I tried toy advent calendars for Christmas including Lego and Disney – my favourite will save you money
ADVENT calendars are a great way to get the kids excited for Christmas.
But given how much chocolate they consume during the festive season, you may want to consider a toy advent calendar instead.
They tend to be pricier, but on the plus side you get to keep and use what's inside long after you've finished unwrapping gifts on December 25.
But you do want to choose a good quality one if its to keep the kids happy through advent season.
"Watch out for cheap knock offs and poor-quality goods with kids' advent calendars," said consumer expert Martyn Jams.
"Quality varies dramatically but safety is what matters.
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"Check reviews before you buy if it's not possible to open a door or two before you buy."
Here we round up ten of best you can buy and mum-of-three Lynsey Hope, 41, from West Malling, Kent, gives her verdict on each one.
Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar
- £29.99, very.co.uk
- Age: 6 years plus
Lynsey says: "Doors open to reveal Star Wars characters in fun festive outfits including Snowtrooper and C-3PO and R2-D2 in Christmas jumpers.
"It also includes ten mini models including the Bad Batch Shuttle, Luke's Ground Speeder and AT-ST of Hoth.
"Given how expensive Lego can be to buy - even a small model in a foil bag can set you back £4 - I thought what was included was great value and you can't buy these one-off pieces anywhere else.
"A great choice for kids and any fans of the movies and series from a galaxy far, far away."
- TOYS: 10/10
- COST: 9/10
- OVERALL RATING: 10/10
Lynsey says: "Football fans can unwrap a new book every day in the build-up to Christmas helping them to discover all there is to know about the beautiful game.
"The books contain a mix of player stories, club and player profiles, football facts and activities such as a footy quiz and spot the ball game.
"A great choice for slightly older children who want something more lasting than chocolate but are growing out of toys.
"The books are not the most amazing quality but for the price, I didn't really have any complaints."
- TOYS: 5/10
- COST: 5/10
- OVERALL RATING: 5/10
BABY Born Christmas Advent Calendar
- £39.99, shop.zapfcreation.co.uk
- Ages: 3 years plus
Lynsey says: "Some lovely doll accessories in this calendar including a Santa hat, Christmas jumper and gold leggings.
"Baby can have a handbag, jewellery, a scarf and it's all Christmas themed.
"At nearly £40 it is a lot of money though and to be clear, there is no doll included for the price.
"The calendar is plastic free and the toys are built to last and will be played with long after Christmas has passed."
- TOYS: 8/10
- COST: 4/10
- OVERALL RATING: 6/10
Toucan Box The Very Merry Advent Calendar
- £35, shop.toucanbox.com
- Ages: 3 years
Lynsey says: "A great calendar to keep the kids entertained in the run up to Christmas - they definitely won't get bored of this one.
"Take out a box each day to discover a host of surprises including four recipes for things such as gingerbread reindeer and chocolate wreaths.
"There are seven crafts including snowman puppets to make and elf plushie which you can accessorise and play games with.
"It's really, really lovely and it does come up with a handy grown up guide so you know what to expect as the kids delve in.
"A single craft box from Toucan costs £9.95 so this feels like good value - there is so much inside. It's a no-brainer for crafty kids.
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"Beware it is not suitable for children under three and really, I think four-year-olds would struggle with some of the activities.
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"Probably better for kids who are a bit older, around six or seven."
- TOYS: 9/10
- COST: 8/10
- OVERALL RATING: 9/10