Delight Your Little Ones With the Best Children’s Advent Calendars

Finding Your Next Children’s Advent Calendar: A Buyer's Guide

Choosing an Advent calendar for kids can be a tough task. Especially when you want to skip over the ever-popular candy-based ones. We already presented you with some brilliant choices above, but if you are still unsure, here is a buyer’s guide to help you make the right choice. 

Factors To Consider in a Children’s Advent Calendar 

Since Advent calendars carry an underlying spiritual message of anticipation and hope, you cannot randomly choose one for your children. Let’s go over some important factors that you should consider before making a purchase. 

Theme

The first thing that you should consider in any children’s Advent calendar is its theme. The tradition may have started off as paper calendars filled with chocolate, but the calendars have now evolved into trendy displays that fit today’s modern decor. The original Advent calendar was a simple cardboard model filled with candies. These days, families mostly opt for tiny toys and mini gifts over sweets. Though that doesn’t mean that the candy Advent calendars are gone. You can choose to purchase one of those if you like. This brings us back to the original factor. If you don’t want your little one to suffer from sugar rush, there are endless options to choose from. Plus, the trendier options are actually centered around various themes such as Disney princesses, Lego, Funko Pocket Pop!, and more. 

You should consider your child’s age and interests, and be sure to choose an option that will excite them. This is important because, in order to appreciate their actual gift, they have to grasp the concept of hope, anticipation, and thankfulness. That will only happen when they stay consistent in revealing their Advent calendar gifts. So choose what they like and appreciate, otherwise, they will quickly lose interest. 

Type 

Children’s Advent calendars are sold in disposable and reusable options. Families with older kids usually choose disposable ones because they are slowly edging out of the tradition. Plus, as children age, their interests and needs keep changing. You can support them with the right children’s Advent calendar. Rather than presenting them with candies, you should closely monitor their interests, and choose a specific disposable calendar that your older kid will enjoy that year. 

On the other hand, if your kids are still small, you can easily get away with a reusable model that you can refill with prizes and use year after year. These children’s Advent calendars are usually made with plastic, fabric, or wood. All you have to do is fill them with new prizes every year to keep the excitement going until your children grow older. We even came across some good-quality reusable Advent calendars that have been passed down the generations and have become family keepsakes. 

Age 

When you are choosing a children’s Advent calendar, be sure to keep their age in mind. Especially when you decide to buy a toy Advent calendar. Each of these comes with a manufacturer’s recommended age that you shouldn’t forget to check.  

Number of days 

A traditional children’s Advent calendar has 25 days starting from the beginning of December counting down to Christmas day. These days you can also find options that start ten to twelve days before Advent. 

What you choose depends upon how consistent your little one is. If their attention span is shorter, it will be difficult to keep them engaged. So it’s better to choose a shorter calendar. On the other hand, if they are completely into the tradition, a full 25 days calendar would be a good idea. 

Contents 

Another important consideration in a children’s Advent calendar is its content. You wouldn’t want your little one to end up with inappropriate prizes that they won’t cherish at all. If you want your kiddo to enjoy their gift the fullest, make sure to choose a calendar according to their interests. For example, if your little girl loves Disney princesses, getting them a LEGO Advent calendar won’t work in your favor. Choose an option that is themed around her favorite characters. 

Price 

Since a children’s Advent calendar is an extra gift for your young one, be sure to factor it into your gift budget. Like most toys and gifts, Advent calendars also come at different price points. You can choose a less expensive option if you don’t want to stretch your budget. You can get a more expensive one if your budget allows it. Just remember that a children’s Advent calendar brings with it 24 small toys, so it is completely justified if it carries a higher price tag. Plus, your little one will continue to enjoy the prizes even after the holidays, so it may be worth it to splurge on an option your child will love.

What Can You Put Inside a Children’s Advent Calendar

If you decide to forgo a ready-made children’s Advent calendar, you’ll need some exciting gifts to fill it with as well. Filling one for your kid is very easy as long as you know what they like. Here are some great prizes and stocking stuffer ideas to fill your child’s Advent calendar with.

Toys and games 

Toys and games are of course a first gift idea for a children’s Advent calendar. There is no shortage of fun and inexpensive gifts that you can use to put inside it. You can easily buy them from dollar stores or ones that sell party supplies. Most of these toys are not long-lasting, but sometimes you hit the jackpot. Small toys like bouncy balls, puzzles, LEGO blocks, balloons, mini beach balls, game cards, jump ropes, and playdough are something kids of all ages enjoy. 

Crafting materials 

Crafting is a good way to let your kids explore their creative side. You can stuff their children’s Advent calendar with crafting goodies such as crayons, watercolors, paintbrushes, acrylic paints, ribbon, fun erasers, stickers, holiday pencils, and many more. 

Things to wear 

Girls love jewelry. You can fill your children’s Advent calendar with accessories like rings, necklaces, hair clips, bracelets, earrings, and more. Things like scarves, socks, leg warmers, bike gloves, caps, and belts work for both boys and girls. 

Things to eat or drink 

Kids love fun treats. Why not fill their Advent calendar with some exciting edible gifts? You can use cookies, chocolates, juice packets, hot chocolate packets, marshmallows, chips, pretzels, popcorn, and candy canes. 

Money 

The easiest children’s Advent calendar stuffer is the money of course. The older your kids, the more they will appreciate finding money in their Advent calendar. Roll up and tie dollar bills with ribbon or paper clips, get some coins, or insert some gift cards to make your kids happy.