INTRODUCTION OF YOUR ELF
You need some sort of introduction to explain to your kids what is happening and for them to get all excited about it.
The elf could arrive wrapped up as an early Christmas present…A letter could explain what the elf is doing at your house and then he will be put on a shelf and each morning they will have to go and find him (as he gets up to stuff at night of course!)….
You could even install a special Christmas Elf Door, decorated by the kids - and when they turn the Christmas lights on each evening, magical elves will be able to come visit… The kids can leave little treats, notes for Santa (the elf will deliver them), etc.
Some tell their kids that the elf is there to keep an eye on them to see if they are being naughty or nice - but that’s not a must at all.
Google is your friend for ideas on awesome Elf of the shelf introduction letters, there is a few free printables out there too!
THE RULES
The elf needs a name
The elf can hear you so he loves it when you talk to him.
Nobody is allowed to touch the elf - it takes away his magic…!
But of course if you want to could say that only adults can put him back on the shelf. Once he is on there again, nobody is allowed to touch him - not even the adults.
These simple rules will make the magic even more real!
THE ANTICS
You can go as silly as you want - make up things that happen to your elf overnight.
Here is 30 ideas for elf in the shelf ALL found when browsing the internet...you will see there is SO many cool ideas out there already… Getting prepared is everything though!
1: Make sure you have thought of a
story that will help you if one night the elf did not move at all!! Before you start ANY of this, write a little note that will be from your elf and when this situation occurs you can just drop it on the ground… it could be a friend of his hidden somewhere conveniently already for them to find… or it could be a little story/poem on the paper… or anything you can create now that will cover you!
2: Elf started / is helping decorate the
Christmas tree - he could have even hidden some decorations!
3: The elf got himself stuck in a cookie Jar - put a little HELP note in with him
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