This is my first time reviewing for WOW Toys and I’m stupidly excited about it (any toy manufacturer that has a toy named Dexter the Digger wins in my book). Yet with gold and silver toy awards coming out of their ears, they’re well used to people gushing about them so I’ll try to keep my excitement in check.
A bit of history: WOW Toys have been enthralling little people for a few years now with their chunky preschool collection that see ‘moving parts’ as exciting rather than hazardous. The vision was to create durable, engaging toys that don’t require batteries - creating toys that children pester parents to play with, rather than fix. They pack their toys with secret features that children are apt to discover before mum and dad to ensure they’re catering for children first.
So what am I reviewing?
Only this stupidly COOL advent calendar! (> as cool as it is, I obviously can’t delve too deeply into mine or I’ll ruin Dexter’s excitement)
Hate using pack shots but I hope you can understand why
Each day in the lead up to Christmas reveals a cute figure which can be matched with the numbers on the fold down play scene to make your very own Christmas world. Both boys and girls will love collecting new toys as Christmas approaches with a limited edition push-along police car included as well as exclusive figures and a build your own tree and snow man.
I’m new to the world of advent calendars given Dexter is my first child to hit “Father Christmas” mode. Before this I guess he thought mummy & daddy had just gone a bit new-age with the foliage and wrapping paper was just us playing a weird variation on lucky dip. I remember mine from my childhood as being relatively boring card affairs (no chocolates for me) so calendars with actual toys is especially awesome. Better yet, this one transforms from traditional card display, to a full-on Town - of course your child will buy straight into that.
Okay… just a little peak…
First thoughts? It’s great value for money with educational elements to boot; it contains no fewer than 24 toys including 1 push-along police car. At £19.99, you’re getting a toy that will sustain a child’s interest for a whole month and beyond. Of course it’s yet to be seen if we can rein in his curiosity and stop him from tinkering for the 24 days, but we’re quietly confident as we have a fridge-full of Chocolate Buttons to reward him with.
There’s also an activity sheet included to ensure their interest remains beyond that 5 minutes before you rush out of the door for pre-school. Here are the developmental benefits it lists:
1 – 2 years – Discover and learn new words with verbal and picture cues
2 – 3 years– Learn to count by opening a new window every day
3 – 4 years – Spark young imaginations to play out stories of their own
4 – 5 years – Encourage storytelling skills through fantasy role play
Not to blow my own trumpet as far as I’m concerned, but I’m pretty sure Dexter can appreciate all these things at 2.5yrs already!
Nope… A full-on play…
*** GIVEAWAY ***
I simply can’t wait to countdown to Christmas with Dexter with this, and WOW Toys have kindly allowed me to give one away too! If you’ve got a child, nephew or niece you think would appreciate it, enter below. Obviously this one is over quickly so you’ll get yours in time for December 1st!
You can choose between this one (WOW Town Advent Calendar) or the WOW Wonderland Advent Calendar (shown below). For more information on these or any other WOW Toy, head over to the website at WOWToys.com.
- Only 1 option is mandatory (leave me a comment) – the rest only improve your chances of winning so just complete as many as you feel like
- UK entrants only – you must be over 18 too (sorry)
- The winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 1 week of having been emailed (I’ll try all known avenues to contact them) or a new winner will be drawn
- When the giveaway is closed, Rafflecopter will select the winner completely at random
- The winners name will be published on this site
Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com
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I am excited from September as I start sewing my Christmas cards! We put our decorations up at the beginning of December and I am always playing nad singing my Christmas songs during November! I am worse than my kids for getting excited!
i get my son’s all excited by writing letters to santa, having advent calenders, tracking santa on a phone app & counting down the sleeps. can’t wait already!
We watch Santa’s journey online so the boys can see what country he’s in and when he gets to our house, I love Christmas Eve!
The kids get excited when we put the xmas decorations up everywhere and open their advent calendars
Watching Christmas Films and taking the kids into town to watch the Christmas lights. Also with my eldest I tell her stories about the North Pole. x
We put Tilda’s star up on 1st December, start off advent with a festive film and festive stories and visit a special place, this year Thomas Land
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Lots of Christmas arts and crafts xx
Lots of lovely festive cooking with spicy smells that fill the house
Our little elf arrives on the 1st December (elf on the shelf) he helps bring the magic alive for my children. The perfect build up to Christmas x
we start watching christmas movies right after Halloween and start looking in catalogues for ideas!
This year my husband treated my to a make up advent calendar (a maternity treat) so I have been looking round for something just as fun for my little one. This looks perfect x
We start watching Christmas films as soon has Halloween is over. Then after bonfire night (TOMORROW, eek!) I start getting out a few decorations at a time (so hubby doesn’t notice, lol). This year my son is going to help make decorations so as soon as they are dry they will be going up as there’s no point putting them away heehee! xx
We get out all our Christmas books like Mog’s Christmas, That’s Not My Santa, That’s Not My Snowman, The Little Christmas Tree and The Snowman. We love snuggling up and reading. For us it is the beginning of a magical Christmas.
dont take much to make us love xmas first sign of glitter and tinsel we go manic
elf on a shelf
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Before my husband finish’s work on Christmas eve he meets up with one of Santa’s elves who gives him a special bag of goodies to see us through til next morning.
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Christmas is such a great time! Best family time of the year
Getting them to write there christmas lists and making decorations
Letters to santa
We write letters to Santa, visit him and decorate the house and tree together
We do Christmas crafts!
lots of xmas decs and the trees and making cards
films and baking and putting the decorations up
It just sort of comes naturally we just do the normal things like advent Callander,Santa visits and decorations up and it builds from all that
the xmas films like homealone x
Tree goes up on the 1st DEc, I start making our christmas jumpers on the 1st Nov,
I always thinking putting up the decorations is a great start to building excitement and we also swap all of the cups for christmas ones.
We watch lots of christmas films and read christmas stories.
putting the decorations and tree up
By making decorations together and telling stories that are christmas related at bedtime x
We have the traditional build up advent calendar and candle we read lots of Christmas stories and watch movies together. x
We start watching Christmas as films and put our tree up on 1st December. We read Christmas stories every night before bed and have advent calenders and visit Santa in his grotto x
Christmas movies and visits to santas grotto
christmas crafts and stories =)
lots of twinkly lights xx
We watch Christmas films and make Christmas biscuits x
Putting up all the decorations as a family
We really don’t need to build the Christmas excitement up at our house
I hope it’s by - writing our lists and letters to Santa, an advent calendar with activities for every day, baking, our special Christmas Eve Box and going to church
We are huge Christmas fans, as soon as Bonfire Night is over with it is on with the festive music, films, books and food and drink - Merry Christmas everyone xx
We decorate the whole house! Llights, numerous trees, ornaments, glitter, fake snow, the lot
We do advent calendars together, decorate the tree as a family and sad but wera matching christmas jumpers lol x
when we get the Christmas tree out
We watch christmas DVDs.
Writing letters to santa, personalised video messages from santa, Christmas eve boxes with pyjamas and Christmassy craft things etc to do, leaving a trail of reindeer food (glitter & oats) on the garden, leaving reindeer & santa a mince pie, carrot, drink etc…, watching Christmas movies too
We get the decorations up as soon as December begins
We have an Elf on the shelf, his names Tinsel and he always helps with the build up of excitement for the children, also have christmas songs playing in the car, and festive scent candles lit around the house, I Love christmas
Put the Christmas lights up outside the house
We make a lot of Christmas crafts, and we write on a blackboard how many day till Santa arrives!
visiting santa and the decorating the tree we also have a tradititon we watch the muffets christmas carol ( film ) .
putting up all the decorations
We have an elf that comes to visit and gets up to Christmas mischief throughout December
we make a lot of the decorations, colour in lots of pics with the kids and watch Christmassy films
get advent calendars with daily chocolates
xmas tree. and on xmas eve xmas pjs and a xmas movie
Every night before we go to bed when the tree is up we all sit in the dark with just the tree lights on …be thankful for our lovely warm house and dream about what we would like Santa to bring us !
Get all the decorations out.
We sing Christmas songs, decorate the house, watch Christmas films, make home made Christmas cards, the kids dress up as elves, Christmas puddings, raindeers etc.
Decorate a box known as the ‘Christmas Box’ - the children tend to put little things in for Christmas — mostly food items!
it starts slowly because my boys birthday is the 5 of december so i like to keep that and christmas separate…then we start making decorations and treat, often by mid decmber baking several batches of cookies and ginger bread men…we are planning to do elf on the shelf too.
Advent calendars! Also lots of singing of Christmas songs.
When we put up the Christmas Tree and decorations
Making decoration with my son, Christmas scented candles, baking mince pies
Christmas excitment always starts as soon as the tree goes up. Just don’t put it up too early!
opening the advent calendar
I always get my kids a christmas sticker book, watch loads of christmas films and read loads of chrismas books too
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lots of xmas movies, & put the decs up ASAP
Christmas music and decorating the house
Christmas movies, christmas music, decorations and advent calenders!
We get out the Christmas C.D’s and play all the festive songs.
We work up to Christmas by writing a letter to Santa and counting down Christmas by reading a chapter of his favourite Christmas Book.
putting up all the cards always gets us excited
use the Norad App to track santa
We write our letters to Santa and start to make Christmas cards. We also have a toy and house clear out for the charity shop so there is room for Santa to bring us a few new things.
We make a lots of crafty gifts to give to the family.
We have letters to write to Father Christams, we make our own Christmas decorations and cards, and we ake lots of Christmas treats for the family.x
i start getting excited for christmas as soon as halloween is over! and i can’t wait till december so i can put the decorations up and start eating mince pies. my son is only 18 months so this christmas he may understand a bit more then last and i can’t wait for him to see the tree
putting up christmas decorations
A christmas activity advent…. A different christmas activity for each day of December!
I start telling them they need to ask Santa or put it on their list when they ask for toys in the shops
making new Christmas decorations
advent calendars, Christmas films… things like that
Lots of Christmas songs!
we have a special advent box of small treats and put the tree up on Christmas eve - we dont like to start early!
Going to visit different Santa’s grottos, getting our tree at start of December, chat about what we’re going to do for christmas and sing Christmas carols around the house
I put together a 1st December box, which includes a Christmas dvd, 2 Christmas books, Christmas themes pj’s and socks, advent Calender(hopefully this year it’ll be the wow toys advent Calender) we also put our Christmas decorations up on the first! X
We all have advent calenders, we write Christmas lists, take the decorations down from the loft, help each other to create Christmas crafts
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I get excited in August when I start to buy gifts, too busy with my one of a kind dolls clothes making to leave it any later than that. I used to start to build up the Christmas spirit with my son around end of November , but as he is already singing jingle bells for his school singing hands concert so it’s NOW lol
Elf on a shelf. We have one naughty and one nice and it’s a lot of fun to see what he gets up to.They are Christmas ones so only come out in December.
Hang the Stockings up.
Lots of crafts, Christmas films and books
I don’t need to build excitment for christmas it literally oozes out of me
We start making Christmas cards early, advent calendars and stories
We have an elf of the shelf and he tends to get us all into the Christmas spirit
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we decorate the whole house and bake lots of christmas food! x
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Christmas stories
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Start with letters to Santa
Christmas movies, Christmas card and gift making and a visit to Xmas markets. Love it all
We bake and open our advent calenders as well as constantly singing Christmas songs… I am a hugh child at Christmas and am always the first awake in our house Christmas morning
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by constantly talking about upcoming Christmassy things we are going to do and planning things to do, various lists- people to visit, cards to write, presents to buy etc.
Watching CHRISTMAS Films
letting everyone join in the preparations
we bake Christmas cookies
dress up
Our elf is ready to appear with his suitcase on the front doorstep for 1st dec
We live in a village that has christmas parades, torchlight procession and christmas markets in the run up to christmas.
this year were making decorations
I don’t need to build excitement the kids are bubbling over all ready and its only just November!!!! But when the decorations go up on the first Saturday in December then they will be on a mega high!!!
We do a Christmassy activity every day leading up to Christmas starting on the 1st of dec with the tree going up
Christmas stories, films and a special ‘taster’ present from Father Christmas on Christmas Eve x
Lots of fun and messy christmas activities running throughout December, a special day out to see Father Christmas, wacthing the christmas lights switch on in our local town and opening the christmas eve box
We decorate early and let the kids help with making the decorations
We always go and see Santa and then a pantomime before Christmas Eve.
Then Christmas Eve we have friends around for tea and go and attend a carol service in our village.
Writing letters to Santa, Christmas Baking and of course the advent calendars
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WE GO TO A PANTOMINE ON CHRISTMAS EVE
By starting to read christmas stories to my little grandchildren
lots of Christmas story dvds and baking
Putting up the decorations and writing letters to Santa
putting up the decorations and writing cards
We do Christmas craft activities, sing Christmas songs, decorate the house and of course have an advent calendar. We also do Christmas markets and bake, and of course we’ll be taking our little one to see Father Christmas. Thank you x
We put the decorations up early and watch Christmas films and Christmas specials of our favourite TV shows
Letter writing to santa, Xmas eve hamper on santas reply letters and lots of Xmas movies
Writing a letter to Santa! My Son is all giddy about Christmas this year which is lovely to see
the children helping to decorate the christmas tree and decorate the house, making christmas cookies, paper chains and advent calendars they love it.
Fantastic toys
Writting to Santa, baking christmas treats and decorating the tree
We snuggle under a duvet and watch Christmas movies….our fave is The Polar Express, it’s so magical!! We also love browsing Pinterest for DIY gifts and treats to make all together. So much fun looking but even more exciting when it comes to making it all!
I think it all comes naturally. my niece is off to see santa next week and it’s only early November.
Christmas music, & the earlier the better
we sing a christmas song from the first to the 24th
as we start bringing the decorations out after writing to santa
playing Christmas songs
I don’t need to! Ha ha!
A good old Christmas film
In our house we all ways go to see santa we like to see him some where different every year
we make lots of Christmas presents for the grandparents and make cookies for Santa we go to see the lights get turned on and i all ways have scented Christmas candles burning and my fav one present each day from the first of December till the 25th only very small and manly stuff you have to make
singing carols, decorating, baking wrapping and visiting santa
Christmas films, christmas songs, Christmas story books, christmas decorations x
My identical twin boys are 21 months now and will be almost 23 months at Christmas. They are really starting to understand everything that is going on around them. We are taking them to Centre Parcs Winter Wonderland this year and we will put the Christmas Tree up nice and early too!
Advent calendars, Christmas crafts, carols and lots of decorations.
We start baking lots of christmas themed treats with the kids x
Advent calenders for my little ones
We do Elf on the Shelf and a North Pole Breakfast
Making Christmas decorations and baking.
Christmas CD’s and films. Decorations. Visit Santa and feed the reindeer. Let the children sneak the chocolates off the tree.
christmas will be rubbish cause we are in the middle of moving #:(
I try to build it up slowly, but a grotto visit and writing a letter is usually involved!
We don’t we try (and fail) to temper it.
Advent calendar and xmas movie snuggles
Different things each day in Dec, decorating, cards, crafts, baking
By putting our decorations up early, Peppa Pig Advent Calenders and singing the ‘Sleeps Til Santa’ Song !
With the tree and decorations up, we bake mince pies and sausage rolls, and when it is dark and I can see an aeroplanes lights in the sky I tell my two youngest daughters that is Father Christmas and his reindeers doing a practise run for Christmas Eve and they get so excited.
Playing lots of Christmas Songs and dancing
We get the decorations out in mid November!
I try to keep it low key until December and then we go all out doing a Christmas activity each day such as making the dinner table name plates, gingerbread biscuits, tree decorations etc
Put the tree up 1st December and listen to ALOT of Christmas music
We go to lot of Christmas events locally, visit garden centres to look at the decorations & Christmas shopping
We go to the pantomime xmas eve then out for dinner. When we get home kids go for a bath and the elves come with their xmas eve hamper. We watch the xmas dvd from hamper, new pj’s on and eat junk food. Then its time to get the stuff out for Santa and Rudolph, then bed .
The first weekend in December we put our decorations up and take our little man somewhere special to see Santa.
We do lots of baking of gingerbread houses and listen to Christmas music
making the Christmas cake and pud (did two weeks ago) usually sets things going and then the decorations will go up on the 1st December and them the excitement really kicks in.
Watching Christmas films, Make the house festive and help at the homeless shelter to keep my children grounded x
my boys love arts and crafts. every year we make our own decorations , they make a clay tree decoration for each family member , make our own crackers.
We start December with a North Pole breakfast delivered by the Elf, he leaves behind a craft and an advent calendar and we’ll spend the first weekend making decorations for the house
The Christmas elf comes to visit from the 1st Dec
From the 1st Oct i get the kids to make a santa list so anything they see on tv that they want they write it on the list up to xmas eve
We make up a little chart for December with pictures of all the activities like pantos, school parties etc and cross it off each day.
Chocolate advent calender with the kids x
Decorations up early, letter to santa
Lots of Christmas Movies!
This is our first family christmas so we will be going to see Santa and I’ve bought some decorations to make the house festive. xx
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opening advent calendar
We dance around to christmas songs, watch christmas movies, eat mince pies, decorate the house
We have a countdown calendar on the wall which is more than enough to get the excitement going! We also do ‘elf on the shelf’ throughout advent.
We get the Advent Calenders out and they have little xmas trees in their rooms
Putting the decorations up, making our own decorations and opening their advent calenders, watching Christmas films
watching the christmas channel on sky
advent calendars
when the decorations go up it gets more exciting
we don’t need to help build the excitement! Our 2 kids are already fit to burst!
It’s putting the decorations up which does it. There’s no containing the excitement then.
The Christmas lights in town and the decorations in the shops starts it all off, then writing the cards and putting up the decorations at home really get it going.
It’s our first Christmas as parents so we don’t even have to TRY this year, everything is exciting anyway!
No need to build up excitement! As soon as the tree is up everyone goes crazy!!!
We do loads of things like watching lots of christmas movies, do Christmas themed arts and crafts, go to see Santa and go to see the panto
I could go on forever tbh we are christmas mad in our house lol xx
when the decorations go up it seems very festive and sets the mood
by getting the kids to write their lists to santa and printing off santa replies on my computer.
writing letters to santa and making christmas list is always a good start
making christmas cake, listening to christmas songs and reading christmas stories
By putting up the decorations and writing a letter to Santa
I think starting on the advent calendars and putting up Christmas decorations puts our family in the Christmas mood.
Elf on a shelf, advent calendars, and looking at fairy lights! I love christmas!
Lots of Christmas films/music/ festive outings! LOVE Christmas!!!
We have a huge advent calendar on the wall and I put the decorations up on the 1st December!
putting up the decorations
Our Christmas tree is already up! We read christmas stories and bake christmas treats at the weekend
We all put the xmas decs up, get the xmas music on, go out in the evenings to Christmas events
OTT decor
I’m so excited myself that it just catches on. And singing Christmas songs definitely spreads the Christmas cheer
It starts with the writing and ‘making’ of the Christmas Cards, then the choosing of the advent calender then we get the decorations going nice and early. Xmas lighting has really come on in recent years too.
We put out decorations up 1st of Dec, and we get all our christmas books out and start watching christmas films. We have a ‘sleeps to go’ calendar aswell which gets the kis really excited!
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We decorate the house and this year we are having an elf on the shelf visit it. x
We have a family weekend away just before xmas as are working most of the holidays.
by putting the decorations up early and watching xmas films