Elf arrival ideas: 12 magical ways to arrive
The first morning sets the tone for the whole of December. Here are twelve easy ways to make your Elf's arrival unforgettable, from a simple letter to a video of your Elf visiting your home, made in the Elf Watch app.
Build up to the big day
The best arrivals start before the Elf turns up. In November, the free Elf Tracker lets children watch their own Elf at the North Pole on Elf HQ's secret cameras, and follow them on the map towards their town. By the time the Elf arrives, the children have been waiting for weeks.
12 Elf arrival ideas
- 1
A letter from the North Pole
The classic. Your Elf arrives with a letter saying who they are, why they came, and what they hope to see this Christmas.
You need: Paper, an envelope, a little glitter.
- 2
Special delivery
Your Elf arrives in a box packed with cotton wool snow, with a label: Express delivery from the North Pole. Handle with care.
You need: A box, cotton wool, a label.
- 3
Snowy footprints
A trail of tiny footprints in icing sugar leads from the window to wherever your Elf is sitting.
You need: Icing sugar, a fingertip.
- 4
North Pole breakfast
Breakfast is waiting with a dusting of snow (icing sugar) on the table, green milk and a note from your Elf.
You need: Icing sugar, a drop of food colouring.
- 5
Up, up and away
Your Elf floats in holding a balloon, as if they have only just landed.
You need: A balloon and some ribbon.
- 6
A shoebox sleigh
Your Elf pulls up in a sleigh made from a shoebox, with the teddies lined up as reindeer.
You need: A shoebox, paper, teddies.
- 7
The Elf door
A little paper door appears on the skirting board overnight, and your Elf is sitting right beside it.
You need: Card, pens, sticky tack.
- 8
Arrival gifts
Your Elf brings something small for the whole family: a Christmas book, new pyjamas, or a box of hot chocolate.
You need: A small gift.
- 9
Zip line landing
Your Elf is caught mid-arrival on a string zip line from the top of the stairs or a curtain pole.
You need: String, a peg.
- 10
A countdown begins
Your Elf arrives carrying the advent calendar, ready to start the countdown with the children.
You need: An advent calendar.
- 11
Window watcher
Your Elf is pressed against a frosty window (a little fake snow spray works well), having just flown in.
You need: Window snow spray, or paper snowflakes.
- 12
A video of the arrival
Show your children a video of their own Elf arriving in your house, made in the Elf Watch app from a photo of your room.
You need: the Elf Watch app, from 16th November. Each child gets a free video of their Elf in your home on 1st December when you get both Elf calls on the Elf Tracker.
Make the arrival unforgettable
From 16th November, the Elf Watch app turns a photo of your room into a video of your Elf arriving in your home. Get both Elf calls on the Elf Tracker and each child gets a free video of their Elf in your home on 1st December.
See how it works
Questions parents ask
When does the Elf come back?
Many families welcome their Elf back on 1st December so the Elf stays for 24 nights. Others choose the first weekend of December or, in the US, the day after Thanksgiving. Pick the day that suits your family and keep it the same each year.
What goes in an Elf arrival box?
Keep it simple: cotton wool snow, your Elf, their arrival letter and something small for the family, like a Christmas book or new pyjamas. Add a label saying Express delivery from the North Pole.
When should our Elf arrive?
Many families welcome their Elf on 1st December so the Elf stays for 24 nights. Others choose the first weekend of December or, in the US, the day after Thanksgiving. Pick the day that suits your family and keep it the same each year.
Is your Elf arriving early, for US Thanksgiving? Their last sighting is still waiting for you on the Elf Tracker.
What should the Elf's arrival letter say?
Keep it short and warm: your Elf's name, that they have come from the North Pole to help Santa, that they will be watching how kind everyone is, and that they cannot wait for Christmas.
Our Elf is new this year. How do we start?
Choose a name together, or let the Elf introduce themselves in their letter. In November, children can follow their new Elf at the North Pole on the free Elf Tracker before the big arrival.
What if our Elf arrives late?
Elves are busy in November. A short note saying they were helping Santa finish a very important job explains everything.