The ideas, night by night

1. DEC1

   Hello again

   Your Elf is back, with a short note: who they missed, what they saw at the North Pole, and one thing they are looking forward to this year.

   You need: Paper and a pen.

2. DEC2

   The great marshmallow snowball fight

   Line up two teams of teddies and toys with a pile of mini marshmallows between them. Your Elf is clearly losing.

   You need: Mini marshmallows, teddies.

3. DEC3

   Zip line across the room

   Tie string between two chair backs, hang the Elf from a clothes peg or a loop of ribbon, and leave them halfway across.

   You need: String, a peg or ribbon.

4. DEC4

   Gone fishing

   Your Elf sits on the edge of a bowl of fish-shaped crackers with a pencil and string fishing rod. A good catch.

   You need: A bowl, crackers, a pencil, string.

5. DEC5

   Toilet roll snowman

   Three toilet rolls stacked up, a scarf, and two buttons for eyes. Your Elf stands proudly beside their creation.

   You need: Toilet rolls, a scarf, paper.

6. DEC6

   Message on the mirror

   Write a cheerful message on the bathroom mirror in washable window pen: Good morning from the North Pole!

   You need: A washable window pen.

7. DEC7

   Breakfast for the toys

   Set a tiny breakfast table for the teddies with doll's cups and a cereal bowl. Your Elf is the waiter.

   You need: Toy cups, a bowl, a tea towel.

8. DEC8

   The snowflake factory

   Paper snowflakes everywhere, scissors put safely away, and your Elf asleep on the pile after a long shift.

   You need: Paper, a grown-up with scissors.

9. DEC9

   Grand prix night

   Make a race track on the floor with masking tape and line up the toy cars. Your Elf is in the lead car.

   You need: Masking tape, toy cars.

10. DEC10

    A sticky situation

    Criss-cross a doorway with paper tape at child height and leave your Elf stuck in the middle of the web.

    You need: Paper tape.

11. DEC11

    Marshmallow bubble bath

    Your Elf relaxes in a bowl full of mini marshmallows, with a cotton wool beard of bubbles.

    You need: A bowl, marshmallows, cotton wool.

12. DEC12

    Hide and seek

    Hide your Elf somewhere new and leave a clue card by the bed: I am somewhere cold and full of food.

    You need: A card. The fridge is a good one.

13. DEC13

    Kindness challenge

    A note from your Elf: Today's North Pole challenge is to help someone without being asked. Santa loves this one.

    You need: Paper and a pen.

14. DEC14

    Story time

    Your Elf sits in front of a row of teddies, reading them a Christmas book by torchlight.

    You need: A book, a torch, teddies.

15. DEC15

    Snow angel

    Sprinkle icing sugar on a baking tray and leave your Elf lying in it after making a snow angel.

    You need: A baking tray, icing sugar.

16. DEC16

    Moustache mischief

    Print a family photo and draw silly moustaches on everyone with a felt tip. Your Elf is holding the pen.

    You need: A printed photo, a felt tip.

17. DEC17

    Santa's workshop

    Building bricks, wrapping scraps and a tiny sign: Workshop open. Your Elf is building toys for the teddies.

    You need: Bricks or blocks, paper.

18. DEC18

    Elf movie night

    A hot chocolate kit and a note: Tonight is movie night. I picked the film. It is about an Elf.

    You need: Hot chocolate, a note.

19. DEC19

    It's a wrap

    Your Elf has wrapped the TV remote in wrapping paper, with a gift tag that says Do not open until after tea.

    You need: Wrapping paper, tape.

20. DEC20

    Elf on trial

    The teddies have arrested your Elf for eating the biscuits. Crumbs on their face, a toy judge, and a note pleading innocent.

    You need: Teddies, a biscuit.

21. DEC21

    Camping trip

    A tea towel tent over two pencils, a torch for a campfire and your Elf tucked in a sock sleeping bag.

    You need: A tea towel, pencils, a torch, a sock.

22. DEC22

    Letter to Santa

    Your Elf has left paper and pencils out, ready for one last letter to Santa. They promise to deliver it tonight.

    You need: Paper, pencils, an envelope.

23. DEC23

    Christmas Eve box

    Your Elf brings new pyjamas, a Christmas story and a mug for tonight's hot chocolate, with a note: Only one more sleep.

    You need: Pyjamas, a book, a mug.

24. DEC24

    See you next year

    Your Elf leaves a goodbye note on Christmas Eve night: Thank you for a wonderful Christmas. I will be watching again next year.

    You need: Paper and a pen.

Tips that save your evenings

• Plan three nights at a time and keep the bits in one box, out of sight.
• Swap nights around freely. Busy day? Use one of the two-minute ideas like Hello again, Message on the mirror or Kindness challenge.
• Take a photo each morning. By Christmas you will have a lovely record of the whole month.
• In November, children can follow their Elf at the North Pole on the free Elf Tracker, so the first night of December feels like the end of a journey.

Questions parents ask

How many nights does the Elf stay?

Most families have their Elf from 1st December until Christmas Eve, which is 24 nights. Some start earlier. There is no wrong answer: it is your family's tradition.

What if we forget to move the Elf?

It happens in every house. Your Elf was simply watching from their favourite spot, or they were too tired after a long night at the workshop. Tomorrow's idea can be an extra good one.

Do the ideas cost much?

No. Almost everything here uses things you already have at home: string, paper, tape, teddies and a few marshmallows.

Are these ideas safe for little ones?

They are designed to be. Keep small items like marshmallows away from babies and toddlers, put scissors away, and set things up out of reach if you have very young children.