Christmas is perhaps a child’s favorite time of the year. Undoubtedly, you know that this is because of the pile of gifts waiting for each one under the Christmas tree. As December approaches each year, it becomes increasingly difficult to distract the children from the coming holidays.
What better way to build up the excitement for your children than an advent calendar with a brand new toy for each day of December? Once, the only advent calendars that existed were those amazing chocolate ones. Today, toy advent calendars are becoming more and more popular and our purpose today is to give insight to the best toy advent calendars for kids in 2021.
If you are not familiar with advent calendars yet, each franchise or brand has a new one every year. It is becoming more and more common for people to collect them and they are great fun gifts for adults as well. Here are the best ones for kids:
LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2021
This year’s LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar is inspired by the Mandalorian Season 2. For 24 days your child (or you!) can open a variety of mini-figures, mini builds, and accessories. For even more fun, all of the collection can be used with other LEGO Star Wars playsets.
Included are 7 LEGO mini-figures including the Mandalorian and Grogu (also known as Baby Yoda) in festive outfits, Scout Trooper, Stormtrooper, Tusken Raider, IG-11, and IT-0. The mini builds include The Razor Crest, TIE Fighter, Tusken ballista snow launcher, training targets, and Baby Yoda’s hoverpram.
Lastly, the box can be folded out to make a festive display, or as a play backdrop for your new figures and accessories.
Age: 6+
Price: $39.99
Hot Wheels 2021 Advent Calendar
Hot Wheels have been a staple in children’s lives for decades. This timeless collection features 8 1:64 scale cars and 16 holiday-themed accessories. The cars have vivid details that children and collectors alike will love. While there is going to be some variation in the accessories you get, you can expect things like reindeer, skis for your cars, snow jumps, Christmas trees, and signs pointing the way to Santa’s workshop.
Additionally, the box can fold out to create the perfect play mat for your new cars, complete with a small track for cars to race head to head around.
Age: 3+
Price: $19.99
Pokemon Advent Calendar 2021
Pokemon fans of all ages will just adore this advent calendar. Each calendar comes with 16 2’ figures in a special edition pearl finish, and 8 holiday-themed accessories.
The collection includes a wide variety of Pokemon figures across several generations. No Pokemon collection would be complete without Pikachu, complete with a festive gift. Other figures include Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Vulpix, Eevee, Rowlet, and more. The accessories include a Christmas tree, gift boxes, and mini pokemon.
The calendar itself opens into a vibrant tri-fold display full of Pokemon festive cheer. Have your new pokemon figures play in the snow or battle it out to become the festive league champion.
Age: 4+
Price: $39.99
LEGO City Advent Calendar 2021
This year’s LEGO City advent calendar sees the return of a few believed favourite minifigures. You can expect to find Big Betty, Shirley Keeper, and Officer Sam Grizzled, and Fire Fighter Bob among the figures that will come over the 24 leading up to Christmas. But that’s not all! There are plenty of other surprises in store includes a Santa mini figure, and several mini builds. The builds include Santa’s train and mini-sized LEGO City buildings. Additionally, the box folds out to make the perfect display backdrop for your new figures, or as a play mat.
Age: 5+
Price: $29.99
LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2021
Recapture the magic of the Christmas holiday at Hogwarts with the LEGO Harry Potter advent calendar. This year’s collection will let you recreate your favourite scenes from the books or movies, from letters flying out of the Dursley’s chimney, to visiting the vaults of Gringotts.
This collection includes six minifigures; Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Dudley Dursley, and Griphook. There are also several mini builds including a Gringotts vault with gold inside and the magical wall of Diagon Ally that opens up to reveal the magic of the wizarding world beyond.
That is not the end of the fun. There are 2 random wizard card tiles. There are up to 12 wizard card tiles out there to collect. As a special surprise, the box folds out to use as a game board and one of the surprises is a spinner to play the bonus game. It will entertain the whole family long after Christmas has come and gone.
Age: 7+
Price: $39.99
LEGO Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar 2021
When they’re not busy saving the world from Thanos, the Avengers get to embrace the joy of Christmas too. The calendar includes 7 minifigures; Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Thor, Captain Marvel, Thanos, and Nick Fury. Several of the minifigures are wearing festive sweaters and winter wear. There are also several mini builds including the Quinjet, Helicarrier, Spider-Man drone, and Avengers Tower. The box folds out into a perfect play mat to reenact the Avenger’s Christmas antics weather it be a snowball fight between the avengers, or Thanos trying to steal Christmas.
For extra fun, the final door reveals a special surprise.
Age: 7+
Price: $39.99
Fidget Toys Advent Calendar 2021
Fidget Toys have long been proven to have a plethora of sensory benefits, and are just fun! For this Advent Calendar, adults and children alike can enjoy a new fidget every day up until Christmas. This collection of high-quality, non-toxic toys can provide hours of entertainment.
The collection includes toys such as slinkies, mini balls, Rubik’s cube, and adorable squishy animals. With so many fidget toys, you’ll have enough to share with the whole family and all of your friends.
Age: 3+
Price: $55.45
Smiggle Advent Calendar 2021
If someone in your life loves stationery, they will love the Smiggle Advent Calendar. Every day leading up to Christmas you are surprised with pens, stickers, bookmarks, and more. All of your new stationery can then fit into the included pencil case.
Every bit of stationery carries Smiggle’s iconic cute design. With this Advent Calendar, you’ll have everything you need to make that last-minute Christmas card or letter to Santa.
Price: $22.18
LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2021
Last on our list we have the LEGO Friends Advent Calendar. The five friends of Heartlake City can all be found in this collection, shrunken down into a micro-doll form. There are several mini builds available in this collection including a piano, a fireplace with stockings, and a sleigh. Children of all ages will be able to act out their favourite festive scenes with the friends. Like other LEGO Advent Calendars, the box folds down to make the perfect play mat for your adventures.
Age: 6+
Price: $29.99
Playmobil Back to the Future Advent Calendar
This cult classic keeps people of all ages entertained despite its age. This year it still delivers joy to people in the form of this advent calendar. With each new toy adding up to a whole, kids will be begging for Christmas to come soon.
With figurines of the main cast behind the doors such as Marty, Doc Brown, and Biff, brand new and unheard of tales will undoubtedly by the highlight of the holiday. Other accessories such as a clock tower, guitar, and speaker complement the set. Most important is the letter to future Doc Brown, which is definitely the highlight of this advent calendar.
Final Thoughts
With so many choices of toys out there, there will be no end to decision-making. However, the kids want their presents and must be satisfied. Thus it is up to the parent to make their year and holiday season.
An advent calendar will prevent the children from getting bored waiting for Christmas because a gift a day no matter how small is still meaningful. No more boredom equals peace of mind. Your kids will appreciate the small appetizers when the big presents are torn open!
Most of the advent calendars here are made by LEGO, but a few are from other franchises such as Playmobil and Smiggle. LEGO’s tradition of high-quality toys still stands true, and you won’t go wrong for choosing them. However, if you think the other choices are what your kids prefer, get those instead.