Discover creative ways to bring your elf home for the holidays with these fun ideas!
If you have a Scout Elf returning for the holiday season, or if you’ve adopted The Elf on the Shelf Christmas tradition for the first time, look no further for arrival inspiration. Your Scout Elf could plan one of the exciting elf arrivals below to surprise your family.
With a range of return ideas featuring free printables and giggle-worthy setups, your elf will be able to plan the perfect welcome home surprise to get your family in the Christmas spirit!
1. Toodle-oo for Now Text
Catch your Scout Elf sending a text message informing Santa of their safe arrival to your home.
Materials:
Instructions:
- After arriving at your home, your elf will let Santa know they made it safe and sound by sending a text message from your phone. They will be sure to save Santa’s contact information in-case they need to reach him again before the nightly flight back to the North Pole!
Peek-a-boo! It will be awhile before it’s time to open presents on Christmas, but your Scout Elf has an early gift for you! They’ll be waiting to surprise you in a present among your Christmas decorations.
Materials:
Instructions:
- To create this present surprise, your Scout Elf will stand inside a gift box surrounded by shredded paper.
- To appear as though they’re popping out of the box, your elf will balance the top of the gift box on their head and hands and wait for you!
3. Snowy Welcome Back Breakfast
You’ll step into a winter wonderland after your Scout Elf sets up their snow-themed North Pole Breakfast surprise for your family. Your family could even create a similar snowy breakfast and invite your Scout Elf to take part in the celebratory moment!
Materials:
- Blue tablecloth
- Snowflake napkins
- Snowflake sequins
- Snowflake foil swirls
- Waffles sprinkled with powdered sugar
- Fruit
- White powdered donuts Christmas tree
- Glass of “snowman milk”
- Mini glass bottles
- Straws
- White milk
- Marshmallows for heads
- Colorful chocolate-coated candies for buttons
- Red licorice for scarves
- Black and orange decorating icing to draw eyes, noses, and mouths
- Color printer
- Cardstock/paper
- Printable
- Crayons or colored pencils
Instructions:
- Your Scout Elf will get to work preparing a wintry welcome back breakfast. They will use a blue tablecloth and snowflake décor to set the scene.
- Then, they will prepare a breakfast of waffles, fruit, white powdered donuts, and “snowman milk.”
- Lastly, they will print the worksheet and leave it for kids to complete.
4. On a Roll
Let the good times roll! Your Scout Elf is ready for a ride using one common household item—toilet paper.
Materials:
Instructions:
- Your elf will squeeze in a roll of toilet paper and see how far they can travel. They may have a little help from their Elf Pets Reindeer friend!
Your Scout Elf will create a sweet surprise by popping out of a jar of peppermint candies!
Materials:
Instructions:
- Your Scout Elf will start by filling up a jar halfway with peppermints.
- With a marker and small piece of paper, your elf will write a message announcing their arrival.
- After taping the message to the front of the jar, your elf will step inside of it.
- After adding more peppermints to fill the jar, your elf will feel right at home and be ready to share in your excitement over their return home!
6. Donut Delivery
Sweet treats are always on the menu when your Scout Elf comes home. When they arrive for the season, they’ll plan a yummy breakfast so you “donut” have to worry about the season’s first meal.
Materials:
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable sign.
- Then, they will prop it near a plate of delicious donuts for you to enjoy!
7. Invisible Ink
Scout Elves love to share secret messages with each other using an exclusive North Pole recipe for invisible ink. Now, your elf will show you how their favorite communication method works by leaving a hidden message that your family can uncover together.
Materials:
Instructions:
- Your elf will use a white crayon to write a message or draw a picture on a white piece of copy paper.
- Then, your elf will mix food coloring with water in a bowl, making sure the mixture is very dark.
- Your elf will paint over the secret message right before your family wakes up so the colors will be extra bright. Or they might leave a note asking you to paint over the paper to reveal their hidden note.
8. Elf on the Shelf Arrival Poem
Your poetic Scout Elf wrote a special poem to showcase their excitement for returning for the upcoming Christmas season!
Materials:
- Color printer
- Cardstock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They will sit next to their poem and wait for you to find their arrival surprise.
9. Mirror Message
Little ones will wake up to a surprise mirror message from Scout Elf.
Materials:
Instructions:
- Your Scout Elf will use a dry-erase marker to write a special note on the mirror letting your kids know they are back!
- Using the Holiday Harness from the Scout Elves at Play Kit, your elf will stand nearby and wait for your little one to find the message!
10. Scout Elf Souvenir
Your Scout Elf got bit by the travel bug, and they brought back a postcard to share with you. They couldn’t resist hopping into the scene to show you what they did!
Materials:
- Color printer
- Cardstock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- Then, they’ll choose a postcard from one of their favorite destinations, cut along the pink line, and poke their head through the card.
- When you wake, you’ll get a taste of their wild adventure!
These ideas were originally posted on Elf on the Shelf’s Blog.
For more toy guides and ideas like this one, check out our Toyland® Blog.
