Curated by Quick picks
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Best for ages 3+Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
1. Play-Doh Holiday
Best for: Preschoolers and anyone who'd rather squish than build
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Best building toy that isn't LEGOCheck price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
2. MAGNA-TILES microMAGS
Best for: Young builders who like magnets more than bricks
- Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
Show all 8 picks
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Best for Squishmallows fansCheck price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
4. Squish-a-longs Holiday 2026
Best for: Squishmallows collectors aged 6+
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Best for curious 8–12sCheck price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
5. National Geographic Gemstones 2026
Best for: Rock collectors and science fans aged 8–12
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Best for little craftersCheck price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
6. Crayola Kids 2026
Best for: Creative kids from 3 up who like making things
- Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
- Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
LEGO gets most of the attention every December, but plenty of kids would rather squish, sculpt, craft or collect their way to Christmas. So this list leaves LEGO out (it has its own guide) and sorts the best toy advent calendars by age, from preschoolers to pre-teens. For each one I’ve noted the age on the listing and what’s actually inside, plus what they’ll still be playing with on 26 December, which is the real test of a calendar. All of them are on Amazon UK. (Here’s how we choose products.)
- Best for ages 3+: Play-Doh Holiday Advent Calendar (#1)
- Best building toy that isn’t LEGO: MAGNA-TILES microMAGS (#2)
- Best for horse-mad kids: Schleich Horse Club 2026 (#3)
- Best for Squishmallows fans: Squish-a-longs Holiday 2026 (#4)
- Best for curious 8–12s: National Geographic Gemstones 2026 (#5)
- Best for little crafters: Crayola Kids 2026 (#6)
- Best for Harry Potter fans: Harry Potter 2026 calendar (#7)
- Best for Stitch fans: Funko Bitty POP! Lilo & Stitch (#8)
Compare all 8 picks
| # | Product | Best for | Key spec | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Play-Doh Holiday Advent Calendar (G3361)Best for ages 3+ | Preschoolers and anyone who'd rather squish than build | Ages 3+ · 24 Play-Doh cans · 16 tools · snowy playmat | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 2 | MAGNA-TILES microMAGS Advent Calendar (34 pieces)Best building toy that isn't LEGO | Young builders who like magnets more than bricks | Ages 3+ · 34 magnetic pieces · Santa and conductor figures | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 3 | Schleich Horse Club Advent Calendar 2026 (99240)Best for horse-mad kids | Horse lovers aged 5 and up | Ages 5+ · horse and rider figures · foal · stable kit | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 4 | Squish-a-longs Holiday 2026 Advent Calendar (24 Mini-Squish)Best for Squishmallows fans | Squishmallows collectors aged 6+ | Ages 6+ · 24 one-inch Mini-Squish · ring accessory | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 5 | National Geographic 2026 Gemstone Advent CalendarBest for curious 8–12s | Rock collectors and science fans aged 8–12 | Ages 8–12 · 24 polished gemstones · 5 jewellery settings | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 6 | Crayola Kids Advent Calendar 2026 (24 art and craft activities)Best for little crafters | Creative kids from 3 up who like making things | Ages 3+ · 24 art and craft surprises · crayons and simple projects | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 7 | Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2026 (Brown Case)Best for Harry Potter fans | Older kids and teens who love Hogwarts | 24 surprises · stationery, socks, keyrings · suitcase-style box | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 8 | Funko Bitty POP! Countdown Calendar: Disney Lilo & StitchBest for Stitch fans | Stitch fans and young collectors | 10 Bitty POP! figures · display pieces · keychain and pin cases | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
1. Play-Doh Holiday Advent Calendar (G3361)
by Play-Doh
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Three- and four-year-olds who are too young for small building pieces, and parents who want a calendar the whole family can sit down with.
Verdict: The easiest win for the youngest kids. There’s a 1 oz can of Play-Doh behind every door, 24 in all, including a metallic gold one, and 16 of the doors also hide a festive tool such as a gingerbread man, wreath or snowflake cutter. As the days go on, they decorate a snowy playmat scene with ornaments, a tree and a snowman. By Christmas they have a proper Play-Doh kit, not a pile of bits.
What we like
- Rated 3+, so it’s one of the few calendars here for preschoolers
- 24 cans of dough plus 16 tools – a full kit by Christmas
- Snowy playmat gives them something to make each day
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- One can (the metallic gold) contains wheat, per the listing
- Dough and a playmat mean it needs a table and a wipe-down afterwards
Key specs
- Model
- G3361
- Age
- 3+
- Contents
- 24 × 1 oz Play-Doh cans, 16 tools, snowy playmat
- Allergy note
- Metallic gold can contains wheat (listing)
Source: Amazon UK product listing (seller-provided details), checked 6 October 2026.
2. MAGNA-TILES microMAGS Advent Calendar (34 pieces)
by MAGNA-TILES
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Kids from 3 who love building but aren’t ready for tiny bricks, and families who already have a box of MAGNA-TILES.
Verdict: The best building calendar if you want to skip LEGO. It’s the brand’s first advent calendar, with 34 holiday-themed microMAGS pieces: 10 decorated squares, 3 decorated triangles, Santa and conductor figures and a microChassis that rides on a track inside the back cover of the box. The pieces are magnetic, so little hands can manage them, and MAGNA-TILES says you can add its Classic or microMAGS tiles afterwards.
What we like
- Magnetic pieces are easier for young kids than bricks
- Track inside the box for the microChassis to ride on
- Adds to any MAGNA-TILES or microMAGS collection
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- microMAGS are the brand’s smaller tiles, so this is a mini scene
- 34 pieces is enough for a scene, not a big build
Key specs
- Model
- MT256034AC
- Age
- 3+
- Pieces
- 34
- Contents
- 10 decorated squares, 3 decorated triangles, Santa and conductor figures, microChassis
Source: Amazon UK product listing (seller-provided details), checked 6 October 2026.
3. Schleich Horse Club Advent Calendar 2026 (99240)
by Schleich
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Pony-obsessed kids aged 5 and up, especially if they already have a few Schleich animals.
Verdict: Schleich pitches its figures as durable toys built for lasting play, which makes this a calendar that turns into a proper toy. Behind the doors are horse and rider figures, a foal, stable equipment and some calendar-only extras, all from the Horse Club range. It’s the 2026 edition, confirmed on the listing, and it slots straight into any Horse Club stable they already have.
What we like
- 2026 edition, confirmed on the listing
- Horse and rider figures plus a foal and stable kit
- Works with other Schleich Horse Club sets
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- The listing doesn’t give a full contents list
- Very much for horse fans
Key specs
- Set number
- 99240
- Age
- 5+
- Year
- 2026 (listing)
- Contents
- Horse and rider figures, foal, stable equipment, exclusive items (listing)
Source: Amazon UK product listing (seller-provided details), checked 6 October 2026.
4. Squish-a-longs Holiday 2026 Advent Calendar (24 Mini-Squish)
by Squish-a-longs
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Kids aged 6 and up who already know their Squishmallows by name, and anyone who likes collecting and swapping minis.
Verdict: Plenty of kids are mad about Squishmallows, and this is the tiny, collectable version: 24 one-inch Mini-Squish figures in holiday styles, such as Ricardo the Peppermint Bat, Hedda the Christmas Milk and Fleur the Chocolate Yule Log. There’s a ring accessory to wear them on and a numbered collector’s guide to tick off. It’s the 2026 holiday edition.
What we like
- A new collectable behind every door, all 24 days
- Ring accessory, so they can wear their favourites
- 2026 holiday edition
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- These are hard 1-inch plastic minis, not soft plush toys
- Small pieces, so keep them away from younger siblings
Key specs
- Model
- SQAL0275
- Age
- 6+
- Contents
- 24 Mini-Squish (1 inch), ring accessory, collector's guide
- Year
- 2026 (listing)
Source: Amazon UK product listing (seller-provided details), checked 6 October 2026.
5. National Geographic 2026 Gemstone Advent Calendar
by National Geographic
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Older kids who collect rocks, love science, or would like to make their own jewellery.
Verdict: A brilliant pick for curious older kids. There’s a polished gemstone behind each door, including agate, green aventurine, hematite, sodalite, tiger’s eye and blue calcite, plus a collector’s pouch to keep them in. On Christmas Eve there’s a bigger rose quartz specimen. Five jewellery settings let them turn their favourites into keepsakes. Unlike most calendars, it’s also a little bit educational.
What we like
- Starts a real rock collection, with a pouch to keep it in
- Rose quartz finale on Christmas Eve
- Five jewellery settings for making keepsakes
- Dispatched by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- The listing’s safety notes say not suitable for under-10s without adult supervision
- Small stones, so not one for homes with toddlers
Key specs
- Age
- 8–12 (title); safety note says under-10s need adult supervision
- Contents
- 24 polished gemstones, rose quartz (Christmas Eve), collector's pouch, 5 jewellery settings
- Year
- 2026 (listing)
- Seller
- National Geographic Science Toys (dispatched by Amazon)
Source: Amazon UK product listing (seller-provided details), checked 6 October 2026.
6. Crayola Kids Advent Calendar 2026 (24 art and craft activities)
by Crayola
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Kids who’d rather colour, glue and make than collect, and parents who want a daily ten-minute activity.
Verdict: This one gives them something to do each morning. Behind the 24 doors is a mix of Crayola colouring bits and simple craft projects, including DIY ornaments, with gluing, folding and colouring involved. The listing pitches it as mess-free and suitable from age 3. It’s made under licence by Hunter Price International rather than by Crayola itself, and it’s sold by a third-party seller.
What we like
- A small activity every day, not just a trinket
- Aimed at ages 3+, so it suits preschoolers too
- 2026 edition, confirmed on the listing
Worth knowing
- Made under licence, not by Crayola directly
- Sold and shipped by a third-party seller, not Amazon
- The listing doesn’t give a full contents list
Key specs
- Age
- 3+ (listing)
- Contents
- 24 art and craft surprises (listing)
- Year
- 2026 (listing)
- Made by
- Hunter Price International (licensee)
Source: Amazon UK product listing (seller-provided details), checked 6 October 2026.
7. Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2026 (Brown Case)
by Harry Potter
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Harry Potter fans from roughly 8 up to teens (our estimate – the listing gives no age). LEGO hasn’t made a Harry Potter advent calendar for 2026, so this is the one to go for.
Verdict: LEGO skipped Harry Potter this year, so this officially licensed calendar fills the gap. The Brown Case version comes in a suitcase-style box with a Hogwarts crest and holds 24 practical bits: a letter and envelope, a folding map, stationery, sticky notes, a pen, a bookmark, socks, an eye mask, a pin, keyrings, a lanyard, a door hanger, bags and four Christmas decorations. It’s more stationery and accessories than toys, which suits older fans.
What we like
- Officially licensed, with a keepsake suitcase-style box
- Useful bits for school and their room, not just trinkets
- 2026 edition, confirmed on the listing
Worth knowing
- Socks fit about UK 2.5–7.5, so it’s for older kids and teens, not little ones
- Some buyer reviews mention an empty door, so check it when it arrives
- Sold by a third-party seller
Key specs
- Version
- Brown Case (the Black Cube version has different contents)
- Contents
- Letter, map, stationery, socks, eye mask, pin, keyrings, lanyard, bags, 4 decorations (listing)
- Year
- 2026 (listing)
- Not suitable for
- Under 3s (small parts)
Source: Amazon UK product listing (seller-provided details), checked 6 October 2026.
8. Funko Bitty POP! Countdown Calendar: Disney Lilo & Stitch
by Funko
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Stitch-obsessed kids (and grown-ups) who like lining up tiny figures on a shelf.
Verdict: For a Stitch fan, this calendar is a fun way to count down. Despite the 24 doors, you get 10 Bitty POP! figures (each about 2.3cm tall), plus 7 stackable display pieces, 3 holiday accessories, 2 keychain cases and 2 pin cases. The figures stand in front of the box artwork to build a scene. The listing doesn’t give a year and buyer reviews go back to 2025, so this is the same calendar as last year.
What we like
- Officially licensed Disney figures
- Box art doubles as a display backdrop
- Dispatched by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- Only 10 of the 24 doors hold figures, per the product description
- Not for under-3s: small parts, and the pin has sharp points
- Same design as last year, not a 2026 edition
Key specs
- Model
- 87002
- Contents
- 10 Bitty POP! figures, 7 display pieces, 3 accessories, 2 keychain cases, 2 pin cases (product description)
- Figure size
- About 2.3cm
- Year
- Not stated
- Not suitable for
- Under 3s
Source: Amazon UK product listing (seller-provided details), checked 6 October 2026.
FAQ
What's the best advent calendar for a 3-year-old?
Play-Doh (#1), MAGNA-TILES microMAGS (#2) or Crayola (#6). All three are listed for ages 3+, and none of them relies on tiny building pieces.
Are there any non-LEGO building advent calendars?
Yes. The MAGNA-TILES microMAGS calendar (#2) builds a magnetic Christmas scene, and the pieces work with other MAGNA-TILES sets afterwards. For LEGO itself, see our LEGO advent calendar guide.
Is there a Harry Potter advent calendar for 2026?
Not from LEGO, but this officially licensed Harry Potter calendar (#7) has a 2026 edition, full of stationery, socks and accessories. It suits older kids and teens best.
Do these calendars contain chocolate?
No. Every calendar on this page is toys, crafts or collectables, with no chocolate or sweets. Bear in mind that one Play-Doh can contains wheat.
When should I buy a kids' advent calendar?
October or early November. They start on 1 December, popular ones sell out, and buying early gives you time to check nothing’s damaged or missing.
