Shopping / 25 October 2024

The best advent calendars for children 2024

Celebrate the run up to Christmas with these sustainable, eco and heirloom ways to countdown the advent... and, all without a chocolate in sight (ok, so there may be the odd vegan or luxury treats!)

By Bonita Turner

How many sleeps until Christmas?

Advent calendars that will last beyond December. Be it stationary, small sustainable toys and crafts, or even beauty treats hiding under those 24 little windows and doors (or, neatly packed into pretty boxes, hanging from brown paper bags, poking out from cloth pockets…) is the only way to count down until the big day.

And, get a little head start by buying them now (so, no last minute dash on November 30th) – as really you need to get your skates on – the best ones do sell out fast with our pick of the best eco and sustainable advents for all the family.

Here's our pick of the best advent calendars for children for 2024...

Grapat Advent Calendar

For those who love: a keepsake heirloom treat
Ideal for: children aged 3+
Eco Credentials: wooden toys made from sustainable forests, using non-toxic water based colour stain

This limited edition Grapat advent calendar, is made up of 24 (can we just say, stunning) boxes containing different limited-edition surprises that link back to invitations to play and rituals proposed for each day of advent. It also includes a booklet full of ideas, traditions, and inspiration to guide you through this wonderful time of the year.

Christmas Tree Advent from Daylesford

For those who love: a little luxe treat
Ideal for: age 4+
Eco Credentials: Made with sustainable materials can be used over and over

Children of all ages will love counting down to Christmas Day with this unique tree shaped advent calendar. Each of the 25 drawers contains an organic chocolate, decoration, toy or treat for a daily gift to build festive excitement throughout December.

Canvas Advent calendar by Frugi

For those who love: classic Frugi prints
Ideal for: age 3+
Eco Credentials: 100% sustainable and super-durable organic cotton canvas that can be used over and over

This Frugi Advent Calendar features lots of its distinctive characters – past and present – printed on the front of each of the soft and durable 24 pockets. Plus, the handy loops at the top make it easy to hang up with the rest of your Christmas decorations. What treats and treasures will you pop in?

Nutcracker Theatre Advent Calendar by Meri Meri

For those who love: the classic Nutcracker story and crafts
Ideal for: age 8+
Eco Credentials: a truly special gift that will keep on giving for years to come!

Watch the classic ballet in the comfort of your own home with this amazing Nutcracker Theatre  – a true investment it is made with eco-friendly paper and glitter. Every year Meri Meri blow us away with their creative calendars and this is no exception – this was introduced in 2021 and is available once again this year (hooray). Children open the box to reveal the theatre, orchestra pit and 3 scene changes – and each day they will receive the main characters and props, beautifully wrapped in numbered envelopes. Then on day 24 they will be delighted with a sensational gold tone charm bracelet with acrylic charms, tassels and bell.

Keepsake Advent Calendar by STYCH

For those that like: accessories addicts
Ideal for: older kids and tweens
Eco Credentials: easy to store and reuse and fill year after year

This woven signature STYCH pink keepsake calendar is ideal for those tweens and young teens who prefer little girly treats like hair clips, slides and accessories – or, whatever they are into on each given year. This advent will make make the lead up to Christmas day extra special with each expandable little pocket edged in grosgrain – we love the grosgrain hanging tabs and ribbon to roll up and recycle and keep for each year too.

Galison Merry & Bright Advent Calendar puzzle at WHSmith

For those that like: puzzles
Ideal for: children aged 12+
Eco Credentials: Great re-use opportunity – if the pieces don’t get lost!

This Merry & Bright Advent calendar puzzle captures the spirit of the holiday season with twelve whimsical illustrations by Louise Cunningham. Each puzzle is packaged in a matte-finish sturdy boxes, perfect for gifting, reuse, and storage. Fun for all the family and a daily Christmas activity but maybe not before breakfast or the school run

Sephora Collection  Moving Lights Advent at Sephora

For those that like: make-up treats
Ideal for: tweens and young teens age 9+
Eco Credentials: once the products are removed/used it makes makes a great desk or jewellery storage box

Tweens and teens will be happy to swap chocolate advents this year for this Sephora Collection The Future is Yours Advent Calendar. Not only is there 24 face, body and hair own brand products to discover especially as it includes 24 exclusive videos on TikTok that can be accessed by flashing each of the QR codes for tutorials, makeup hacks and crash tests.

Milledeux Hair Accessory Advent Calendar at Childrensalon

For those that love to: accessorise
Ideal for: girls aged 3 + and tweens
Eco Credentials: the box makes a sweet jewellery box/storage drawers afterward the 25th.

As big fans of Milledeux hair accessories (some of our faves include the pencils and the lobsters clips) could we be any more excited that they have continued their accessories advent box. This advent calendar is a beautifully presented cardboard advent box filled with 24 little drawers that each contain a cute bow hair accessory. With a selection of slides, alligator clips, snap clips and hair bands (in either silver or gold versions) this is the stuff of every little girls dream.

BRIO Advent Calendar 2024 by BRIO

For those that love: wooden toys and train sets
Ideal for: toddlers and children ages 3+
Eco Credentials: BRIO lasts forever and these seasonal extras will expand any Childs existing train set

The perfect introduction to the joy of wooden train sets for younger children with this festive themed advent – with exclusive seasonal pieces. Encouraging creativity, imagination and gross motor skills. Children can fold down the front of the box to reveal a Christmas scene full of fun, and then each day a doors open to reveal a classic BRIO toy that is compatible with the charming BRIO world railway system.

Spider-Man Advent Calendar by LEGO®

For those who love: Lego or building toys
Ideal for: Age 7+, Lego addicts as well as the whole family
Eco Credentials: lego is timeless and these limited edition sets are what collectors wish for

Each year the Lego advent calendar offering gets bigger and bigger – and each promises to be as collectable as the next. If you have kids addicted to Lego (and who doesn’t?) then they will enjoy a little daily ‘buildable treat’ and watching the Christmas scene come together in the festive run-up. We love this year’s Marvel Spider-Man Calendar.

Limited Edition Advent Calendar by Biscuiteers’ and Emma Bridgewater

For those who love: a touch of luxury
Ideal for: all the family and biscuit lovers
Eco Crendentials: ideal for any age – just refill with biscuits each year (we love to reuse the biscuit tins also)

The Biscuiteers’ limited edition advent calendar is possibly one of our favourite reusable advents. Created in collaboration with ceramics designer Emma Bridgewater, this cloth calendar is the ultimate in luxury. An investment buy that will soon become part of your Christmas year after year inspired by Biscuiteers infamous advent tin, the 24 little pockets can be filled with sweets or treats or, why not go for the full Biscuiteers’ experience and add its luxe advent calendar biscuit tin of cute festive designs in each pocket?

Little People, Big Dream 24 Book  Advent at Acorn & Pip

For those who love: this popular biography series, reading
Ideal for: 4-7yrs, early readers
Eco Credentials: perfect little books to keep and start you LPBD collection

This delightful advent includes 24 mini books from the best-selling (and one of our favourite) kids’ biography series. Inside each envelope, children will find stories about inspirational people from across the world, from ground-breaking musician Elton John and eco hero Steve Irwin, to freedom-fighter Martin Luther King and visionary artist Frida Kahlo.

Santa’s House Pop Up Advent Calendar by Meri Meri

For those who love: Crafts, dollhouses and imaginative play
Ideal for: Children aged 5+
Eco Credentials: will bring hours of imaginative play as well as being a lovely keepsake

Ever wondered what Santa’s house looks like? Well, wonder no more with this beautifully designed and crafted interactive paper advent calendar is a pleasure for doll house fans. Each day open the windows, and pop up icons, to reveal Santa and his elves and reindeer, a Christmas tree and gifts.

Colour In Christmas Advent Calendar by Selfie Clothing Co.

For those that love: crafts and colouring
Ideal for: the whole family
Eco Credentials: a family heirloom in the making especially you add name

This colour in Christmas advent will bring days of crafty Christmas fun colour. Coming with 8 fabric pens (and a practice sheet) this fabric printed calendar makes for a few minutes quiet each morning (or evening) as children (and even adults) can colour and create to their hearts content. What’s more we love that there is no waste as the fabric pens will be clipped together to form a rod, which is then inserted through the hem at the top of the calendar – allowing the calendar to be hung in the family home, making a display that children will be proud to show off! Personalisation adds an extra special touch (fee applies).

Eco Advent Calendar by PLAY in CHOC

For those who love: to be eco conscious or, want a ‘healthier’ treat
Ideal for: childen ages 5+
Eco Credentials: 100% organic, Dairy, Nut, Gluten, Soy & Plastic FREE

This advent has 24 drawers each containing a 10g organic (and vegan friendly) chocolate with touch of coconut, a 3D puzzle and fun facts card. This environmentally responsible calendar then becomes an eco toy to play with on Christmas eve or some extra decorations – what’s more if you replace the drawers (back to font) and open the outer sleeve it create a landscape play area. Or, if you prefer, Play in Choc offer a smaller 12 day Advent Calendar.

Advent Calendar Horse Club 2024

For those who love: classic toys and horses
Ideal for: Children aged 4+
Eco Credentials: classic toys that get played with over and over

Fans of Schleich figures will delight at this new collectors horse themed advent as you guide Sofia and friends through the horse club. These delightful hand-painted, sculpted figures and accessories are iconic and this one encourages learning through imaginative play – and what’s more it offers repeat play once the Christmas tree is down.