends Minis Advent Calendar
Smaller children need not miss out on all the toy advent calendar fun – this Thomas & Friends themed countdown includes child-friendly trains that will keep them entertained all the way through December until Christmas day.
Barbie Advent Calendar
Anyone with Barbie fanatic children will be delighted to know that the iconic blonde doll has her very own toy calendar. Each compartment comprises of various fashion items and accessories for your little one’s dolls, meaning that by Christmas day they’ll have a pretty packed wardrobe for the Barbies that are undoubtedly sitting under the tree!
Unicorn Fairyland Advent Calendar
The Unicorn Fairyland calendar lets your child build a truly unique and magical land with the gifts behind each door. The set also comes with a jewellery box and a ring – perfect for any child who wants a truly sparkling countdown!
WOW Toys Special Countdown Calendar
For a less expensive toy advent calendar, WOW have this very reasonably priced option. This 10-day countdown includes robots, aliens and spinning tops, and you can even personalise it with your child’s name and photograph.
Smiggle Stationery Advent Calendar
For an advent calendar that offers gifts you can use time and time again, take a look at this option – ideal for children to love to create. It contains pens, erasers and more – plus, yours might contain a £250 gift voucher for Smiggle. Make sure the kids pass that on to you if they find one!
Ferror Kinder Chocolate Advent Calendar
If you really can’t imagine a Christmas countdown without the chocolate, then invest in a Ferrero Kinder calendar. With a mix of Kinder surprises, it’s the ultimate sweet treat children’s advent calendar!
CEWE Personalised Advent Calendar
If you want your child to have a personalised advent calendar, then we've got you covered. CEWE have calendars that are perfect for all ages! They allow you to choose your own cover design with Kinder treats behind every door or you can have your own pictures behind each window in a photo advent calendar. Either way we're sure your child will be excited to eat their chocolate every morning!
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