Christmas Elf Arrival Ideas (and 24 Easy Ideas for the Rest of December)

Many families have a visiting Christmas elf: a small toy elf that “flies to the North Pole” at night and turns up in a new spot each morning in December. It works with any elf toy or doll, or a simple paper elf you print at home. Here is how to make the arrival special and keep the rest of the month easy.

8 simple elf arrival ideas

1. The welcome letter. The elf sits on the breakfast table holding a letter: “Hello, I’m here! My name is…”
2. Arrival breakfast. The elf sits next to a plate of pancakes or toast with a little “North Pole sprinkles” on top.
3. Special delivery box. The elf arrives in a shoebox labeled “From the North Pole,” wrapped in a scarf or tissue paper.
4. Snowy entrance. A small pile of cotton balls or flour “snow” on a tray (not on the carpet!) with tiny footprints.
5. Elf-size suitcase. A matchbox “suitcase” with a toothbrush drawn on paper and a mini packing list.
6. Balloon arrival. The elf holds the string of a balloon tied to a chair. (Keep balloons away from young children; burst or uninflated balloons are a choking hazard.)
7. With a book. The elf sits with a holiday book to read together that evening.
8. Name the elf. If your elf is new, the arrival letter asks the kids to choose a name.

What to write in an elf arrival letter

1. Hello and the child’s name
2. The elf’s name and that they came from the North Pole
3. One or two “elf rules” in a kind tone, for example: “Elf magic works best if you talk to me but don’t touch me.”
4. When the elf will fly home (Christmas Eve)
5. A fun P.S.: “I love cocoa. Do you?”

Keep it short and warm. The elf is a friend, not a judge; many families prefer not to use the elf as a behavior threat, and the tradition is more fun without one.

24 easy elf ideas (about 5 minutes each)

1. Builds a book fort from picture books
2. Has a snowball fight with cotton balls
3. Races toy cars on a road made of masking tape
4. Leaves a sticky-note footprint trail to the breakfast table
5. Hosts a cocoa night with tiny marshmallows (a grown-up makes the cocoa)
6. Reads a book to the stuffed animals
7. Goes fishing in the sink with a string and a paper fish
8. Draws a picture for the family
9. Sleeps in a sock “sleeping bag”
10. Builds a tower of blocks and stands on top
11. Zip-lines on a string across a door handle
12. Leaves a kind challenge: “Give someone a compliment today”
13. Wraps the TV remote like a present
14. Plays hide and seek with a stuffed animal
15. Makes paper snowflakes and leaves them on the table
16. Writes the kids’ names with candy canes or crayons
17. Takes a bubble bath in a bowl of cotton balls
18. Has a picnic with crackers on a napkin
19. Leaves a coloring page with a note
20. Sets up a mini bowling alley with paper cups
21. Brings a letter-to-Santa page to fill in
22. Sits on the tree holding a “countdown” sign
23. Leaves a joke: “What do elves learn in school? The elf-abet!”
24. Christmas Eve: leaves a goodbye letter

Safety rules for elf setups

• Never put the elf anywhere a child would have to climb to reach it (shelves, the top of the fridge, a bookcase).
• Keep the elf away from candles, the stove and hot drinks.
• A grown-up handles scissors, hot cocoa and the oven.
• Avoid small items (beads, mini marshmallows, buttons) in setups if you have children under 3.
• Do not use real food that can spoil, or flour on surfaces where a toddler might eat it.

The goodbye on Christmas Eve

A goodbye letter closes the tradition gently: the elf thanks the child, remembers a favorite moment from the month, mentions something the child did that made them proud, and promises to visit again next year. Some families add an “Elf Watch” page where kids recorded every hiding spot, which becomes a fun keepsake.

Our Christmas Elf Kit

Our Christmas Elf Kit (14 pages, ages 3–8) has a fillable elf arrival letter, a fillable Christmas Eve goodbye letter, 24 elf note cards matching a list of 24 easy ideas, an “Elf Watch” tracker, 8 blank notes, a paper elf stand-up for families without an elf toy, and an elf coloring page. It works with any toy elf and is an original TinyMapleCo design, not affiliated with any toy or book brand. The elf toy is not included. Download the free sample (12 easy elf ideas and the Elf Watch page) below.