It's that time of year again! Now that Thanksgiving is behind us and December is officially here, it's time for the holiday activity beloved by so many kids and parents alike: Elf on the Shelf — if your family participates in this tradition, of course. In the 25 days leading up to Christmas, having your own personal elf around means tons of fun, festive opportunities to get creative and design funny, simple, or downright elaborate scenarios and setups sure to kick little ones' imaginations into high gear. And seeing their eyes light up when they take in every scene is priceless fun.
And of course, there is no greater way to kick off the little scamp's mischievous Christmas journey than by plotting an exciting elf arrival. The ultimate entrance ensures little ones will be thoroughly fascinated and engaged with all the elf's antics throughout the holiday season!
Although throughout the holidays it's nice to get the Elf up to all sorts of trouble — from pulling pranks such as decorating the toilet to sneaking around doing work for Santa — the arrival seems to call for a bigger splash. Lots of moms will be introducing their little ones to the elf this year, and some are just welcoming their elves back after a long break since last Christmas. Either way, many take this arrival as a way to start the season early, encourage good behavior, or just let the kids know that there is a little magic in the air!
Here are 25 of the best Elf arrival ideas that real moms have executed to kick off the holidays. And even though some moms opted to go the extravagant route, others chose poses that could be considered quick and easy. Either way, these scenarios are funny, sweet, giggle-worthy, and most definitely memorable.
Leave Little Elf Footprints
Who's that sneaking around the house? Just a sneaky little Elf trying to get ready for Christmas! Take a little bit of powered sugar and place the little guy's feet in the "snow." Make sure it leads to the Elf's door (more on that later). You can also shop this Elf footprint stencil that makes the job of leaving those tiny footprints so much easier.
Special Delivery!
A special delivery all the way from the North Pole! What a cute way to get the kids excited for Santa's sleigh ride. These Elfazon boxes from Etsy are the perfect accessory for this time of year.
Buy it! Christmas Elf sized Elfazon Boxes, $2; etsy.com
Up, Up, & Away!
What a daredevil! This little guy decided to parachute his way into the home (albeit in a pretty comfy looking chair filled with candy canes. For this one, carefully take some balloons and attach them to a small basket. Fill with candy canes or a Christmas note, and voila! Christmas magic.
More from CafeMom: 5 Homemade Kid Toys That Make Awesome Gifts
Have Elf Bring a Little Gift
Advent calendars are a fun activity on their own. But what if Elf decided to bring the kiddies this special treat for Christmas? A good way to get everyone excited for the holiday ahead — Advent calendars along with the first Elf sighting makes for a perfect plan!
Write a Little Note
What has Elf been up to since last Christmas? Write a letter detailing all of Elf's adventures and possibly give some hints from the big guy (that's Santa). Oh, and by the way, give Elf a name if you haven't already, like this mom did. Hey, Joe!
Throw a Little Party
Are there ever enough holiday parties? We don't think so! Plan an extra special party for the kids this season, complete with yummy holiday-themed treats, or do as some parents do and plan an "Elf adoption" party. Don't get too wild, little party animals.
Light the Way
Welcome Elf back home by creating a festive runway for Santa to drop him off. Simply string up twinkle lights along the walkway and attach a sweet welcome note to the door. In fact, have the kids write the welcome note as a sweet holiday activity!
Special Breakfast
Talk about dedication. Instagram user rlturner23 writes, "This momma was up at 2:30 a.m. setting up because I fell asleep." A special Elf breakfast is a sweet way to re-introduce the Elf, but not everyone needs to do it sleep-deprived. Simply decorate the breakfast table in holiday decor and place Elf in a seat of honor. Easy!
Get a Personalized Balloon
This one takes a little planning, but once the balloon is ordered, everything is all set. This balloon, from British company, The Balloon Parlour, says, "Special Elf Delivery for (name of child) Return Me on 24th Dec." Just attach to the little guy, and then it's up, up, and away! If you don't have time to order a balloon, this would be easy to DIY at home.
Write a Message in M&Ms
This is so simple that anyone can do it — even if one is a self-professed "lazy mom." Simply take M&M's (or tiny marshmallows) and write out a message. This one says "Did you miss me?" but other good ones are "I'm back!" or "Greetings from Santa!"
Get a Yard Sign
This idea doubles as yard decoration! Companies such as Card My Yard make these special lawn decorations that have a special message from Elf to little ones, making a big impact. Hang Elf off the sign and let the world know that Christmas time has begun!
Gift Wrap the Door
Talk about an unusual object! Practice gift wrapping skills early this year by wrapping the front door. Make sure Elf gets his own little door, too! It might take a little Christmas wrap ingenuity, but we promise this one can be done — and it makes an adorable decoration all season long.
Under Elf Surveillance
Let the kids know that Elf is watching, with this playful note! This shadowbox by Etsy store EvieGlitterSparkles is absolutely gorgeous, but of course, a note can be as elaborate or simple as need be, and DIY is totally an option. Best be on good behavior before December 25!
Let's Go Sledding
Who doesn't love to go sledding? Elf surely does! Take festive Christmas wrapping paper and create an incline for Elf to slide down with some of his Christmas buddies. This big, grand gesture is perfect for a special welcome back, and perfect for those mischievous elves out there.
Elf Arrives With Luggage in Tow
Of course Elf travels in style, and if he's going to be staying with you for almost a month, he'll need to bring his things. Create tiny luggage for Elf using old jewelry boxes and pipe cleaners. Make sure to write a note from Santa to go along with the little guy. Who doesn't love having guests in for the holidays?
Elf Arrives Mischievously
When there are two Elves, one can obviously be good cop and the other quite naughty! Set that precedent with this funny duct tape pose, and then let the kids set him free when they wake up and discover what happened to him while they were sleeping.
Sweet & Thoughtful Letter
Have the Elf arrive with this formal, printed letter and magical little door! Of course, letters from the elves are a big part of the tradition to begin with, but the tiny magical door that appears just to let your elf make their big entrance is what really makes the difference.
Buy it! Elf Magical Door, $20; amazon.com
Candy Cane Rope Swing
Have the Elf come in swinging — on candy canes! After all, this is one of Santa's elves we're talking about, so using candy canes to get around would only be right. And it's a pretty low effort set up for those of us out there who are putting this together last minute.
Gift Box Elf
Have the Elf pop out of his gift box in style! This could even make for some super adorable photo opps by the Christmas tree — if it's up and ready to go already, that is. If not, place the gift somewhere the kids will see it as soon as they're awake that morning.
Lots of Balloons
This balloon-packed arrival is sure to feel festive, and it's easy enough to create with a quick trip to a party store or a balloon store — anywhere you can find balloons and helium, anyway. Also another low effort, high reward choice to make kids smile.
Sweet Tooth
Who wouldn't love an Elf to arrive in their home bearing gifts? Use a customized treat, like this chocolate lollipop, for Elf to arrive in sweet style. Or, if you're short on time, grab some special holiday-themed candy at the store for your elf to clutch.
Elf on the Shelf Breakfast
The Elf could arrive on the morning of December 1 bearing this Christmasy toast — or any other breakfast that your kids might enjoy (we know they're the bosses around here). It'll be a great way to start their day off on the right foot — along with elf season.
Express Delivery
These elves didn't just appear in their home for the season — they were mailed there straight from the North Pole. It's too cute to see how they were packaged up like they'd been sent via express mail, and kids get the chance to open them and set them free.
An Adorable Letterboard
Letterboards have become super popular over the past few years, so if you already have one lying around the house, this just became super easy! Write a sweet message on the board, and leave the elf nearby. These tiny Christmas sweaters are just too much!
Already Making a Mess
Elves are messy little creatures, and their arrival day is no different! This little elf decided to mess up the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn, and what we really love is that Elf announced his return with those adorable magnets on the oven.
