We tested the best toy advent calendars with our kids, these are the 12 you won't regret buying

Age suitability: 3+ | Type: Toy | Reusable: No

What you get: One Mr & Mrs Santa Claus, one snowy steam train, four wooden tracks, three signs, one wooden tree, two Christmas gift loads,one horse to fit a character, and multiple accessories.

What was it like?: "Each door was tricky to open, very sturdy perforation, my five-year-old needed help each time." Mum-of-one, Steph tells us. "It's great that it goes with the rest of his wooden train set, a really cute addition." 

What the kids say: "I really like the horsey pull-along, I don't have that in my set. But opening the windows hurt my fingers." Ted, five, tells us.

Would I buy again?: "Yes!" Mum, Steph tells us. "it's a double winner, no chocolate each morning, and adds to his train set each day - especially the figures, he loved them."

Age suitability: 6+ | Type: Toy | Reusable: No

What you get: Eight LEGO Star Wars characters, and 15 mini builds.

What was it like?: "There were helpful instructions on the inside of each door", dad-of-one, Mark tells us. "Be warned add an extra half hour to your morning Dec 1 - 24th or make it a rule that this is opened after school. As building it took time I didn't factor in."

What the kids say: "I loved finding what I'd build that day, some were a lot trickier than others - I loved the reindeer and sled the most!" Roman, seven, tells us.

Would I buy again?: "Yes, I would because my kids love LEGO, literally anything to add to their ever-growing collection. And the daily offerings were impressive," Dad Mark tells us.

Age suitability: 3+ | Type: Toy | Reusable: Yes

What you get: 24 wooden figures - such as Father Christmas, sleds, and penguins on ice skates, each wrapped in delicate tissue paper.

What was it like?: "I loved the penguins on ice skates", mum-of-one, Jess tells us. "Top tip, get it as young as possible, because they can play with it year after year, and three-five-year-olds especially will love it. And you can switch up the toys each year if you fancy."

What the kids say: "I really like the pictures on the front of the workshop, and the ice skating penguin", Darcey, five, tells us.

Would I buy again: "I would totally recommend this to other parents, without a doubt it brings a splash of festive cheer to the Advent season," Mum, Jess tells us.

Age suitability: 8+ | Type: Toy | Reusable: No

What you get: Each day you open the window to find step-by-step instructions with the pieces finally coming together on Dec 24th to create a fully functioning pinball machine. 

What was it like?: "It was pretty easy to assemble with 'slot in' pieces," says mum-of-one, Jayne. "I love the STEM angle of it, it really had my kid fully engaged. I can see us enjoying this on Christmas Day while chomping through the Quality Street tin."

What the kids say: "I found being patient for each day really hard, as I just wanted to build the thing in one go. But it was worth the wait... eventually." Milo, 11, tells us.

Would I buy again?: "Probably not," Mum Jayne admits. "While it was fun each day, we were left with something that took up space and we never really used it again."

Age suitability: 3+ | Type: Toy | Reusable: Yes 

What you get: Magnetic wooden tree, 24 magnetic ornaments, and one shining star for the top plus a little box to hold all the ornaments in.

What was it like?: "A lovely heirloom countdown and the wood means it will last. The magnetic backings on the baubles are secured well and they’re a safe size so no accidentally swallowing," Mum-of-two Sam tells us. 

What the kids say: Eamon, five, tells us; "I really like that I got to 'hang' the magnetic ornaments in any order I wanted."

Would I buy again: "I would recommend it to others. I love the simplicity of it - simply adding a bauble each day to see anticipation grow, no complex instructions or extra tasks to add to a busy season," Mum, Sam, tells us. 

Age suitability: 5-12 years old | Type: Toy | Reusable: No

What you get: 25 packs of Plus-Plus construction pieces to build little characters daily.

What was it like?: Mum-of-two, Kathryn tells us how she was pleasantly surprised by the STEM calendar; "I'd never heard of the brand so probably wouldn't spend nearly £30 on it, but actually my kids - both of them, including my four-year-old, loved the little pieces."

What the kids say: Rufus, aged 11 years, tells us; "Great for kids who are gifted and appreciate toys to develop their spatial reasoning skills. I like that there are 25 not 24. Though after Christmas, I'd probably take the bits apart and make my own creations."

Would I buy again?: "Yes, even though I didn't know the brand before, now I can see just how interactive and engaging the construction pieces are, definitely," says mum, Kathryn.

Age suitability: 4+ | Type: Toy | Reusable: No

What you get: A 68-piece set that offers 24 days of advent surprises. Play Mobil toys always making it into the top gift list for Christmas.

What was it like?: We are due a full review at the hands of our very excited four-year-old reviewer, Edith, and her mum Jess, and it will be live very soon. But for now, know that it promises a delightfully festive scene to see your Play mobile fan through the Advent season. 

What the kids say: Once Edith reviews this advent calendar, you will know all the ins and outs and whether it's worth spending your money on this year.

Would I buy again?: Mum Jess will be sharing her full review on whether this is worth your hard-earned money, very soon. Watch this space.

Age suitability: 6+ | Type: Toy | Reusable: No

 What you get: 24 Pokemon Christmas-themed characters. 16 actual figures and eight accessories. 

What was it like?: Mum-of-three Jenni says; "My daughter is obsessed with Pokemon so this one is a no-brainer for her. I was disappointed there was no Christmas day and felt a little cheated that they weren't ALL figures - one of the days there were just stickers. But other than that she was happy. And I was happy it wasn't chocolate every day."

What the kids say: "I love the glittery look to them," Daisy, nine, tells us. "None of my other Pokemon figures are glittery so they were great to add to my collection."

Would I buy again? "Probably not, if I'm honest. If it was 24 figurines, maybe. But the days with stickers and cardboard Christmas trees let it down for me," says Jenni.

Age suitability: 8+ | Type: Toy | Reusable: No

What you get: 24 days of Graitrax track pieces, one day could be a little metal ball, the next a curvy runners or a spinner.  Piece together to build new routes and crazy trick shots.

What was it like?: Mum-of-one, Steph tells us; "I'd recommend setting it up in a spot where there's space to add to the track each day. The daily offerings weren't mind-blowing, but luckily enough he was engaged enough to be happy with something new to add."

What the kids say: Louis, aged nine, loved it. "I want to buy more to add to it, it's like marble run but better. I love the bouncy tiles and the curved edges, it's so easy to swap up the loops and twists."

Would I buy again?: "Another version of this, yes. He loved spending time making changes to it each day." Mum, Steph tells us. "It was worth the money."

Age suitability: 7+ | Type: Toy | Reusable: No

What you get: Seven LEGO Marvel Avengers mini-figures including Doctor Strange, Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Okoye, Wong, and Black Widow, and then accessories to build.

What was it like?: "It was great that each window had mini instructions on - as some were trickier than others to put together. Some days were a little disappointing as if it wasn't a figure it was just a jetpack or a Christmas tree base," says mum, Kiran.

What the kids say: Noah, aged 6 1/2 tells us, "I loved building the LEGO snowman, and the Christmas jumpers some of the LEGO people had on."

Would I buy again?: "I think I would as Noah did enjoy putting the pieces together each day, and he loves Marvel." Mum, Kiran shares.

Age suitability: 3+ | Type: Toy | Reusable: No

What you get: A different festive Paw Patrol gift each day, with 24 to collect. The Paw Patrol classic pups are all there along with accessories, such as a fire pit, Chickaletta etc. 

What was it like?: "The mini pups were loved, and caused a squeal each morning." Mum, Carla tells us. "They also helped as a transition toy on a few wobbly school mornings as they're small enough to take in a pocket."

What the kids say: "I loved Chickaletta, she was my favourite figure," four-year-old Freya tells us.

Would I buy again?: "Yes, perfect for Paw Patrol fans - though adding Mayor Humdinger would be fun!" Mum, Carla tells us.

Age suitability: 7+ | Type: Toy | Reusable: No

What you get: Eight minifigures many of which are exclusive characters, and then some accessories like the Diagon Alley Wand shop.

What was it like?: "Calling all HP fans, they will love this. Just like my seven-year-old did," Mum, Jess tells us. "You get spares in each pack so don't think you've put it together wrong, like I did.

What the kids say: "I love that it covers all of the Harry Potter films, there's a bit of something from each of them," James tells us. "My favourite was... all of it, literally."

Would I buy again?: "Without a doubt. My kid loved every window, there wasn't a disappointing day." Mum, Jess shares.