Christmas Calendar Gift Ideas
December runs on two things: sweet tea and a countdown. These Christmas advent calendars handle the countdown part. Raising three boys taught me that, and yes, I have eight kids now, but that is a whole long story.
Brands sent me a whole pile of advent calendars this year, so I opened them on camera and told you who each one is actually good for. Thereās one for the kid who canāt sit still, one for the grandma who reads everything, and yes, even a pickle one. If youāre shopping for more than calendars, my Holiday Gift Buying Guides have the rest of your list covered.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission when anything is bought. This is at no additional cost to you.Ā
I did not open every single door on every calendar, because we would be here for a million years. I opened one or two on each so you can see whatās really inside. Some of these will sell out before December, so donāt wait. Go ahead and get them so you have them in your home.
Quick Picks
- Top Pick for Kids Who Build: Plus-Plus Woodland Christmas Advent Calendar, because itās a quiet little build every day that most kids can do on their own.
- Top Pick for Tea Lovers: Harney & Sons 12 Days of Tea Winter Countdown, because two tea bags behind every door means one for you and one to share.
- Top Educational Pick: Little People, BIG DREAMS Advent Calendar, because itās a real personās story every day instead of another toy or piece of candy.
- Top Pick for Homeschool Families: eat2explore Christmas Around the World, because itās dinner, a geography lesson and kitchen time in one box.
- Top Pick for Grown-Ups: Read+Purr Advent Calendar Story Cards, because itās a short story with your sweet tea before the house wakes up.
- Top Pick for the Pickle Person: 12 Days of Pickles Advent Calendar, because every family has a pickle person.
Advent Calendars Sorted by Who Theyāre For
I sorted this list by who the calendar is for, so you can jump straight to the builder, the tea drinker or the snacker on your list. The ones from my video are first in each section, with what I really thought when I opened them. The rest are calendars I picked for that same person.
Advent Calendars for Kids Who Build
These are for the kid who has to be doing something with his hands. A little build every day keeps them busy, and by Christmas they have a whole scene to show for it.
1
Plus-Plus Woodland Christmas Advent Calendar
This one will do your whole month of December. Itās 600 pieces and 24 builds, so you build a little something every single day, and by Christmas you have a whole little scene. Itās called Plus-Plus because each piece is two little pluses that connect like puzzle pieces. Some of the boxes are bigger than others, and the bigger ones have a lot more pieces in the baggie.Day 10 was a little person with its own instruction card. I think itās a wood chopper. I love that itās a tiny little build. I love that itās a quiet activity. I love that most kids could do it on their own. The box doesnāt list an age, but my middle son could have done this on his own by about eight or nine.You can watch me open a couple of these little builds in my unboxing video below.Plus-Plus sent me this to try.
Buy Plus-Plus on Amazon
2
LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026
This is the one for your Mandalorian fan. Every door has a small brick build, so they get a new piece of the story each morning and a whole set of little scenes to play with by Christmas Eve.
Buy the LEGO Star Wars Calendar on Amazon
3
LEGO Marvel Advent Calendar 2026
For the superhero kid who already has every Marvel movie memorized. Itās 24 days of mini builds and characters, made for ages 6 and up, so most kids can build each dayās surprise without needing you.
Buy the LEGO Marvel Calendar on Amazon
4
LEGO Disney Princess Advent Calendar 2026
I picked this one for the little builder who would rather have princesses than spaceships. Itās 24 days of characters and mini builds, and it starts at age 5, which makes it one of the easier LEGO calendars for younger kids.
Buy the LEGO Disney Princess Calendar on Amazon
5
MAGNA-TILES microMAGS Advent Calendar
If your house already runs on Magna-Tiles, this one just adds to the pile. Itās 34 holiday-themed micro tiles, including a Santa and a conductor figure, and every piece works with the microMAGS they may already have.
Buy microMAGS on Amazon
6
Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar
For the kid who lines cars up on the coffee table. Each of the 24 doors has a wintery Hot Wheels car or accessory, which is the quickest way I know to get a car kid excited about December.
Buy the Hot Wheels Calendar on Amazon
7
Play-Doh Advent Calendar
For the littles, ages 3 and up. Every door has a can of Play-Doh or a tool, so each day turns into a little bit of quiet play at the kitchen table. Put a placemat down first. Youāll thank me.
Buy the Play-Doh Calendar on Amazon
Toy and Collectible Advent Calendars
Some kids want to collect the whole set. These give them something new to line up on the shelf every single day.
8
Fuggler Christmas Advent Calendar
This is another 24-day calendar that will get you all the way through December, and look how big that box is. Every single day is something different, and thereās even a stand you can pop out to display a character. Day 14 was a little card, and day 20 was an ornament.How adorable is he? Heās so ugly. Heās adorable. Look at those teeth. Is that not a face only a mother could love? My kids would have loved this. Itās right up their alley of weird and wonderful.Want to see those teeth up close? This oneās in the unboxing video at the bottom of the list.Fuggler sent me this to try.
Buy Fuggler at Walmart
9
Bluey Advent Calendar 2026
If Bluey is on in your house every single day anyway, this one is a no-brainer. Itās 24 windows of Bluey toys with an Aussie Christmas theme, and itās made for ages 5 to 8.
Buy the Bluey Calendar on Amazon
10
Squishmallows Micromallows Holiday Advent Calendar
For the kid with a bed full of Squishmallows. These are tiny 2.5-inch versions, 24 of them with holiday looks, so they fit in a backpack instead of taking over the couch.
Buy the Micromallows Calendar on Amazon
11
Mini Brands Advent Calendar
Kids who love Mini Brands love the unboxing as much as the toy. This has 24 minis, including toy and foodie Mini Brands, and every one is a tiny version of something theyāll recognize.
Buy Mini Brands on Amazon
12
Funko Pop! Countdown Calendar: The Office
This one is for the grown-up kid on your list who quotes Michael Scott at the dinner table. Itās 24 little Pocket Pops, and you can stand them up in front of the box art for a full Dunder Mifflin scene.
Buy The Office Calendar on Amazon
13
Funko Pocket Pop! Countdown Calendar: Disney Mickey and Stitch
For the Disney family. Itās 24 collectible Pocket Pops behind tiny doors, and the packaging doubles as a display, so the whole set stays out through Christmas.
Buy the Disney Funko Calendar on Amazon
14
Schleich Horse Club Advent Calendar 2026
This is my pick for the horse girl. Schleich figures are sturdy enough to actually play with, and the calendar is made for kids 5 and up, so the horses keep getting played with long after Christmas.
Buy the Schleich Horse Calendar on Amazon
15
Schleich Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2026
For the Harry Potter fan who wants something to hold, not just read. Itās 29 pieces of figures and accessories, which makes it a fun one to set up as a little Hogwarts scene by Christmas.
Buy the Schleich Harry Potter Calendar on Amazon
16
Olive & June Pressies Kids 12 Days Press-On Advent Calendar
For the girl who always wants her nails done. Twelve doors of press-on nails and nail stickers means a brand new mani every day, with no polish to spill on your table.
Buy Pressies on Amazon
Educational Advent Calendars
These are the ones Iād hand a homeschool mom. They sneak in some learning, and nobody complains about it.
17
Little People, BIG DREAMS Advent Calendar 2026
The idea of this one is probably my favorite. Itās 24 mini books, and each one is a short story of a real person. Lots of pictures and a small amount of words. The days are random instead of 1, 2, 3, so you pull from a different spot every time. Day one was Harry Styles, and his story was about the karaoke machine his granddad gave him.What a fun way to either start your morning or end your evening. I love that itās not just another toy or another piece of candy. You sit down, read a story and have a conversation about somebody. And if youāre a homeschooler, you can turn it into an entire lesson plan.I pulled the Harry Styles book in my unboxing video below, if youād like to see what the little books look like.Quarto sent me this to try.
Buy Little People, BIG DREAMS on Amazon
18
eat2explore.com
eat2explore Christmas Around the World Advent Calendar Experience
This one is heavy, and I love the idea. Itās not 24 little doors. Itās six numbered mystery boxes, and you open a new country every four days. Each box has recipes, a kids kitchen tool and a card you scan for that countryās holiday booklet. One of the boxes is even a baking kit.The booklet has a world map, geography, history, art and music, plus movies, books and a playlist to go with that country. You get the spices and sauces, and the shopping list tells you exactly what else to buy. The magnets are puzzle pieces, so as you collect them they connect into a whole world. Itās dinner, a geography lesson and something for the kids to do in the kitchen. Itās all the things. This is a great gift, especially for a homeschool family.I opened a whole box on camera, so scroll down to the video if you want to see everything that comes inside.eat2explore sent me this to try.
Shop eat2explore
19
National Geographic 2026 Gemstone Advent Calendar
For your rock collector. Thereās a new gemstone every day, plus a pouch to keep them in, so by Christmas they have a whole collection to sort and name. Itās an easy science lesson hiding in a calendar.
Buy the Gemstone Calendar on Amazon
20
Thames & Kosmos Science Advent Calendar Vol. 4
This is my pick for the kid who asks why about everything. Each dayās box unfolds into instructions and the science behind a quick experiment, so itās short enough to do before school.
Buy the Science Calendar on Amazon
21
Little Golden Books Advent Calendar
Little Golden Books are a classic for a reason. This one has 24 small winter holiday books, which makes it a sweet bedtime countdown for the preschool crowd.
Buy Little Golden Books on Amazon
22
Needzo Religious Advent Calendar Activity Cards
If you want to keep Jesus at the center of the countdown, this is a simple way to do it. Itās 25 daily cards with Bible verses and activities, so you donāt have to plan a thing.
Buy the Card Set on Amazon
23
lacewingcreative.com
Lacewing Creative Names of Jesus Advent Calendar
If you want December pointed right at Jesus, this one is a sweet way to do it. Itās 24 hand-lettered cards you hang on jute twine, and each day you turn one over to find a name of Jesus and a short reflection to read together. It all packs back into its box, so you can bring it out every year.
Shop Lacewing Creative
Advent Calendars for Artists and Crafters
For the one who would rather make something than open something. These donāt take up a whole table, either.
24
catepaperco.com
Cate Paper Co Watercolor Book and Paint Set Advent Calendar
This one is for your artist or your aspiring artist. Itās a 24-day advent calendar with one page you can paint for every single day of Advent, and it includes your paints and a water brush. The water brush helps with the mess. You fill it with water and dip it into your paint. Thereās even a paint tester included.Every page is a little different, and theyāre not super small, so theyāre really good for beginner painters or smaller children. You donāt have to be an artist. Ten minutes, a little bit of water. Drink your tea. Read your story. Paint something. Great morning. I also like that itās all contained in one little space, because I have a tiny little space right now.If youād like to see the pages and the water brush in person, itās in my video below.Cate Paper Co sent me this to try.
Shop Cate Paper Co
25
ArtSkills 25 Day Christmas Craft Advent Calendar 2026
For the kid who loves a glue stick. Itās 25 crafts, one for each day, and everything comes in the box, so you arenāt digging through the craft closet at 7 in the morning.
Buy ArtSkills on Amazon
26
lovepop.com
Lovepop Snowden Christmas Market 24 Day Advent Calendar
This one is for the person who loves a Christmas village. Every day you pull a new pop-up piece from a numbered pouch, and they build a snowy little market with a tree, a cafe and a Ferris wheel. It ships flat, so you can store it and put it out again next year.
Shop Lovepop
Tea Advent Calendars
Teas are so popular right now. If yāall are a tea house, start with the two my house tried, then look at the others.
27
Harney & Sons 12 Days of Tea Winter Countdown
This one is only half of the month. There are 12 doors, and each door has two tea bags, so you have 24 tea bags in all. You could start December 1st and open a door every other day, or do the 12 days of Christmas, which is really a mercy for a busy mom. Or do one bag for yourself and one to share.Itās very pretty. I love the green and gold with the little teal accents. Door nine was Paris, a flavored black tea, and it smells good. Sit down with your tea in the morning and read your story from the Read+Purr cards, and thatās a pretty good start to the day.Catch me opening door nine in the unboxing video below.Harney & Sons sent me this to try.
Buy Harney & Sons on Amazon
28
Adagio Teas Tea Advent Calendar 2026
This one is 24 days, so itās a little bit bigger. Thatās a good way to decide: do you want 24 days of tea or 12 days of tea? Every one makes an 8 oz cup, and theyāre holiday teas. Adagio makes it in loose leaf, decaf and tea bags.Door 22 was an Earl Grey green with orange and bergamot. Door 3 was cocoa mint green tea with cocoa nibs and peppermint leaves. That sounds so Christmasy to me. Fair warning, a couple of them were a little hard for my fingers to get out.I wrestled a tea out of door 22 in my video below, so you can see exactly what youāre getting.Adagio Teas sent me this to try.
Buy Adagio Tea on Amazon
29
STASH Tea Advent Calendar 2026
A good everyday pick for the tea drinker. Itās 24 bags of black, green and herbal teas, so thereās a little bit of everything, and she finds a new favorite without buying a whole box first.
Buy STASH Tea on Amazon
30
Twinings Tea Advent Calendar Gift Set
This one has two tea bags every day for 24 days, so itās 48 bags in all. That makes it the one to pick when you want to share a cup with somebody every morning of December.
Buy Twinings on Amazon
Food and Snack Advent Calendars
Every family has a snacker. These are the calendars you can actually eat, and a couple of them are from small businesses.
31
deliciousfooddelivered.com
Delicious Food Delivered Wisconsin 2026 Advent Calendar
This is the one I was most excited to receive, and it is heavy. Itās all food. Delicious Food Delivered makes calendars for different states and regions, and itās a great way to learn about a state where somebody you know is from, or where youāre going on vacation. Could you imagine gifting 24 days of a place and then giving them a trip there on day 25?Itās all small businesses, which is super important to me. Day 19 was three little peppermint meltaways, and day 11 was a cinnamon and clove mulling spice drink mix. Thereās a QR code on the box that tells you about the treats, so when you find something you love, you can order more from that small business. Wisconsin knows two things, cheese and cold, and this box covers the cheese.Itās in the video at the bottom of the list, peppermint meltaways and all.Delicious Food Delivered sent me this to try.
Shop Delicious Food Delivered
32
givethembeer.com
12 Days of Pickles Advent Calendar
This is the promised pickle one, and itās pretty big, too. Itās 12 doors of full-size pickle-themed treats from US brands. Crazy, right? Every family has a pickle person. Whoās your pickle person? Mine is pretty much everybody but me.Day 12 was a pickle lemonade, and day 6 was cumin lime dill pickle spears. Iāll be honest, I was able to cheat and peek, and itās not all food. There are other things in there besides food.Youāll see me open the pickle lemonade in my unboxing video below.GiveThemBeer.com sent me this to try.
Shop the Pickle Calendar
33
deliciousfooddelivered.com
Delicious Food Delivered Gulf States 2026 Advent Calendar
Here on the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast, I couldnāt skip this one. Itās the same small business idea as the Wisconsin box, with treats from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Itās a fun gift for anybody who moved away from home.
Shop the Gulf States Calendar
34
sugar-plum.com
Sugar Plum 2026 Limited Edition 24 Day Snack Advent Calendar
For the salty and sweet snacker. Itās 24 one-ounce snacks that go from sweet and buttery to smoky and spicy, from a family-run candy maker in Pennsylvania. Itās a preorder, so get it in early.
Shop Sugar Plum
35
Bonne Maman Advent Calendar 2026
This is my pick for the biscuit and toast crowd. Itās 24 mini jars of jams and spreads, a different flavor behind every door, and those little jars are too cute to throw away when theyāre empty.
Buy Bonne Maman on Amazon
36
Lindt TEDDY Chocolate Advent Calendar
A classic chocolate calendar, but with Lindt. Itās 24 days of assorted chocolates in a cute teddy bear box, and it makes an easy add-on for teachers, neighbors or the mailman.
Buy Lindt TEDDY on Amazon
37
Hersheyās Kisses Christmas Advent Calendar
This is the simplest one on the list, and sometimes simple is the point. Itās 24 days of individually wrapped Kisses, which is about all the youngest kids need to stay excited.
Buy Hersheyās Kisses on Amazon
38
Kinder Joy and Friends Countdown Calendar
For the kid who wants candy and a surprise in the same bite. Itās a Kinder countdown, so the little ones get a familiar treat behind every door.
Buy the Kinder Calendar on Amazon
Advent Calendars for Grown-Ups
Who says the kids get all the fun? These are for mom, grandma, your best friend or you. I wonāt tell.
39
readpurrshop.com
Read+Purr Advent Calendar Story Cards
This one says itās made for grown-ups, so this is not for children. Itās 24 wintertime stories with illustrations, from December 1st through Christmas Eve, and every one comes in its own pretty silver, sparkly envelope. Itās a short story a day with your coffee or your sweet tea before the house wakes up.Hereās the fun part. The cards build one story over time. Day one starts it, and day two picks right up where it left off. Each one is very small and doesnāt take you very long, so in 24 days youāve built a whole little story with very little time out of your day. What a great idea.Take a peek at those sparkly envelopes in the unboxing video below.Read+Purr sent me this to try.
Shop Read+Purr
40
EXIT: The Game Advent Calendar, The Magic of Christmas
For the escape room fan. Itās 24 days of puzzles that lead you through one Christmas mystery, so itās a great one for a couple or a family that likes to solve things together after supper.
Buy EXIT on Amazon
41
Brain Teaser Puzzle Advent Calendar 2026
This is my pick for the teen or adult who fidgets. Itās 24 metal and wood puzzles, so itās something to fiddle with every day instead of something to eat.
Buy the Brain Teaser Calendar on Amazon
42
Ravensburger Christmas Puzzle Advent Calendar
For the puzzle person who keeps a card table set up all winter. Thereās a new mini puzzle in every package, so she gets a little win every day of December.
Buy Ravensburger on Amazon
43
W7 Beauty Blast 2026 Makeup Advent Calendar
For the girl who loves trying new makeup without paying for full-size everything. Itās 24 numbered boxes of W7 cosmetics, which makes it an easy pick for teens and grown women alike.
Buy W7 on Amazon
44
Olive & June 12 Days of Full-Size Polishes Advent Calendar
Twelve doors, twelve full-size polishes, no tiny sample bottles. If she does her own nails at the kitchen table on Sunday night, this one is for her.
Buy Olive & June on Amazon
Fill-Your-Own and Reusable Advent Calendars
If youād rather pick what goes behind each door, start here. These come out every year, so you only buy them once.
45
24 Day DIY Kraft Paper Advent Calendar Boxes
This is the easiest way I know to make your own calendar. You get 24 numbered kraft boxes in different styles, and you fill them with candy, notes, or the little things you already bought.
Buy the DIY Boxes on Amazon
46
Pockets of Learning Merry Christmas Tree Fabric Advent Calendar
A fabric calendar is the one that turns into a family tradition. This green Christmas tree hangs back up every single year, so you buy it once instead of buying a new box every December.
Buy the Fabric Tree on Amazon
47
Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar
Little ones love this one. Itās a wooden tree with 24 magnetic ornaments and a star for the top, so they move one ornament a day and see exactly how many days are left.
Buy Melissa & Doug on Amazon
48
Advent Calendar Photo Board
This one has no candy and nothing to unwrap. You clip up a new photo every day, so December turns into a memory board of your year, and you just pack it away for next Christmas.
Buy the Photo Board on Amazon
Watch My Advent Calendar Unboxing
Want to see the calendars before you buy? Hereās me opening a door or two on each one, pickles and all.
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Make Your Own Advent Calendar
If you would rather build the calendar yourself, these three are good places to start. Fill the doors with candy, little notes or something to do together that day.
ā Frequently Asked Questions
A few quick answers before you start opening doors.
More Holiday Resources
- Festive and Fun DIY Christmas Serving Tray
- Handmade Grinch Christmas Tree Ornaments
- Easy DIY Grinch Farmhouse Beads
Whichever one you pick, open that first door with somebody. Merry Christmas from my house to yours.
