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We love to have an advent calendar in December to help us count down to Christmas. We have used various advent calendars including our favorites Playmobil and Lego Friends. With each of these advent calendars you get a box that has 24 doors to open, one each day, with a small toy behind each door. Also included is a small cardboard piece that makes a backdrop to enact scenes on. 
For a couple years, S got the Playmobil Advent Calendars and she loved these. The figurines and animals were so fun to play with. S spent hours creating scenes for endless play.
In 2013, Playmobil did not release a new Christmas/Winter advent calendar, so we went with one from Lego Friends. We ended up going with Lego Friends again in 2014. This advent calendar was a little different because S got to assemble a figure or item each day. The directions for assembling the pieces are on the inside of each day’s door. While most of the items were easy to assemble and recognizable as Christmas, others we struggled to figure out what the item was supposed to be. But S really enjoyed the calendar and played with the pieces throughout the year with the rest of her Legos.
2013
Playmobil did release a couple new advent calendars this year and S chose to try one again.
PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendar
PLAYMOBIL Christmas Room with Illuminating Tree Advent Calendar Building Kit
Once all the pieces are revealed, light up the Christmas tree for some extra holiday cheer!
PLAYMOBIL Santa’s Workshop Advent Calendar
This is the advent calendar that we have for this year! Help Santa assemble all the Christmas gifts as he makes his list and checks it twice!
PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 Advent Calendar “Christmas in the Forest” Set
This set is recommended for ages 1.5+, so it is the perfect advent calendar for younger children. Enjoy an outdoor Christmas with Santa and his forest friends.
LEGO Advent Calendars
LEGO Friends 41102 Advent Calendar Building Kit
Build the winter village in Heartlake City Square, with a new piece to add every day. You’ll find special winter sports equipment, fairground games and Christmas cakes and candies. You might even find some furry winter friends inside too.
2014
LEGO Star Wars 75097 Advent Calendar Building Kit
Journey through the Star Wars galaxy in the countdown to Christmas! Reveal minifigures, starships, vehicles and more with the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar.
LEGO City Town 60099 Advent Calendar Building Kit
Countdown to Christmas with the LEGO City Advent Calendar with police, space, arctic and Christmas-themed surprises, and 6 minifigures.
S is so excited and wants to start the count down already, but December 1st will be here before we know it!
Looking for a DIY Advent Calendar? I created this one for our dog that the same design would work well for a child.
Does your family have a favorite advent calendar?
