For as joyful as Christmas morning can be—with bow-bedecked packages spilling from beneath the tree, each one promising something new and exciting—for kids, the days and weeks leading up to the big day might be even better. Especially when they can count them down with an advent calendar. And especially when said advent calendar is a trove of tiny treasures. (It’s like a stocking stuffer warm up!)

When it comes to kids’ advent calendars, there are two ways to go. Either you’re a traditionalist who prefers to pick out all the treats and DIY or you prefer to go the already packed and ready route. For the former, there are countless reusable advent calendars out there that can easily become an instant family heirloom. From felted wall hangings you can personalize with your last name to sturdy wooden chests with tiny drawers for treats, there’s a version for every kind of decor aesthetic.

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For the latter, there’s an endless supply of kids’ advent calendars that appeal to basically every interest. Popular toy brands like LEGO and Playmobil offer annual favorites that never fail to fly off the shelves. There are calendars filled with chocolates and tiny story books and even charm necklaces to build throughout the month. Truth be told, the hardest part is choosing only one.

We’ve rounded up some of our favorites in both categories to make it just a tiny bit easier. But be warned! Some of the most popular ones sell out pretty quickly, so don’t wait to snap them up.

This holiday season, make your little ones’ eyes light up brighter than a Christmas tree with one of these advent calendars for kids.

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of our holiday gift guides!

Advent calendars for kids

Playmobil Trip to the Christmas Market Advent Calendar Motherly

Playmobil

Trip to the Christmas Market Advent Calendar

$29.99

Nothing captures the feeling of the holiday quite like a Christmas market. The festive Trip to the Christmas Market Advent Calendar from Playmobil does an awesome job of capturing that spirit. Each piece works together to bring a charming market scene to life—just in time for Christmas Eve! It’s classic Playmobil which means the scene will be part of your family traditions for years to come, so long as the pieces don’t get lost. There are 84 of them and some are pretty tiny, so we recommend waiting until around age six for this one.

Playmobil Junior Snowy Chrismas Advent Calendar

Playmobil Junior

Snowy Chrismas Advent Calendar

$34.99

For the youngest Playmobil lovers, we’re smitten with the Snowy Chrismas Advent Calendar from their Junior collection. It’s packed with the sweetest forest animals, a reindeer airplane and Santa of course! The 26 piece set can easily slip into their growing collection when Christmas is over.

Fat Brain Toys Hey Clay Advent Calendar

Fat Brain Toys

Hey Clay Advent Calendar

$29.95

A chocolate coin is gone in two seconds, but the creative Hey Clay Advent Calendar is a calendar that keeps on giving. Each day offers a super adorable clay animal project, complete with QR code to scan and an easy-to-follow video tutorial. Once they’re finished, just add the hook and string. When it’s dry, hang it on the tree!

Build-A-Bear Merry Mission Advent Calendar

Build-A-Bear

Merry Mission Advent Calendar

$49.95

Stuffie-obsessed kiddos will adore the collection of warm fuzzies tucked into Build-A-Bear’s Merry Mission Advent Calendar. In addition to six mini plush pals, it contains 19 pieces of clothing and accessory to dress them up in!

KiwiCo Christmas Village Advent Calendar

KiwiCo

Christmas Village Advent Calendar

$49.95

From KiwiCo, makers of brain-boosting hands-on STEAM kits for kids of all ages, this fun calendar lets kiddos build their own Christmas Village throughout the month. Inside each of the 24 envelopes they’ll find supplies and instructions for crafting everything from a reindeer and sled to the town hall with a roof that opens and closes. It can be enjoyed by kids of various ages, but the sweet spot is the 5-7 age group.

KiwiCo Motorized Christmas Train Advent Calendar

KiwiCo

Motorized Christmas Train Advent Calendar

$99.95

Another one from KiwiCo because it’s too hard to pick! The Motorized Christmas Train Advent Calendar is new this year, packing in 12 days of holiday-themed STEM learning. The super engaging calendar results in a motorized locomotive with two passenger and two cargo cars along with plenty of track for it to cruise below the tree for years to come.

Kids Crafts Countdown to Christmas Felt Craft Kit Advent Calendar

Kids Crafts

DIY Ornament Advent Calendar

$44.99

Crafty kiddos (and their parents!) will delight in this DIY calendar filled with a new felt-sticker ornament to assemble each day. The best part is, no sewing necessary! We love that the ornaments can then be used year after year or put on their own tiny tree one day at time.

Lindt Holiday Teddy Bear Advent Calendar

Lindt

Holiday Teddy Bear Advent Calendar

$20

If you’re going to indulge them in a piece of chocolate everyday, it may as well be the good stuff. Lindt’s Teddy Bear Advent Calendar is an annual hit for kids and adults, filled with a variety of their milk chocolate goodies. Each one is individually wrapped which is great for kids who desperately want to open their calendars first thing. If you’re lucky, you can convince them to toss it in their lunchbox and save the chocolate fix for the afternoon!

Bluey's Exclusive Advent Calendar

Bluey

Bluey's Exclusive Advent Calendar

$24.99

Bluey fans will go head over Heelers (see what we did there?) for this fun-filled calendar. Inside they’ll find 24 Bluey-themed surprises including Bingo and Bluey dressed in their Christmas sweaters. Each one is sweetly detailed with legs that can fold as they sit around the tree for story time!

Funko Pop Pixar Advent Calendar

Funko

Funko Pop! Pixar Advent Calendar

$49

With their big heads and tiny bodies, the Funko Pocket Pops are always super cute (even the scary ones!). The advent calendars make an instant collection and come in variety of themes that kids of all ages adore. The Pixar version is an easy pick but there’s also other top-tier options like Star Wars, Harry Potter and even Stranger Things.

LEGO Star Wars 2024 Advent Calendar for Kids

LEGO

LEGO Star Wars 2024 Advent Calendar

$44.99

If there isn’t a LEGO Star Wars advent calendar at your house is it even December? (Just me?) This year’s annual classic is a journey through 25 years of iconic LEGO Star Wars toys with a collection of vehicles, toys and minifigures set in chronological order. From a miniature X-wing and Millennial Falcon to Darth Vader’s Castle, it’s a history lesson of galactic proportions. (Also, Luke and Leia in Christmas sweaters?! SOLD.)

 

Meri Meri Enamel Charm Necklace Advent Calendar

Meri Meri

Enamel Charm Necklace Advent Calendar

$75

We love advent calendars that add up to something truly special! This sweet jewelry box contains a necklace and collection of cute carved acrylic and tassel charms they can attach each day. What’s more, the box itself is actually a darling jewelry box they can use for years to come.

Playmobil Princess Magic Christmas Under the Rainbow

Playmobil

Princess Magic Christmas Under the Rainbow

$34.99

We can’t just pick one from Playmobil! They’re just too sweet! The Playmobil Princess Magic Christmas Under the Rainbow is a treasure trove of etherial figurines and accessories, including garland that doubles as a charm bracelet!

Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar

Melissa & Doug

Wooden Advent Calendar

$29.99

Get kids in on the holiday spirit by giving them their own tree to decorate. Each day little ones pick a magnetized ornament to add to this mini wooden fir.

Fisher Price Little People Advent Calendar Motherly

Fisher-Price

Little People Advent Calendar

$54.95

Let us count the ways in which we love Fisher-Price Little People. We loved them when we were little and now we’re snatching up the incredible pop culture sets left and right so “our kids” can play with them. 😉 (NSYNC? Come On!) With 24 holiday-themed friends and accessories, kids as young as 1 year old will delight in opening their calendar every day. Tuck it away when the tree comes down or fold it into their year-round collection.

Screen Shot 2021 10 25 at 4.11.04 PM Motherly

Crayola

Kids Advent Calendar

$35.99

Crafty kids will delight in unearthing a new art supply (think: markers, clay, and paints) and small project or activity each day of the season. Then, they can channel their inner-artists to let their imaginations run wild.

LEGO City 2024 Advent Calendar

LEGO

LEGO City 2024 Advent Calendar

$34.99

The LEGO Advent Calendar is an annual tradition for so many. It’s always so fun to discover what’s inside and putting each build together becomes the highlight of each December day! This year’s LEGO City advent calendar features a collection of festive new characters including a skier, snow shoer and pup plus fan favorites that will delight LEGO lovers as they count down to the big day. (Yes, there’s Santa and Mrs. Claus!)

Micro Machines 2024 Holiday Advent Calendar

Micro Machines

2024 Holiday Christmas Advent Calendar

$39.99

For those who like their holly-jolly with a side of high speed, this Micro Machines calendar delivers. Kids will get 14 new sets of wheels, as well as some other holiday-themed car accessories. The box itself folds down to reveal a track to race around–with plenty of space in the center to display the tree!

Purple Ladybug

Purple Ladybug

Gorgeous Gifts Calendar 2024

$35.99

Chock-full of fun gifts like jewelry, hair accessories and little crafts, this one is a highly-rated hit for kids ages 5 and up. There’s a fashionable new treat each day without repeat along with some fun holiday trivia!

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Science Advent Calendar 2023

National Geographic

Science Advent Calendar 2024

$39.99

Budding scientists will delight in this fun and educational calendar that’s jam-packed with excitement. Each day they’ll find an experiment to conduct or a rock or fossil to add to the included storage pouch. On the final day they’ll receive a specimen encased in a brick that needs excavating. The calendar even includes a dig tool and brush to help, along with a magnifying glass to inspect their findings!

Our favorite reusable advent calendars

Mon Ami Reindeer Advent Calendar

Mon Ami

Holiday Reindeer Plush Advent Countdown to Christmas Calendar

$47.99

With pockets just big enough for a small treat or note, this sweet plush reindeer countdown calendar from Mon Ami makes the job of filling it pretty simple. And the design is just darling!

Lovepop Nativity Advent Calendar

Lovepop

Nativity Advent Calendar

$39

Like their adorable pop-up cards, the Nativity advent calendar from Lovepop features colorful paper pop-ups each housed in their own special envelope. This sweet set tells the story of Christmas through 25 people and props and can be used year after year if you’re gentle with it!

Anthropologie Emily Taylor for George and Viv Ski Lodge Advent Calendar

Anthropologie

Emily Taylor for George and Viv Ski Lodge Advent Calendar

$128

We’re always smitten with Anthropologie’s annual offering. This year, they’ve gone with a nostalgic, snow drenched ski chalet that’s giving all the cozy vibes. The overall look is beautiful and timeless with script numbers and festive garland among the windows. The hardest part will be putting it away come January. It’s just so pretty!

CreateOn Magnatiles Gingerbread Advent Calendar

CreateOn

Magnatiles Gingerbread Advent Calendar

$44.95

For the Magnatiles-obsessed, this building set turned advent calendar is a fun way to start the day.

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Garnet Hill

Hats and Mittens Fair Isle Advent Calendar

$129

This garland-style Advent calendar is a cozy stunner. Tuck a treat into each of the tiny hand-knit hats and mittens all month long!

Meri Meri Railway Train Advent Calendar

Meri Meri

Railway Train Advent Calendar

$55

Wooden train sets make for timeless holiday decor. Combine the aesthetic with a sweet reusable advent calendar and you have a monthlong gift for the entire family!

Pottery Barn Classic Santa Felt Christmas Advent Calendar

Pottery Barn

Classic Santa Felt Christmas Advent Calendar

$99.50

Colorful pom-poms make everything more festive! This personalized calendar is perfect for your little one’s room–if they can resist peeking at the days ahead, of course.

Clever Creations Traditional Wooden Christmas Advent Calendar

Clever Creations

Traditional Wooden Christmas Advent Calendar

$35.99

With its charming village up top and backlit Santa with his reindeer on the front, this wooden calendar is a true holiday showpiece. The overall footprint isn’t too large, which makes it a good choice for smaller spaces, however the drawers are pretty small as well, so keep that in mind!

 

Kindness Advent Calendar

Acts of Kindness

Printable Advent Calendar

$3.62

The holidays are all about giving—and that doesn’t stop with just material items. We can give in the form of kindness every single day, and this calendar helps us do just that. Each day, this calendar suggests a different kind deed you and your family can do for others: Donate clothes, send cards to the armed forces, call a relative and so much more.

​Pottery Barn Light-up Glitter Houses Advent Calendar

​Pottery Barn

Light-up Glitter Houses Advent Calendar

$149

If you dream of Christmas in the Alps (festooned in glitter), look no further than Pottery Barn’s glitter house calendar. The battery-operated lights will make this an instantly festive part of your holiday decor. Plus, each little house can hide a treat to help hold them over until Christmas morning.

Coral & Tusk North Pole Advent Calendar

Coral & Tusk

North Pole Advent Calendar

$176

The embroidered designs from Coral & Tusk are delightfully detailed and utterly timeless. Place a tiny treat in each of the 25 pockets and get lost in the magic of the North Pole. Then, resist the urge to sob at the fact this one could be used by your grandchildren in just a few short decades. 😭

Kraft Paper Houses Advent Calendar

Etsy

Kraft Paper Houses Advent Calendar

$27.45

The possibilities are endless with these adorable houses made of kraft paper. They look adorable on a mantle, on the tree, on the dinner table—anything goes!

A version of this story was published October 25, 2021. It has been updated.