Countdown Fun! The Ultimate List of Advent Calendars for Kids

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As parents, we’re always looking for ways to make the holiday season magical for our kids (without spending a lot a money or going too overboard!). One tradition that has stood the test of time in our house over the years is the advent calendar. If you’ve ever wondered what an advent calendar is, or why kids get so excited about them, then you’re in the right place!

In this post, I’ll explain what an advent calendar is, why it makes a meaningful gift for children (and even the whole family), and share a list of unique and creative advent calendar ideas and products you can get your kids this year.

What Is an Advent Calendar?

An advent calendar is mostly used as a countdown to Christmas that usually begins on December 1st and ends on December 24th (sometimes 25th). Traditionally, it has 24 little windows, drawers, or pockets, one for each day leading up to Christmas.

Behind each door is a tiny surprise: a toy, a piece of candy, an activity card, or even a story. Kids open one each day, building anticipation until the big day arrives. And while advent calendars are most commonly seen at Christmas time, they can also be used for other exciting events, like birthdays, or even leading up to a fun trip.

And there are so many different types of advent calendars as well as all kinds of themes and topics to fit any kid’s interests!

Why Advent Calendars Make Great Gifts for Kids

• They stretch out the excitement. Instead of waiting for one big present on Christmas morning, kids enjoy 24 days of little surprises.
• They create family traditions. Opening each day’s calendar door becomes a special moment you can share together.
• They encourage patience and anticipation. Waiting for “just one more” teaches kids self-control in a fun way.
• They can be personalized. Whether store-bought or DIY, advent calendars can match your child’s unique personality and interests.
• They build memories. Long after the gifts are forgotten, children remember the tradition of opening their advent calendar each December.

Creative Advent Calendar Ideas by Interest

Every child has their own unique passions and interests, and thankfully, you can almost always find an advent calendar that includes some of their favorite things! And there are calendars for just about every age as well! Here are some of our top picks for unique advent calendars:

For Kids Who Love Art & Crafts:

• ArtSkills Crafting Through the Holidays Advent Calendar – Your kids can do a fun holiday DIY craft project each day leading up to Christmas.
• Christmas DIY Journal Kit – A great gift idea for a tween or teen who loves being creative while journaling or scrapbooking.
• Nativity Scene Diamond Painting Advent Calendar – Each day your child can make an ornament representing part of the Nativity story.
• Diamond Painting Keychain Kit – Another fun craft diamond painting activity calendar for your craft loving kid!
• DIY Wooden Magnets Painting Calendar – This set gives your kids everything they need to paint a new wooden Christmas magnet each day.
• Mini Coloring Book – Advent Calendar Edition – A simple, but cute coloring kit with a new mini picture to color each day. Plus it comes with a neat wooden stand to display your creations!
• Advent Calendar Coloring Book – A simple, yet nice gift for older kids, teens, (or adults) that enjoy coloring.
• Charm Bracelet Making Kit – You get two bracelets and a new Christmas themed charm each day to add to your bracelets.
• Sew Your Own Felt Advent Calendar – The perfect gift for anyone who likes mini crafts or sewing.

For Kids Who Love Science & Discovery:

• National Geographic Science Kit & Rock Collection – Each day kids will open either an exciting science experiment or a gemstone to add to their collection.
• Playmobil Wiltopia Advent Calendar – If your child loves animals, then this is the advent calendar for them! You can customize the calendar with stickers and each day your kid gets to open a box with a new Playmobil animal inside. And Playmobil toys are some of our favorites!
• 24 Days of S.T.E.M Experiments – With science experiments and gemstones to collect, this is a great advent calendar for a science loving kid.
• Science Tricks Advent Calendar – Kids will have a blast each day as they use science to do cool tricks!
• STEM Toy Building Kit – Build a fun new STEM related toy each day leading up to Christmas.
• 12 Days of Science Advent Calendar – This calendar gives kids 12 days of science experiments that they can do in fun test tubes!
• Gemstone Dig Kit Advent Calendar – Each day your rock loving kid can dig out their own gemstones and crystals.
• National Geographic Outer Space Advent Calendar – The perfect gift for any kid that loves outer space since there are space related projects, crafts, and fun science experiments to do each day.

For Kids Who Love Building:

• Animal Building Blocks Countdown – Each day your kids can use the blocks in their kit to build a new animal.
• Gingerbread House Mini Building Set Advent Calendar – Each day kids build something that adds to the design and at the end they have a cute mini gingerbread house!
• Magna-Tiles Advent Calendar – Great for kids who can’t get enough of building with Magna-Tiles, as they get new Christmas themed blocks each day!
• Nativity Advent Calendar – Use the building blocks to create your own Nativity scene and have fun retelling the story of Christmas.
• Wooden City Building Blocks Calendar – This is the perfect sized advent calendar for younger kiddos, as they get a new wooden building block each day to add to their own mini city.
• Insect Building Blocks Christmas Countdown Calendar – If your kid loves insects and building, then this insect calendar is for them, as they get to build a new bug each day!
• Nutcracker Theater Building Set – Build your own mini theater, complete with characters from the classic Nutcracker.
• Robot Building Blocks Advent Calendar – Any robot loving kid will enjoy building a new mini kit each day, and then being able to combine their kits to make a bigger robot!
• Christmas Ornaments Building Set – Each day kids can put together a new Christmas themed ornament and hang it on the tree.

For Kids who Love Nature and Adventure:

• Survival Kit Advent Calendar – Perfect for teens (and even adults!) who love being in the great outdoors!
• Emergency Survival Gear Countdown Calendar – This is another option for an outdoor gear themed advent calendar that your older kids will enjoy.
• Fishing Advent Calendar – The fishing enthusiast in your life will love this calendar, as each day they’ll get a new fishing lure, accessory, or other fun fishing related surprise!
• 24 Days of Fishing Lures – Another fishing themed advent calendar, but this one has a new fishing lure for each day.
• Bird Themed Puzzle Calendar – If your child like birds and puzzles, then this is the advent calendar for them! They’ll get to open a new box each day and complete the bird mini puzzle, which by the end of the month, will all be put together to make one larger puzzle.

For Kids Who Love Solving Mysteries:

• Professor Charlie’s World Tour – Open a new letter each day and solve the puzzle to figure out which envelope to open the next day. My kids did this advent calendar last year and loved it! There were a few tricky puzzles, so it’s best for older kids and families.
• Clue Mystery Advent Calendar – If your teen or family likes the game of Clue and enjoys solving mysteries together, then this is the perfect gift! But it can also be done alone instead of in a group, which is nice too.
• EXIT: The Game Advent Calendar (The Missing Hollywood Star) – This Advent calendar is both an EXIT game and 24 day long puzzle solving adventure all in one! Each door in the calendar has a new and exciting riddle; solve one day’s riddle to determine which door to open the next day. They also have other advent calendars that are played in the same way such as, The Intergalactic Race and The Silent Storm, which both look equally as fun! Again, these would be best for older kids and families.
• Mystery Escape Room Advent Calendar – This calendar does not have doors to open like a traditional advent calendar, rather it is a book that you read through each day, solving clues along the way until you solve the mystery by the end of the story. Murder on the Yuletide Express: An Interactive Christmas Escape Room and EXIT: The Book – Danger at the North Pole are other similar books where you go through each day until the mystery is solved. And like the other mystery themed calendars, these are also better for teens and families.

For Kids Who Love Puzzles:

• Dog Themed Countdown to Christmas – This adorable puzzle calendar is perfect for your puzzle or dog loving kids! Each day they put together a cute dog mini puzzle, which connects to the previous puzzles so that by the end of the month, you have a larger completed puzzle.
• 50 States Puzzle Advent Calendar – A fun puzzle for older kids, or for those who like geography! Each days smaller puzzles will connect together to make a bigger puzzle showing all 50 states. There is also a version for different world landmarks as well as national parks.
• Christmas Around the World Puzzle Calendar – Each days mini puzzle shows a scene from Christmas in another country, and when all 24 puzzles are put together, it creates a beautiful picture of different Christmases around the world.
• Brain Teaser Calendar for Kids (& Adults) – For a different take on puzzles, try this fun brain teaser advent calendar where older kids open a new logic or puzzle toy each day.
• Crossword Puzzle Advent Calendar – If you have a teen or adult in your life that enjoys the challenge of a crossword puzzle, then they will love this calendar. Each day there is a new crossword puzzle to solve, adding up points as you move through the month.
• A-Puzzle-A-Day Daily Calendar – Ok, so while this one is not technically an advent calendar since it can be used all year long, it would still be a fun gift for teens and adults who love puzzle challenges! You can give it as an advent calendar gift at the beginning of December and they can work through a new challenge each day leading up to Christmas (and beyond!). Each day you have to arrange the puzzle pieces in order to see that days date through the openings created.

Sensory Themed Advent Calendars:

• Play-Doh Advent Calendar – Behind each door is a mini tub of Play-Doh, festive cutters, or accessories so that kids can shape holiday-themed creations every day until Christmas.
• Fidget Toys Countdown Calendar – Keep little hands busy and minds focused with 24 days of stress-relieving, fun fidgets from pop-its to spinners to stretchy bands.
• Slime Kit Calendar – Each day reveals either a colorful pot of slime or fun mix-ins. Perfect for kids who love sensory play and surprise textures.
• Mochi Animals Squishy Toys – Soft, squeezable, and absolutely adorable! Each day reveals a new mochi squishy animal, perfect for collecting, playing, and squishing stress away!

Character Favorites:

These advent calendars featuring favorite themes and characters are sure to be a hit with kids from little ones to teens! Here are a few popular choices:

• Disney Storybook Collection Advent Calendar
• LEGO Friends Countdown Set as well as LEGO Minecraft, LEGO Harry Potter, LEGO Star Wars, and even LEGO Spider Man
• Peppa Pig George’s Party Advent Calendar
• Disney Zuru Mini Brands Countdown
• Super Mario Advent Calendar
• Funko Pop! Disney Themed Advent Calendar or Funko Pop! Pokeman Calendar or Funko Pop! Star Wars 
• Hot Wheels Cars & Playset Countdown Calendar or Matchbox Advent Calendar
• Disney’s Stitch Puzzle Calendar
• Bluey 24 Days of Surprises
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Holiday Countdown Calendar
• Funko Pop! Bitty Disney Princess Countdown Calendar or Funko Pop! Bitty Marvel Comics or Funko Pop! Bitty Stitch
• Paw Patrol Countdown
• Sonic The Hedgehog Calendar
• Fisher-Price Little People Barbie Calendar or Little People Disney Princess
• Disney Pixar Cars Mini Racers Advent Calendar
• Playmobil Junior Snowy Christmas Advent Calendar
• Barbie Mini Land Countdown

Food Themed Advent Calendars:

If you have kids who are tricky to buy for, but still want to give them an advent calendar, then one with a food related theme may be just the thing!

• Jelly Belly’s Harry Potter Trivia Advent Calendar
• Kinder Chocolate Holiday Calendar
• Gourmet Snacks Holiday Countdown
• Lindt Holiday Teddy Bear Chocolate Advent Calendar
• Sour Patch Kids Countdown Calendar
• Advent Calendar with Shortbread Cookies
• Toblerone Assorted Chocolate Bars Countdown
•  Twinings Tea Advent Calendar
• Spices Christmas Calendar
• 12 Days of Christmas Hot Chocolate
• Madelaine Chocolate Advent Calendar
• Baking Tools Advent Calendar

Advent Calendars the Whole Family Can Enjoy Together:

• 24 Family Games In A Box Countdown Calendar – Have fun as a family playing a different game each day. There are dice games, party type games, classic games, and more!
• Escape Room Advent Calendar – This Christmas-themed escape game book offers a one-of-a-kind adventure that combines the fun of a real escape room with the magic of the holiday season. There are 24 interactive puzzles, one for each day so you can challenge your mind and enjoy a fun activity together as a family!
• EXIT: The Game – The Silent Storm Calendar – If your family enjoys escape rooms, then this advent calendar is the perfect gift! Each day you solve an escape room style puzzle that will have you either rip, discover, write on, or cut out components to solve the riddles and save Christmas!
• The Adventure Challenge Holiday Scratch-Off Book – Throughout the month you scratch off 12 different spaces, each with a fun Christmas-themed activity that you can do together as a family. A unique take on the advent calendar!
• Christmas Is Coming! An Advent Book – Each flap on the cover of the book reveals a clue to a festive activity that can be found inside the pages. It might be a recipe for a delicious homemade treat, instructions for a craft, a game to play, a carol to sing, or an illustrated story to read with the whole family. Plus this book can be used year after year! Just a heads up though, it does have an activity involving Santa, if that’s an issue for your family.
• Cookie Advent Cookbook – If your family loves to bake and make cookies for the holidays, then this is the perfect advent calendar for you! Each day you lift the flap and find the recipe to make a new kind of cookie.
• Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar – This wooden countdown calendar has simple ideas and activities that you can do together as a family to show kindness to others throughout the Christmas season.

Christ Centered Advent Calendars:

These calendars show the true meaning of Christmas, helping your kids and family keep Jesus and the Nativity story at the center of the season.

• The Wonder of the Greatest Gift: An Interactive Family Celebration of Advent – Your family can celebrate the coming of Jesus by opening the book to see a 13-inch, three-dimensional Jesse Tree pop up from the page. At its base are 25 doors, one for each day of the Advent season, which hide meaningful, beautifully detailed ornaments, including the Christmas star, that are ready to be hung on the tree. You also get a devotional booklet with 25 family devotions to read together each day.
• The Shepherd on the Search Christmas Advent – This is a great advent calendar for young kids, as each day they move the small stuffed shepherd closer to the last day of the fabric calendar. There are also additional products that go along with it such as, the Finding Christ in Christmas plush shepherd and storybook, ADVENTure card set with 25 cards that have verses and activities, and a 25 day family devotional book to read together.
• The Advent Storybook: 25 Bible Stories Showing Why Jesus Came – Each of the 25 Bible stories begins with a key verse and ends with a thoughtful question, helping you and your children think and talk about the reason we celebrate Jesus’ birth. This book is part of the Bible Storybook Series, which also has a storybook for Easter too.
• Nativity Advent Calendar with Building Blocks – Each day your child can build a part of the Nativity story using Lego type blocks until the whole scene is complete.
• The Way to the Manger: A Family Advent Devotional – This devotional book has memory verses and a story to read each day, as well as activities that can be done together as a family.
• Fabric Nativity Advent Calendar – Small fabric figures (with Velcro) are removed from the numbered pockets and added to the scene each day of Advent. You can also add a little treat or piece of candy to each pocket as well if you want!
• Discovering Christmas: A 25-Day Advent Devotional with Activities – Another good book choice that focuses on the story of Jesus as you go through the month with readings and fun activities.
• Wooden Light-Up Nativity Advent Calendar – This calendar is perfect if you want to add your own little treats, as there are small wooden numbered drawers that you can fill yourself. And at the top is a light-up Nativity scene to remind us of why we celebrate Christmas. If you prefer the unfinished wood look, then this wooden nativity set with drawers is a great choice
• Nativity Scene Playset Advent Calendar – Younger kids will love getting a new part to add to the Nativity scene each day!
• Nativity Scene Christmas Countdown With Stickers – Add a new sticker each day until the Nativity scene is complete. A simple twist on an advent calendar.
• Nativity Puzzle Advent Calendar – Complete a section of the puzzle each day, and by the end of the month you’ll have finished the Nativity scene!
• Wooden Christmas Countdown Sign – Each day you or your child can move the wooden figure through the nativity scene until you reach the end and arrive at the stable.

DIY Advent Calendar Options:

Sometimes you just can’t find exactly what you’re looking for and that’s where these DIY options come in handy! You can customize these products to fit your child and family, making them the perfect gift. And as a bonus, most of them can be reused year after year!

• 25 Days Advent Countdown Gift Boxes – Fill these individual decorative, numbered cardboard boxes with whatever treats or gifts you’d like and watch your kids have fun opening one each day. And if you want something different than square shaped boxes, these ones that are shaped like houses are adorable!
• Hanging Fabric Advent Calendar with 24 Pockets – This hanging calendar has numbered pockets that can be filled individually, so that you can decide for yourself what your child gets each day.
• 25 Drawer Wooden Advent Calendar – This wooden box shaped calendar comes unfinished so you can add your own personal touches. Then, you get to fill each drawer with whatever little gift you’d like! Or if you’d prefer a different shaped one, try this wooden house shaped countdown calendar.
• 24 Days Advent Countdown Gift Boxes – Fill each one of the small numbered boxes with a treat, then place them into a larger box and open a new one every day.
• Christmas Drawstring Gift Bags Countdown – Fill these small festive bags (complete with number tags!) with your child’s favorite treats – one bag of fun for each day! And if you want bags that have cute Christmas designs, then give these burlap numbered gift bags or these fun decorative paper bags with stickers a try!
• Christmas Train Advent Calendar Boxes – Fill the cardboard train cars with little gifts and you’ll not only have a fun advent calendar, but a cute decoration as well!
• Book Shaped Cardboard Countdown Calendar – Each individual box is numbered and looks like a classic book. A super fun way to do an advent calendar with your book loving kid!
• 24 Cavity Refillable DIY Calendar – You get plastic trays that can be filled with your own small candies or treats and then slid into a decorative cardboard sleeve to make your own countdown calendar that can be used over again.
• Kids Interactive Christmas Countdown – This large advent calendar from Step2 has drawers to fill and is super cute, but it is a splurge. However, it could be a good choice if you have really young kids who will get a lot use out of it over the course of many Christmases.
• Punch Out Advent Calendar – If you really want to go all DIY and make everything for your calendar yourself, then this article on how to do your own fun punch out calendar will be helpful!

As you can see, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to advent calendars! But whatever style or theme you decide on, it’s definitely a fun gift and tradition that your child (or family!) is sure to love!