How is it the middle of November already?!
My advent calendar buying days are behind me now, and I have mixed feelings about that! For a few years, the 1st of December was the start of something magical in our house, because that was when our Elf on the Shelf turned up. It began with one cute little elf, but before long we had a whole family of four. Just to be clear though, our elves were never there to keep watch or frighten the girls - they were all about the fun!
Every year the elves arrived with a calendar for each of the girls. At first these were chocolate ones, until it dawned on us that our youngest wasn't actually eating hers. Back then, the one and only chocolate she'd touch was a Nestle Animal bar - and sadly nobody made an Animal bar advent calendar... Later on, the only chocolate she'd eat was one particular supermarket's own brand, so the big-name calendars piled high in every shop just weren't worth buying for her.
So I had to start thinking outside the box when it came to advent calendars. I hadn't realised there were so many other options until I started looking!
There are lots of reasons a chocolate calendar might not work for an autistic child or young person. Some have sensory differences around taste and texture, some have a very limited range of 'safe' foods, and some just aren't that bothered about chocolate. So I thought I'd share some alternative ideas. I've grouped them into toys and games, books and puzzles, beauty, food and 'other' - but I've still finished with a few chocolate ones for the traditionalists :)
There are some cheaper toy options out there but as a previous Toy Buyer myself I know that quality is important so I've tried to stay away from recommending any that appear to be brand rip-offs.
For PDA families it's worth thinking about the possibility that a door to open every single day can feel like one more demand for some children, and surprises aren't always welcome either. If it works better to open three at once, or peek inside first, or save them all for a binge on Christmas Eve, that's absolutely fine. There are no rules with these things, whatever suits your family best!
The pictures and titles in this post contain affiliate links; as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but it won't cost you any extra.
Prices were correct when I wrote this on 12 November 2026, but they change a lot in the run-up to Black Friday, so do check before you buy.
TOYS AND GAMES
24 Days of Fun Pen-and-Paper Games for Two
A lovely one to share - a new pen-and-paper game for two players every day. No screens, no batteries and nothing to tidy away afterwards (always a win in my book!).
£13.95 - see it on Amazon
Playmobil Christmas Advent Calendar: At the North Pole
Playmobil calendars are still a firm favourite. The little pieces build up into a whole North Pole scene by Christmas Eve, which is great for children who love small-world play and like to know where it's all heading.
£29.99 - see it on Amazon
LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2026
A small build behind every door, so it's a few minutes of calm, focused making each day. The mini builds can all be played with together once December's done.
£16.99 (RRP £22.99 - 26% off) - see it on Amazon
LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026
Perfect for the Star Wars fan, whatever their age - this one's just as popular with grown-ups as it is with children!
£22.95 (RRP £29.99 - 23% off) - see it on Amazon
LEGO Disney Princess Advent Calendar 2026
If Disney is a special interest in your house, this one might tick two boxes at once - LEGO and princesses.
£19.99 (RRP £29.99 - 33% off) - see it on Amazon
Squish-a-longs Holiday 2026 Advent Calendar
One for the sensory seekers. Squishy toys make great fidgets, and they're small enough to pop in a pocket or school bag.
£27.99 (RRP £29.99 - 7% off) - see it on Amazon
Fidget Advent Calendars For Kids
A fidget calendar was one of my 'unusual' picks back in 2023, and it's still one of my favourite ideas. A new fidget toy every day is perfect for busy hands, and they're handy to have around long after Christmas, whether that's for school, the car or a long wait somewhere.
(RRP £20.99) - see it on Amazon
Minecraft Advent Calendar
Minecraft is a big love for so many of our children, and this one's a bargain at the moment - well over half price!
£7.80 (RRP £21.99 - 65% off) - see it on Amazon
Christmas Advent Calendar 2026 with Finger Puppets
Great for little ones. Some children find it much easier to talk or tell a story through a puppet, so these could be useful well beyond Christmas.
£19.99 (RRP £20.99 - 5% off) - see it on Amazon
POP Funko Bitty Hello Kitty & Friends
Tiny collectable figures, which will suit anyone who loves to collect, line things up or arrange them just so.
£24.64 - see it on Amazon
BOOKS AND PUZZLES
Winnie-the-Pooh: Advent Calendar Book Collection
A little book to unwrap every day, and Pooh Bear is a fave for many! Book calendars are brilliant because you're left with a whole library by the end of the month, not just a pile of foil wrappers.
£15.43 (RRP £21.99 - 30% off) - see it on Amazon
The Gruffalo and Friends Advent Calendar Book Collection
The Gruffalo and friends, in mini book form. Familiar stories can be really reassuring for children who like to know what's coming, so a calendar full of favourites might go down better than a box of surprises.
£14.57 (RRP £25.00 - 42% off) - see it on Amazon
Hidden Games - Professor Charlie's World Tour - Puzzle Advent Calendar
One for the puzzle-solvers and code-crackers, with a daily challenge as Professor Charlie travels the world. It looks ideal for older children, teens (and possibly a competitive parent or two...).
£24.90 - see it on Amazon
Pokemon: Festive Calendar: books, activities and surprises
Pokémon was on my list in 2023 and it's back again - which tells you everything about how long that special interest lasts in some houses! A mix of books, activities and surprises behind the doors.
£16.99 (RRP £21.99 - 23% off) - see it on Amazon
Peppa Pig: Advent Book Collection
Another returning favourite. Lots of little ones love Peppa, and these mini books are just the right size for small hands.
£15.09 (RRP £19.99 - 25% off) - see it on Amazon
Mr. Men Little Miss Advent Calendar
A bit of nostalgia for us parents too! The Mr. Men and Little Miss books are short, funny and very easy to share.
£16.99 (RRP £19.99 - 15% off) - see it on Amazon
The Original Jigsaw Puzzle Advent Calendar - Holiday Havoc
A jigsaw calendar was one of my 'unusual' picks last time and I still love the idea. You get a bag of pieces each day and slowly build the whole picture, so it's a nice calm activity for jigsaw lovers.
£25.99 - see it on Amazon
BEAUTY
These are aimed more at teens and young adults. Smells and textures can be a big deal for some autistic young people, so it might be worth sticking to a brand they already know and like.
Lynx 24-Day Countdown Calendar
A countdown full of Lynx toiletries - handy for any teenager who's already a fan of a particular scent (and their family will thank you for it too...).
£35.00 (RRP £70.00 - 50% off, Black Friday deal) - see it on Amazon
W7 Beauty Blast 2026 Makeup Advent Calendar
A good budget way to try out lots of different makeup, without spending a fortune on full-size products that might end up not feeling right.
£21.99 - see it on Amazon
NIVEA Advent Calendar 2026
NIVEA is a familiar, fairly gentle brand, so this could suit anyone who's a bit wary of strong scents. It's also more than half price at the moment!
£28.50 (RRP £60.00 - 53% off) - see it on Amazon
FOOD
Last time I finished with a cheese calendar (I would always prefer this over chocolate myself!), so here are a few more food ideas that aren't chocolate. As always, check the ingredients if allergies or a restricted diet are part of the picture.
Walker's Shortbread 2026 Advent Calendar
A shortbread biscuit a day - simple, plain and predictable, which is exactly what some of our children want from their food.
£12.28 (RRP £21.00 - 42% off) - see it on Amazon
Nutella Exclusive Giant Christmas Advent Calendar 2026
For the child (or adult!) who'd happily eat Nutella off a spoon. Strictly speaking it's chocolatey, but it's definitely not your standard calendar.
£29.74 (RRP £34.99 - 15% off) - see it on Amazon
Sweets Advent Calendar 2026 - Retro sweets
Retro sweets behind every door - great for sweet lovers who aren't keen on chocolate, and a trip down memory lane for us parents.
£15.90 (RRP £19.99 - 20% off) - see it on Amazon
Candy Kittens Vegan Sweets Advent Calendar 2026
A good option for vegan families, or for anyone who just prefers gummy sweets to chocolate.
£14.90 - see it on Amazon
OTHER
A few that didn't fit neatly anywhere else (which, let's be honest, is a feeling plenty of us know well!).
RONSTONE Crystal Advent Calendar 2026
A crystal behind every door - perfect for rock and gem collectors, and lovely to hold and turn over in your hand, too.
£22.99 - see it on Amazon
Yankee Candle 2026 Advent Calendar
One for older teens and grown-ups who love a cosy scent (with adult supervision on the lighting front, of course). Possibly one to treat yourself to - you deserve it!
£29.82 - see it on Amazon
JOYIN 2026 Christmas Advent Calendar tree
A tree-shaped calendar that slowly gets decorated as December goes on, so you can see exactly how many days are left - a really helpful visual countdown.
£12.99 (RRP £15.99 - 19% off) - see it on Amazon
Elf Magic Advent Calendar
The cheapest on the list, and a fun one if there's an elf visiting your house this year. The old traditional kind, with pictures behind the doors!
£6.49 - see it on Amazon
Chocolate
And finally, as promised, a few chocolate ones! Sometimes the familiar option is the right one, and there's nothing wrong with that at all.
Lindt Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar
Classic, smooth milk chocolate, and the same every day - no nasty surprises behind the doors.
£7.00 (RRP £8.50 - 18% off) - see it on Amazon
Lindt Lindor Assorted Chocolate Advent Calendar
For Lindor lovers. It's an assorted one, so worth knowing about whether a mix of flavours might be a problem.
£5.00 (RRP £7.00 - 29% off) - see it on Amazon
Kinder House Chocolate Advent Calendar 2026
A house-shaped calendar full of Kinder treats, which makes it a good decoration as well.
£10.99 (RRP £19.99 - 45% off, Black Friday deal) - see it on Amazon
Cadbury Dairy Milk Chunks Advent Calendar
Good old Dairy Milk, in chunks rather than the usual thin shapes - and only a fiver.
£5.00 - see it on Amazon
Final thoughts
So there you have it - 28 alternative ideas, plus four chocolate ones for good measure! I have no magic wand when it comes to Christmas (if only...), and I know December can be a tricky month for lots of our families. But a calendar that actually suits your child can be one small thing that makes the countdown a bit more fun and a bit less stressful.
Have you found a great alternative advent calendar that I've missed? Please do share it if so - comments are always very much appreciated :)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are always very much appreciated and can really help the conversation go further...