One study found people felt happier before a holiday trip than people with no trip planned, likely from the anticipation alone.
An advent calendar stretches that feeling across December, one small door at a time. Pick by age: go by the age on each box; for toddlers, choose one labeled for under 3. Ages and safety ↓
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Books
If the preschooler you're shopping for asks for Bluey nonstop, these books carry that favorite into the weeks before the holidays.
A child who already repeats favorite lines gets fresh stories with the same characters each day. On the couch after lunch, a grown-up can read the newest book while the preschooler turns pages.
Building sets
PicassoTiles pieces match a child who spends long stretches stacking walls and towers that click together on the kitchen table.
A fresh door each day hands that steady stacker more material for whatever is still standing from yesterday. The magnetic pieces pull apart easily, so last week's tower can turn into a garage for toy cars.
Building sets
This Numberblocks MathLink calendar is made for a little counter who calls out every number they spot.
Their love of numbers turns into a countdown they open with their own hands, bit by bit. Each find gets lined up on the windowsill, a growing row to count before the big day.
A preteen devoted to Harry Potter gets a wizarding surprise to open each December morning before heading off to school.
It trades the cartoon mascots of a little kid's calendar for the wizarding world they already chat about with friends. Over winter break, they can spread the finds across a desk and decide what rides along in a backpack.
Games and puzzles
The family member who calls everyone to the table for game night will have a Mattel Games door to open each December morning.
A games maker's calendar matches that rounding-up habit, turning the December wait into a daily call to the table.
Dolls and figures
German brand
HABA's farmyard calendar works for a child who moos at every cow in her picture books and wants an animal to hold daily.
Each animal behind a door becomes a toy she keeps, rather than a chocolate gone in a bite. Her growing herd ends up lined along the bookshelf by Christmas Eve.
Arts and crafts
The Grinch fan who kneads slime at the kitchen table can count down to Christmas with something gooey behind each door.
It pairs the grumpy character they quote all December with the messy, hands-on play they reach for anyway.
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At snack time each afternoon, a fan who acts out the show with stuffed animals has a new door to open.
Evie and the show's heroine bring the cartoon into the pretend episodes that fan stages with toys. Each opened compartment becomes a little stage for the latest find.
On the playroom floor, a kid who acts out Paw Patrol episodes has a new character to send on a mission.
The rescues replayed from the show gain a bigger crew as the month goes on.
Naming every Littlest Pet Shop pet on her dresser, a young collector gets a new find each Advent morning.
She can unwrap the latest surprise, choose a name for it and find it a spot beside the others.
The L.O.L. Surprise!
Music Festival calendar suits a fan who dresses and restyles their dolls every day. Doll dress-up is already how that fan plays, so each opened door becomes part of the styling game. On a Saturday morning, they can line up the week's finds beside their dolls on a bedroom shelf.
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This Monopoly advent calendar carries a household's favorite board game through each December day for its regular players.
Those players already gather around that board, so the countdown keeps their game close all month. After dinner, the family can take turns opening the next door before the board comes out.
Ages 12+
German brand
This Ravensburger puzzle calendar suits jigsaw lovers aged 12 and up, from older kids to grown-ups.
The wait for Christmas becomes a daily puzzle to piece together, not a sweet to eat. At the kitchen table after dinner, each finished picture can stay out until the next door opens.
This dice calendar gives a tabletop role-playing player a new die to open each December day.
Every door adds to the dice bag they already bring to game night. By Christmas Eve, they can roll the whole haul at the table.
This e.l.f. calendar suits a beauty fan who likes to build a fresh look from new finds.
Every door holds makeup, skincare or a tool, so there is a lot to mix and match. Saturday is a good day to try the week's finds together.
Yankee Candle's countdown calendar puts a small jar candle behind each door for a home-fragrance lover.
Rather than chocolate, the wait for Christmas then brings a new scent to light and enjoy every evening.
Twinings' tea calendar turns the December countdown into a daily cup for the grown-up tea drinker at home.
Each door holds a fresh blend to brew, so the wait for Christmas comes with a quiet break in place of candy.
This coffee advent calendar gives a daily coffee drinker a new flavored pot to brew each December morning.
Each bag is pre-measured, so there is no scooping at the counter. The countdown to Christmas happens at the coffee maker.
The Tea Forte calendar gives a home tea sipper a different blend to steep each December day.
Each door holds a pyramid infuser, so there is no loose leaf to measure. Pour hot water over it at the kitchen counter and pick a favorite.
This K-Cup advent calendar puts a pod behind every December door, for someone whose Keurig machine runs every morning.
It needs a Keurig coffee maker to brew. Each day's pod goes straight into the machine before the first mug.
This tea calendar gives a tea drinker a different blend to brew each December morning.
Black, green and herbal teas keep the daily cup fresh. Each day's bag can go straight into the first mug.
This Taylors of Harrogate calendar suits the grown-up who starts every morning with a proper brew.
Each door hides tea to make, so the countdown to Christmas happens at the kettle with the first mug of the day.
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This house-shaped wooden calendar suits a family that likes to pack its own December surprises.
Each drawer starts empty, so sweets, notes or tiny toys all fit. After dinner, the next drawer opens beside the warm glow of its lights.
A household that wants a countdown to hang up and bring out every December gets a calendar with its own name stitched on.
Each day the child picks an ornament and puts it on the tree. Hung by the door, it shows how many days are left.
This snowman village calendar suits a family that likes to decorate early and wants a countdown on display.
Because it runs on batteries, it can stand on a shelf without a cord. Each morning, someone can mark the day on the mantel.
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A Nightmare Before Christmas advent calendar fits a fan who would rather decorate for Halloween than hang tinsel.
It keeps the ghoulish side of the season they already love while still marking the wait for the holiday. Each night at bedtime, they can open the next door and set whatever waits inside on a dresser.
Farshore's PAW Patrol countdown calendar gives a pup-loving fan a story-led way through December.
The wait for Christmas then runs on characters they already know, one door at a time. At bedtime, you and that fan can open the next door and read the find aloud together.
Usborne's book advent calendar brings a new story to each December day for a bedtime-story lover.
Story time is the part of the day that reader asks for, so books fill the countdown. On the couch, you can open the newest book together and read it aloud.
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Vehicles
American brand
Any child who races Hot Wheels cars across the rug has a surprise from that brand waiting behind each door.
The wait for Christmas then runs on the toy that child carries in a pocket, rather than on chocolate. The calendar's opened compartments turn into parking spots for each new find.
Vehicles
Mini Movers from John Deere puts a tractor toy surprise behind each December door for a farm-machine fan.
Each new find joins the pretend farm work that fan already runs every day. By Christmas Eve, the fleet can park in a row on the windowsill.
Music
This gramophone calendar suits a music lover who likes a countdown that actually plays.
Each door holds a mini record to set on the turntable. After dinner, the household can pick the day's record and listen together.
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Go by the age on the box first. Then pick a theme they already love.
In October or early November. The most wanted calendars can sell out before December 1.
Yes. The Ravensburger puzzle calendar gives older kids and adults a small jigsaw to piece together each December day.
The Bluey storybook calendar carries a favorite cartoon into each morning, and the Peppa Pig calendar gives a fan who acts out the show a new door at snack time.
A household that already gathers around Monopoly gets the Monopoly advent calendar, while the Mattel Games calendar opens a door each morning for whoever calls everyone to the table.
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Updated Nov 8and 3 more
