December 1 is fast approaching and that means it’s time for the Elf on the Shelf. These Elf on the Shelf arrival ideas are perfect for getting kids in the festive spirit!
If you’re here then you’re looking for arrival ideas for Elf on the Shelf – whether your Elf is something brand new or a favourite festive tradition in your house.
Whether you are someone who prefers to plan your Elf on the Shelf ideas well in advance, or need easy and low maintenance stunts, there’s something for you in this cool list.
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Pre-arrival Elf on the Shelf ideas
It’s nice to have the Elf arrive back in your home with a bang. However it can be fun to add a little mystery in the lead up to your Elf coming back.
Why not try these fun pre-arrival Elf on the Shelf ideas that work in the days or weeks leading up to December 1.
Postcard or letter
Craft a letter from your Elf to your kids explaining that he will be back soon! You could write this out by hand if you think your kids won’t recognise your writing.
You can use free design websites such as Canva to create the letter with fun clipart, or use your computer’s own word processing software.
Alternatively have your Elf send a postcard from the North Pole! Why not use my free printable Elf on the Shelf pre-arrival postcard?
Footprints
Using a stencil with fairy or Elf footprints and some icing sugar you can create snowy Elf footprints around the house.
This is a cool way of showing Elf has been scouting out the house ahead of their return!
Fun and easy Elf on the Shelf arrival ideas
Elf on the Shelf arrives on December 1. The premise behind the Elf is that he watches your kids up until Christmas Eve to ensure they are being good so they can stay off the naughty list.
The fun is that every day he moves somewhere different. It may be that he’s found a different place – or shelf – to sit on or that he’s causing some mischief.
This list of the best Elf on the Shelf arrival ideas will give you inspiration for what to do on that first day! The ideas include free printables to download and add to the magic!
If this is your first year using Elf on the Shelf then you will receive a book along with your new festive friend to help introduce the Elf on the Shelf tradition to your kids.
Buy your Elf on the Shelf here.
You may also like this article about how to welcome back your Elf on the Shelf.
Elf on the Shelf arrival letter
Having your Elf arrive with a letter is a great way to kick of his month of mayhem leading up to Christmas Day.
A first time Elf on the Shelf arrival letter works really well to introduce the Elf, including the rules of Elf on the Shelf.
Of course your Elf doesn’t come with a ton of rules, but the chief one is he will be somewhere new every day and your kids shouldn’t touch the Elf.
It’s up to you whether you enforce this rule or not, but I’ve found the trouble with you letting the kids touch the Elf is he tends to then vanish in your kid’s toys just when you need to find him to move him for the next morning!
The Elf arrival letter also works really well for a returning Elf. It’s a chance for them to say “hi” and reintroduce the Elf to your child or kids.
If you would like a letter then I have got two freebies for you to download – one for a returning Elf on the Shelf and another for a first time Elf on the Shelf arrival!
Check out my free Elf on the Shelf arrival letters here.
Elf arrives through a magical door
One question your kids may have is how on earth does the Elf get into your house? You could explain it away with magic, or you could add a cool magical door to your house!
This is a small fairy, or Elf, door that takes your Elf from the North Pole to your home and back again every night.
On December 1 you could have the magical door up and ready, with the Elf sat next to it.
There are some fantastic Elf door kits you can get – featuring little accessories like tiny decorations and a “Welcome mat”.
Elf’s door is under construction
I just love this idea, which can really surprise your kids as you can do it the day before December 1 as a pre-cursor to Elf’s official arrival.
Using the free printables from Homeschool of 1 you can create a little construction site around where Elf’s magical door is due to appear.
Then on December 1 you remove the construction set-up to reveal the door and Elf is finally here!
Sleigh ride
I love our Elf sleigh prop – it has really made doing Elf on the Shelf so much easier and given me tons of last-minute ideas.
Using a sleigh prop for your Elf is a great arrival idea, as you can tell your kids he flew to your home on the magical sleigh.
You can also tether the sleigh to one of your children’s favourite toys, or a few toy dinosaurs, ponies or even Paw Patrol figures.
Elf is trapped in a balloon
Uh-oh, Elf is stuck inside a balloon! Use permanent marker to write a message on there saying “help, set me free” and then you can help your kids pop the balloon to get him out.
Using a confetti balloon can make this extra fun.
I’ve done the Elf stuck in a balloon stunt a couple of times and it’s actually not as hard as you may worry it would be!
You need to feed him into the balloon (before blowing it up) head first. Choose a large balloon as that makes it much easier.
Blowing the balloon up with the Elf inside is more fiddly, but it’s totally doable.
Elf rides in with balloons
I love this grand entrance idea from Mama Cheaps where Elf has landed on the Christmas tree with a big bunch of festive balloons.
The long sign is a great detail the kids will really love! If you can’t manage a huge banner then just add a little Christmas gift tag with a message to your kids on for them to read.
Elf delivers the advent calendars
A really low maintenance way to bring back the Elf or introduce him to your kids is to have the Elf sitting with your children’s advent calendars on the morning of December 1.
You won’t need any extra props!
Posted from the North Pole
Kids love to receive mail! A great way to let your Elf make an entrance is to place him in a mail bag with his head peaking out!
You can get a free printable shipping label from DIY Couple Blog.
Hiding in the Christmas wreath
This idea requires you to have at least some festive decorations out and ready for December 1. Maybe you could get the decorations out while your kids are sleeping if you have time?
Elf is tucked away in a Christmas wreath ready to say hi!
Sitting in the Christmas tree
On a similar theme to the above idea, the Elf is hiding in the Christmas tree!
Tuck him somewhere near the top of the tree so he’s easy to spot.
Landing on a paper aeroplane
You could go one further with hiding Elf on the Christmas tree and give him a paper aeroplane to fly in on!
Write a message along the wings of the plane – something along the lines of “I’m back” or “It’s me!” Or “Time for fun!”.
Elf is wrapped up
Have the Elf Wrapped up with a little bow around his tummy as a gift for your kids when they come downstairs.
It works best if his head is not wrapped up, so kids know right away that it’s the Elf! You could leave scissors and tape next to the Elf to show he’s wrapped himself up ready to say hey to the kids!
Add a Christmas gift tag with a message as well saying the Elf is back and ready for fun.
I’m Back gumdrops
This is a super sweet and simple way to herald the Elf’s arrival, as long as you’ve got some gumdrops or similar!
Use the sweet treats to spell out the words “I’m Back” on a kitchen counter or table, with the Elf sitting nearby.
Final thoughts
I hope you’ve found some brilliant ideas for Elf on the Shelf’s arrival, whether this is Elf’s first time or he’s a returning festive fixture!
Don’t forget to check out my Elf on the Shelf ideas and the free Elf on the Shelf cheat sheet – featuring a printable calendar of ideas for the whole run-up to Christmas!
And there is a whole host of ideas for Elf’s last day here.
