No Sugar Advent Calendars
Cut the chocolate and keep the fun with a sugar-free advent calendar! Here are 10 festive options for your under-five.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
Gingerbread, candy canes and chocolate Santas come part and parcel with Christmas, but if you’re keen to count down the days without too many treats along the way, then here are 10 sugar-free advent calendars to consider.
And here’s a hint:
Though Christmas is still a way off, popular advent calendars fly off the shelves, so if you like the look of one below, we suggest you snap it up, hide it away, then do a grand reveal on December 1!
And without further ado, here are 10 fun-filled options for your preschooler:
1. The Bluey Advent Calendar Book Collection
Everyone knows that dogs don’t eat chocolate, so your child will be happy to work their way through this choc-free, book-tastic advent calendar!
All up, they’ll find 24 mini Bluey books as they count down the days till Christmas, and this calendar contains a great mix of story books and activity books to make the festive season fun.
2. Bluey’s Christmas Swim Advent Calendar
This advent calendar is another great choice for your Bluey fan, because each time your child pops open a window, they’ll find a figurine, accessory or sticker.
Excitement will definitely build as your preschooler puts together the Heelers’ mini Christmas tree and starts piling pressies underneath, and you can pick up this advent calendar at places like Target and Big W.
3. Christmas Santa Fabric Advent Calendar
This hanging advent calendar has lots of spots for Christmas treats, but they don’t have to be sweet.
You get to choose what goes in each pocket, so can hide tiny toys, natural treasures or little notes, if you want to limit (or totally avoid) lollies and chocolates.
4. Hey Clay Advent Calendar
A Play-Doh advent calendar is fun for your little creative to squish, squash and stamp, but if you’re looking for something different, then consider the Hey Clay advent calendar!
Your child will learn how to make one clay character every day, including a smiley snowperson and a silly Christmas tree, and although this kit is perfect for ages 6+, your preschooler will be chuffed to get their hands on the soft clay, make some crazy characters, then hang them up for Christmas.
5. Sharing Kindness Aussie Summer Advent Calendar
This mum-created advent calendar is all about kindness, connection and good vibes.
It’s ideal for any age, from three to 103, and the calendar contains positive affirmations, kindness activities, stickers and colouring-in to help your family feel good and do good this festive season.
Sharing Kindness has also released a Canada-themed advent calendar for 2024, if you’re dreaming of a winter Christmas, rather than a summer one!
6. LEGO Advent Calendar
If you have a dexterous preschooler, then a LEGO advent calendar will get their fingers clicking and their imaginations whirring in the lead-up to Christmas.
There are several sets to choose from, but if you want something jazzy and new, then check out the LEGO City and LEGO Disney Advent Calendars, which have been released for Christmas 2024 and are a perfect fit for ages 5+.
7. Meri Meri Gingerbread Sticker Advent Calendar
This advent calendar contains sugar, spice and all things nice, without any actual sweetness, and your preschooler will absolutely love the making and decorating that comes with it.
As your child opens the envelopes day-by-day, their gingerbread house, people, truck and trees will come together, and there are stickers and pompoms to ensure everything looks super sweet by Christmas Day.
8. PlayMobil Christmas Advent Calendar
Playmobil makes a whole range of imaginative advent calendars, and although their new one for tiny tots isn’t readily available in Oz, you will be able to pick up other favourites, like their Christmas Under the Rainbow or Horses of Waterfall – Christmas Sleigh Ride advent calendars, which are enchanting for ages 4+.
9. Rubber Duck Advent Calendar
A rubber duck advent calendar will make bath time extra fun this December, and there are lots of different collections of Christmas ducks to pop in the bath one-by-one.
Amazon and Temu have some fun sets, and 24 silly duckies will definitely bring joy as your little one counts down the bath times till Christmas!
10. The Usborne Advent Calendar Book Collection
This advent calendar is sure to please your preschooler, because it contains 24 magical storybooks, including festive favourites like The Twelve Days of Christmas, and perennial crowd-pleasers, such as Cinderella.
If you have more than one child, or just want double the fun, it’s also great to know that Usborne has released a second advent calendar book collection, and with 24 more storybooks, a world of wonder awaits!