There’s nothing like the beginning of the holiday season! Seeing all of the lights, decorations, and sounds of the season sparks a lot of excitement for toddlers. It also sparks kids repeatedly asking (sometimes multiple times a day) if it’s Christmas yet. Advent calendars for toddlers and preschoolers can help your little one count down the days until Christmas without you losing your mind answering the same question over and over!
- What is an Advent calendar?
- Reasons to use an Advent calendar
- Advent calendars help toddlers tell time
- Top Picks
- Best Advent Calendars (Reviews)
- 1. Play-Doh
- 2. Melissa & Doug
- 3. Felt Tree
- 4. Paw Patrol
- 5. Nativity
- 6. Disney Books
- 7. Pockets
- 8. Chocolate Kinder
- 9. Construction Toys
- 10. Thomas & Friends
- 11. Little People Barbie
- 12. Best for ages 5+ LEGOS
- 13. Best for ages 8+ National Geographic
- 14. Best for adults Bonne Maman
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Advent calendar?
Traditionally rooted in religion, Advent calendars are now popular with religious and non-religious families to count down the days until Christmas.
I have such fond memories of being excited every December 1st when my parents would take out our Advent calendar to kick off the countdown to Christmas. And although our Advent calendar was simple, it sparked so much joy that the holiday season had finally arrived. I remember when my sister and I would take turns moving the little mouse to a new pocket every day.
Reasons to use an Advent calendar
Introducing young children to the tradition of an Advent calendar is such a special and fun way to ignite the holiday season. Young children get excited each day to interact with their Advent calendar whether it’s to move a candy cane to the next pocket or get a small surprise when they open a door.
Advent calendars offer a great way to make the tradition of counting down to Christmas more concrete and tangible for toddlers. Since toddlers can’t tell time, or even truly understand the concept of time, having a visual and physical way for kids to count down is a wonderful way to teach an understanding of time and create excitement for the big day!
Advent calendars help toddlers tell time
Having an Advent calendar will help with the fatigue of constantly answering the question “Is it Christmas yet?” Instead of having to constantly set the limit and answer this question, you can respond “Let’s go check the calendar.” The Advent calendar becomes the limit which allows you to partner with your child to problem solve instead of constantly having to say “No”.
Check out this list of our favorite Advent calendars for toddlers and preschoolers this holiday season so you can choose the one that works best for your family!
Top Picks
- Best Overall & Most Simple – Melissa & Doug
- Best Traditional – Pockets
- Best Religious – Nativity
- Best Chocolate – Kinder
- Best for School-Aged Children – LEGOS
- Best for Adults – Bonne Maman
Best Advent Calendars (Reviews)
No matter your child’s age or interest, there is an Advent calendar for everyone! And with so many choices available, it can be hard to decide what’s best. Save and share this list of my favorite Advent calendars for toddlers and preschoolers this holiday season below.
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1. Play-Doh
If your toddler or preschooler loves Play-Doh, this one is right up their alley! This Advent calendar is such a great way to encourage your little one to engage in creative play and strengthen their fine motor skills. We especially love the tear-off playmats and scenes for your child to continue their pretend play.
Buy on Amazon
Pros: High ratings, great for learning and continuous play past the holidays
Cons: Can be messy
2. Melissa & Doug
Melissa & Doug products are always a great go-to due to their high quality. This Advent calendar is no different. This Countdown to Christmas Advent calendar is built to last since it is made out of solid wood and can be used year after year. Your toddler will love using the magnets to countdown to the big day, making this a no-fuss way for little ones to be introduced to their first Advent calendar.
Buy on Amazon
Pros: 5-star rating with over 6,000 reviews on Amazon, reusable year after year, cute decoration
Cons: Lots of magnets to keep track of
3. Felt Tree
This felt tree Advent calendar makes the holidays fun for kids as they get to accessorize this felt Christmas tree as they count down to Christmas. Let your preschooler have the freedom of creativity and imagination as they decorate the tree with felt ornaments and snowflakes. It can be hung easily on any doorknob or wall and folds up easily for storage or travel.
Buy on Amazon
Pros: Folds up easily for storage and travel, reusable
Cons: Space is needed to hang it
4. Paw Patrol
Calling all Paw Patrol-loving toddlers and preschoolers! This Advent calendar is sure to bring pure joy to any child who loves this pup crew. Each day of this Advent calendar gifts your child with a new figurine to collect and play pretend with.
Buy on Amazon
Pros: Uncovers a full set of new figurines that can be used for ongoing pretend play
Cons: Not recommended for children under the age of 3 due to small pieces
5. Nativity
For families looking for a religious option, this Nativity Advent calendar is great. You can make learning about the religious story of Christmas interesting, tangible, and understandable with this cute nativity scene and figurines.
Buy on Amazon
Pros: Makes teaching religion fun with this hands-on full set of figurines
Cons: Small pieces can be a choking hazard
6. Disney Books
Books make the most wonderful gift! And this Disney set of books combines the magic of the holiday season with reading and snuggles. Gift your toddler or preschooler with a brand new set of Disney books using this adorable Advent calendar this season.
Buy on Amazon
Pros: Collect all of the Disney classics with these 24-page paperbacks
Cons: Not all of the books are holiday-themed
7. Pockets
If you’re looking for a simple and classic Advent calendar for your family this season, consider this timeless pocket-style Advent calendar. You can even fill the pockets with a treat for your child. This winter themed Advent calendar is sure to last for many years to come, and because it is not character-themed, it will be loved by everyone in your family!
Buy on Amazon
Pros: A classic and timeless option that will never go out of style, reusable every year
Cons: Takes up a lot of wall space
8. Chocolate Kinder
Make your little sweet tooth’s dreams come true with this Kinder chocolate Advent calendar. There’s no better time to treat your preschooler to a daily piece of chocolate than the holiday season. This Advent calendar will deliver a yummy little bite of delicious chocolate with each day to countdown.
Buy on Amazon
Pros: Individually wrapped
Cons: Not a great option for kids with food allergies
9. Construction Toys
There’s no better way to countdown to Christmas than with a fun new toy set that continues to grow each day. If your child loves playing with construction vehicles and toys, they will love this fantastic construction Advent calendar! For little engineers, this Advent calendar will not only keep them excited all month long but will leave them with an entire construction set by the time Christmas Day arrives.
Buy on Amazon
Pros: Comes with a map for open-ended building and playing
Cons: Does not come with any storage bag for all the pieces
10. Thomas & Friends
The Thomas & Friends MINIS Advent calendar is the perfect option for toddlers and preschoolers who are obsessed with trains! Every day your child will receive a new surprise train or railroad transportation vehicle to play with and connect with the others. Help your child develop their imagination and pretend play skills using this Thomas & Friends Advent calendar set.
Pros: A great addition to any train-loving child’s collection
Cons: The trains are indeed MINI, therefore not recommended for children under the age of 3
11. Little People Barbie
Create an entire new Little People world of pretend play with this Barbie Advent calendar set. If your child loves to set up scenes and create stories, this Little People set made by Fisher-Price is an excellent choice that will keep your child excited and busy this December!
Buy on Amazon
Pros: Can add items to existing Little People collection
Cons: Lots of little pieces
12. Best for ages 5+: LEGOS
Create and build a new mini holiday-themed LEGO toy every day of December leading up to Christmas Day. I also love this LEGOS Marvel Advent Calendar and Legos Star Wars Advent Calendar which are less themed around Christmas but still offer a great way to build and countdown to Christmas Day.
Buy on Amazon
Pros: 5-star reviews on Amazon, use with existing LEGO collection
Cons: Requires a certain level of fine motor skills
13. Best for ages 8+: National Geographic
Inspire wonder and curiosity with this science-based National Geographic Advent calendar. Encourage learning and excitement with daily science experiments this December for your budding explorer.
Buy on Amazon
Pros: Learning focused
Cons: Requires adult supervision
14. Best for adults: Bonne Maman
Treat your friends (or yourself) to this yummy Bonne Maman Advent calendar this holiday season. Uncover 23 Limited-Edition miniature spreads, jams, and honey that you can enjoy all throughout the year. I had this last year and loved it!
Buy on Amazon
Pros: 5-star ratings with over 3,000 reviews on Amazon, great gift, delicious, practical
Cons: If you’re traveling with this set, be mindful that the jars are glass
Advent calendars are not to be forgotten
Even as you begin to think about all of your holiday lists this upcoming season, don’t forget to order your child’s Advent calendar to welcome the holiday spirit! Kick off your holiday season this year with unique, special, and timeless Advent calendars that your toddlers, preschoolers, and entire family are sure to love!
Frequently Asked Questions
An Advent calendar is a visual countdown to Christmas time. For young children, this is a wonderful and exciting way to teach the concept of time during the holiday season.
I recommend waiting until your child’s at least over one year old to start involving them in the tradition of an Advent calendar. Pick an age-appropriate option that doesn’t pose a choking risk.
Ignite the holiday spirit with Advent calendars beginning on December 1st.
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