Best Advent Calendars for Kids in 2020

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It’s November, and like many parents across the UK; we are all wondering what Christmas 2020 is going to look like, especially given the latest announcement. For many of us, although Christmas is going to feel quite different to years gone by, we are still exploring ways we can make Christmas feel special, getting the children to write their Christmas lists, checking out what are the must have toys for 2020 and wondering where the hell you’re going to put the Christmas tree amongst all the home schooling and printed paper that has amounted in your living room.

Advent calendars are a really fun way to build up some of the anticipation and excitement on the run up to Christmas; and quite a change from the Advent Calendars of the 80’s where we were chuffed to bits with a paper scene behind a window, there are now HUNDREDS of fun advent calendars for kids; so many in fact that at times it can be impossible to know where to start!

Here’s our round up of some of the best Advent Calendars for children in 2020.

Book Themed Advent Calendars

Marvel / Frozen Storybook Collection

These story book advent collections are a great option for those looking for a more eco friendly advent calendar, or one that doesn’t revolve around even more toys (as lets face it, the kids get plenty of those on the big day itself). The Marvel Storybook collection has a Marvel themed action packed story to read at bedtime every day for 24 days. Each book is individually wrapped in a festive envelope for them to peel open and reveal that days theme. With all their favourite characters from Spider Man, Iron Man and Captain America this is a lovely change from the norm this advent. The Frozen version is exactly the same only with lots of stories from Anna, Elsa, Olaf and friends.

The Marvel and Frozen Storybook Collection Advent calendars retails at £12 and are available at The Works here.

Disney Storybook Advent Collection 

Similar to the above ranges, this book collection includes stories from much loved Disney and Disney pixar classics including Woody, Belle, Olaf and of course Mickey Mouse!

The Disney Storybook Advent Collection retails at £12 from Amazon here.

Mr Men Advent Calendar

I am a huge Mr Men fan, and feel that these classic books from Roger Hargreaves are a childhood right of passage! Join your favourite Mr Men and Little Miss this Christmas for some festive fun and fairytales with this fantastic advent calendar featuring 24 individual stories – something they can enjoy on the run up to the festive period and beyond!

The Mr Men Advent calendar retails at £14.24 (most random price ever) and is available at Amazon here.

Colouring In Advent

With 24 Christmas pages to colour, this is the must-have companion to celebrating Christmas this year. This is somethig a little different and can create some calm and tranquility for otherwise very hyper children!

This one is very reasonably priced at just £3 at The Works here

Create Your Own Book Advent

If you don’t fancy one of the above but fancy the idea of a Book Advent, why not create your own, with a new book to open each day wrapped in festive paper? Check out my Christmas Book Advent posts for lots of festive ideas, new Christmas Books for 2020 or purchase the £10 festive themed book packs at The Works here, which works out at just £1 a book. The best part of a book advent is that the books can be pulled out every December and enjoyed over and over again on the run up to Christmas.

Festive Themed Treats

Haribo Advent Calendar

A budget item for those who get bored of the traditional chocolate advent calendar or have more of a sweet tooth – The Haribo Advent Calendar comes with 24 mini bags including themed and seasonal mini bags! Look out for Santa’s boot, a red hatted reindeer and gold star topped Christmas tree hiding behind these doors!

The Haribo Advent Calendar retails at £5 and is available to purchase here.

Stationery Advent Calendars

Tinc Stationery and Gadgets Advent Calendar

I absolutely LOVE the TINC stationery and gadgets advent calendar which I was kindly gifted for my unboxing video below. I love it for a few reasons – not only is the contents inside really fun (watch the video if you want spoilers), but there is a really practical gift for Day 25 that my daughter will absolutely love. The presentation of the advent calendar is really lovely too, with 25 re-useable boxes in a bright and colourful design. I love the fact that the Tinc Stationery Advent Calendar is made from cardboard and can be refilled year on year with new contents once you’ve removed the contents in 2020.

As you open the boxes you can also turn them over to create a fun Christmas scene to colour in.

The Tinc gifts, gadgets and stationery advent calendar retails at £ and is available to buy at Amazon here.

Smiggle Stationery Advent Calendar 

I am a big big Smiggle fan, and loved their advent calendar last year. This years is quite heavy on the Smiggle branding, but contains lots of goodies that my girls will love, from pens and highlighters to some fun and playful accessories and gifts. If you want to see what’s inside, check out my unboxing video below, but be warned – this is a clear spoiler alert!

The Smiggle Advent calendar is currently on offer at Smiggle.com – 1 for £20 or two for £35. Ideal if you have siblings.

Toy Themed Advent Calendars

Paperchase Sugar Plum Fairy Advent Calendar

Spreading a little Chritmassy joy everyday, the Paperchase Sugar Plum Fairy advent calendar opens up to reveal a gorgeous double sided calendar with a surprise behind each door. Expect to find hair accessories, pens & pencils, sticky notes, erasers and so much more. The countdown to Christmas has never felt so fun. Very cute and ideal for mini dance fans!

The Sugar Plum Fair Advent Calendar is currently on offer with 30% off making it just £19.60. Get yours here.

LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar

The LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar is a best seller this Christmas already, and its easy to see why! The LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar features 6 Star Wars mini figures, 12 mini builds and a code to Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga game content. The mini figure characters include Poe Dameron, Darth Vader (randomly wearing a Christmas sweater), a Tauntaun with a red nose like Rudolph, Luke Skywalker, Gonk Droid snowman and more! The mini builds include some of Star Wars most iconic starships including the Millennium Falcon, an A-wing, TIE Fighter, X-wing, and Anakin’s Podracer.

The set also includes a fold out playmat with a festive Millennium Falcon image to allow kids to create a mini LEGO scene as they add each day through December.

You can pick up your LEGO Star Wars advent calendar (whilst stocks last) for £25 here. Currently in stock from 7th November.

Cry Babies Advent Calendar

Something a bit different for this year, that my two girls will LOVE is the super cute Cry Babies Advent Calendar, with a super cute cry babies doll and accessories hiding behind these (somewhat tricky to open if reviews are to be believed) doors. The set also opens up to create a little playscene that will keep them entertained for hours!

The Cry Babies Advent calendar retails at £24.99 and you can pick yours up at Amazon here.

Harry Potter Advent Calendar

OH EM GEE the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Advent Calendar looks blimmin well awesome – and a great way to treat your wannabe wizard or witch! The Hogwarts Express Advent is ideal for older children or tweens as is packed full of beauty and pampering goodies. It retails at £40 and is available from Boots here.

LEGO Friends Advent Calendar

My two daughters are LEGO Friends obsessed, not only watching the show but also loving to collect and create the playsets. This years LEGO Friends Advent Calendar comes with LEGO Friends Emma, Mrs Claus and 2 elf mini-doll figures, a buildable toy penguin and a host of other lovely festive treats to build on the run up to Christmas.

Children can create a fun play scene using the packaging and launch showballs with the fun catapault!

The LEGO Friends Advent Calendar retails at £19.99 and is available at Amazon here.

Playmobil Advent Calendar

You can’t beat Playmobil at Christmas and this year they have released some fantastic festive playsets including the Fun for Christmas: Playmobil Advent Calendar “Christmas in the Toy Shop” with loads of Christmas figures and accessories behind each door.

This particular set includes 4 Playmobil Figures including Santa Claus and a snowman as well as lots of accessories to create a magical festive world!

Get yours for £21.99 here.

LOL Outfit of the Day Advent Calendar

Enjoy 25 different surprises with the LOL Surprise! Advent Calendar. This set includes an exclusive LOL Surprise doll, Tricksta B.B who is ready to look fierce with all the mix and match fashion styles from this set. Tricksta B.B is bold and serious when it comes to fashion, she is solving the riddle of looking fierce!

Countdown to the excitement from number 1 to 25 with this LOL Surprise advent calendar which includes a new and exciting 3-tier packing. As you unbox the 24 fabulous fashion pieces you will find fabulous dresses, glamorous accessories, and cute shoes that you can mix and match to make Tricksta B.B stand out on any runway.

The LOL Outfit of the Day Advent Calendar retails at £29.99 and is available at The Entertainer here.

Peppa Pig Advent Calendar

A great advent option for Peppa fans (with the added bonus of being able to fully furnish any Peppa themed gifts you may have purchased for the big days itself) The Peppa Pig has a surprise toy / character behind each door. There are 24 pieces to collect in total including Peppa, George and their friends, and even Santa as well as lots of f Christmas accessories, including a Christmas Tree!

Retails at £25 and is available to buy at Boots here.

Make your Own Advent Kits

If you prefer your advent calendars a little less commercial, then how about this Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar Kit? With everything you need to make 25 adorable envelopes filled with a daily act of kindness to complete with you family, this advent is not only more sustainable and less commercial, but can help spread some cheer at a time when it’s needed the most!

Our full review is over on the blog now – and you can enter for your chance to win your own! Head to the giveaway now!

Whatever your advent looks like with the kids this year, Please try and make the most of what we can do. If you cant afford to buy an advent calendar this year, why not think of some fun crafts you can do at home every day on the run up to Christmas, or download our FREE Santa Beard Advent calendar (coming soon!) for a super cheap alternative.

Have a good December and in the meantime – stay safe

 

Lucy xxx