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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Tania Leslau

Best advent calendars for creative kids

Christmas shopping has infiltrated our every thought.

Expert browsing requires thought, precision and time. The same applies to sourcing the perfect advent calendar for your child. The classic supermarket buys of the Lindt and Cadbury nature are all well and good for little ones with sweet tooths, but there are more creative calendars which will appeal to kids with an artistic flair.

Your child can take on the role of fashion designer, narrator or even gemologist with their advent calendar this year. Not only will an alternative advent calendar keep youngsters preoccupied during the hectic Christmas build-up, but it may just unearth a passion they didn’t know existed. Better build that CV up early, right?

Even for adults, there’s still something quasi-magical about opening a tiny door for 24 consecutive days and not knowing what’s behind it. These advent calendars for Christmas 2023 encourage parents and children to indulge together in the total joy of these seasonal countdowns and exercise their creativity and imagination together.

From dollhouse surprises to dinosaur crafts, there’s an eclectic range of themes to choose from. Brands including John Lewis and Not On The High Street even offer DIY calendars with empty pockets, meaning parents can add in their own treats for their kids to uncover each day.

However, if you’re a busy parent who needs to channel energy into more pressing Christmas feats (e.g. food, guestlists, navigating inevitable tricky family politics), we totally get it. This is where the likes of Barbie, Mr Men and Harry Potter step in. Your little ‘uns can get lost in the worlds of their favourite characters, giving you time to crack on with that all-too-familiar festive flurry.

So, with that said, have a browse at the best advent calendars for kids with creative zest this season and get ahead of the Christmas shopping game.

Lisa Angel Fill Your Own Toy Shop Advent Calendar

Save money and shop sustainably with Lisa Angel’s gorgeous toy shop advent calendar. The pretty pastel piece, which can be used for years to come, features 24 drawers inside which can be filled with goodies galore.

One for parents who want to exercise their creative skills, the magical calendar is hard to resist with its watercolour illustration that will blend seamlessly into your home interior. The calendar fastens securely with a magnetised edge and is built from sturdy cardboard for extra longevity.

Buy now £30.00, Not On The High Street

Barbie Advent Calendar with Barbie Doll

In keeping with Barbie mania, we present to you, the Barbie advent calendar. Mark 24 days of Christmas cheer with everyone’s favourite doll. Behind each door sits a surprise fashion gift spanning cute clothing items or trendy accessories. The box was designed for children between the ages of 3 and 7 who want to celebrate the season in style.

Buy now £34.98, eBay

Crystal Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar

Introduce youngsters to the fascinating world of gems with this seasonal surprise. Housing crystals sourced from across the globe, this unexpected advent calendar offers a dazzling assortment of rocks to be used for DIY jewellery or safe-keeping. A set of 24 gem-themed gift boxes will keep kids preoccupied for hours.

Buy now £12.98, Amazon

John Lewis Wool Couture Advent for Life Crochet Kit

Granted, it’s not the cheapest option, but John Lewis’ adorable wool advent calendar is one you’ll cherish forever. With punchy pigments of raspberry pink, mustard yellow and fern green, this crocheted creation can be made by an adult at home and gifted to a child for a lifetime of advent surprises.

Buy now £69.99, John Lewis

Mr Men and Little Miss Advent Calendar

Storytime has never been so fun with this Mr Men and Little Miss advent calendar. The festive gift invites children to join their favourite Mr Men characters for Christmas with 24 individual stories. A new special storybook is uncovered every day, providing the perfect present for little ones with creative minds.

Buy now £12.99, Amazon

Etsy Colouring Advent Calendar

An undeniably wholesome choice, Etsy’s colouring advent calendar is an affordable yet playful pick. Children are presented with 24 suitably seasonal pictures to colour in, which you can then hang using string for adorable homemade decorations.

The designs are printed onto matte, heavy-weight cards which can be enhanced with pencils or crayons. The advent set includes 24 x A6 Christmas cards, 24 x mini pegs in a Christmas red organza bag, 3 metres of Christmas string and six colouring pencils.

Buy now £10.00, Etsy

Playmobil Mermaid Advent Calendar

How can you not be tempted by this mer-mazing buy? Playmobil’s Mermaid Advent Calendar, designed for children aged three plus, comes complete with three mermaid figurines, two seahorses, a sea carriage and so much more. For the most thrilling of bathtimes, the fantastical box hides a plethora of sea-themed goodies behind 24 doors for a magical spin on traditional advent calendars.

Buy now £29.99, Amazon

Argos Harry Potter Potions Cabinet Advent Calendar

Potterheads rejoice! This incredible potions-lined advent calendar promises to transport your little ones to potions with Professor Snape in the most special of Christmas experiences. Gifts are concealed in secret drawers, test tubes and potion bottles which can be locked with a special key. Jewellery, stationery and even hair accessories lie in wait to be uncovered.

Buy now £79.99, Argos

LEGO City Advent Calendar 2023 with 24 Christmas Gifts

Get your building gloves on with LEGO’s advent calendar for kids. It is packed with festive characters, toy mini-builds and a playmat for youngsters to enjoy for hours, meaning parents can crack on with festive planning.

Buy now £16.00, Argos

White Company Snowy Advent Calendar

How utterly adorable is this advent calendar? Not only is it silky soft to touch but The White Company’s Snowy calendar can be filled with hidden treasures to unwrap each day of the Christmas countdown. Great creative with it and let Snowy take pride of place using the hanging loop provided.

Buy now £42.00, White Company

Fidget Toys Advent Calendar

Is sitting still impossible for your child? We present to you, a fidget toy advent calendar. Designed to keep busy brains occupied for hours, this advent calendar is brimming with attention-grabbing toys to engage young ones.

Buy now £19.99, Amazon

Personalised Charm Bracelet Advent Calendar

Introduce them to the wonderful world of jewellery. Creative minds will find delight in this gorgeous charm bracelet advent calendar, which allows users to craft their own pieces to wear. Each box contains a charm a day during the countdown to Christmas and also comes with a glitter-clad jewellery box which can be personalised.

Buy now £33.00, Etsy

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