8 Fun Elf on the Shelf Traditions to Start This Year
Elf on the Shelf is a popular topic for families around this time of year. And while the elf is a tradition in itself, there are several fun ways to create Christmas memories surrounding your family’s elf. These eight Elf on the Shelf traditions will have you kids looking forward to your elf’s arrival each year and help you create amazing memories for your kids.
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For those of you who aren’t sure what Elf on the Shelf is, let me give you a quick refresher course. This cute Christmas tradition began around a decade ago when he was introduced, along with a book explaining what exactly this elf does. According to the story, the Elf on a Shelf arrives at children’s houses to help Santa determine whether they’ve been naughty or nice during the holiday season. Every evening the elf leaves the house to report back to Santa and when he returns, he appears in a different place in the house.
A Book a Day
While a lot of elves get into mischief during their visits to kids’ homes, our elf does things a little differently. That’s why I decided to share my Elf on the Shelf traditions, along with some of my favorite bloggers. Hopefully, you can steal one of these fun traditions or use them as inspiration to create your own family tradition surrounding your Elf on the Shelf.
Our elf typically arrives on the evening of December 1 hiding in one of the Christmas trees in the house with a Christmas book set under the tree. This tradition started the first year Elfie arrived and has continued throughout the month of December every year since. The first year he came, he landed in the Christmas tree in my son’s room. But since we have a new addition to the family, he’s started landing in our living room Christmas tree now.
Every evening, Elfie magically sends another fun Christmas book down from the North Pole and places it in different places around the house – on my son’s pillow on his bed, under the tree, in a stocking, etc. Then, in the morning Elfie is hiding in a different spot in the house. My kids love the search every morning and evening – first for the spot Elfie is hiding and later for the spot the book is hiding. And after the book is found, we get to spend a few minutes together before bed reading a new Christmas story.
Christmas Pajamas
Christmas pajamas are a fun Christmas tradition in many households during the holiday season. Why not combine the fun of giving your kids cute holiday pajamas with the Elf on the Shelf and have your elf bring your kids the Christmas PJs. That’s what Marci at My Heavenly Recipes does at her house. Every year, their elf arrives on Thanksgiving with cute Christmas pajamas in tow!
Elf Breakfast
I’m sure your kids look forward to your elf’s arrival all year, so making that day extra special is something they’re sure to remember for years to come. One great way to celebrate your elf’s return is with a special holiday breakfast. Heather at Glitter on a Dime says her elf brings a fun breakfast to her house every year, which her kids love. And the best part about this tradition is that it doesn’t even need to be an elaborate event. Heather’s elf brings powdered donuts every year – which is special to her kids because it’s not something they get to eat every day.
Silly Antics
For many families, some of the most memorable Elf on the Shelf traditions are the silly antics that their family’s elf does throughout the year. Just search Elf on the Shelf ideas on Pinterest to see all the silly things those elves do. The elf at Jen’s house from The Suburban Mom is up to no good. He likes messing with family photos each year, including adding silly Elf hats to their photos.
Welcome Party
Your family’s elf’s arrival is definitely a reason to celebrate, so why not throw him a welcome party? That’s what Teresa at Tiaras and Tantrums did and it was a big hit! Her fun welcome party included cute funfetti Elf cupcakes and peppermint hot chocolate – I think that’s the perfect way to welcome your elf and start a new Elf on the Shelf tradition for your family.
Elf Cookies
The holiday season is all about sweet treats, so making some elf-inspired cookies with your kids makes perfect sense. These chocolate chip elf cookies from Smart Mom Smart Ideas are the perfect recipe for your Elf on the Shelf. And there are several ways to make Elf cookies a part of your family’s Elf on the Shelf traditions. Whether you bake these festive cookies with your kids each year to mark your elf’s return or have him deliver the cookies to you kids one day each year, your children are sure to have fond memories of elf cookies during Christmas.
Scavenger Hunt
Many of the Elf on the Shelf traditions on this list center around welcoming your family’s elf to your home each year. But sometimes, you need an Elf on the Shelf tradition that you can do any time during the holiday season. This cute scavenger hunt idea from Mom on the Side is a great option! Send your kids on an annual quest to find their elf, then have him hid in a hard-to-find spot. They’ll love the adventure of seeking out the elf, and you’ll love the memories they’re making during the search.
Welcome Letter
Although the traditional Elf on the Shelf comes with a book outlining the “rules,” sometimes those rules don’t work with the rules of your family. The good news is, you can create your own Elf on the Shelf traditions by creating your own elf rules. That’s what Brenda at Paper Heart Family did. Her family’s elf brings a welcome letter to her kids each year, which outlines what he expects of her kids throughout the holiday season. You can download her letter on her blog or use it as inspiration to create your own letter for your family.
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Emily is a midwestern mom of two boys. She loves all things DIY — from home renovations to kids birthday party planning. Whether she’s making a new farmhouse craft for her home or helping her kids with a cool activity, you can bet she’s in the middle of some kind of DIY project (or three) right now!