Elf on the Shelf is a fun holiday tradition enjoyed by many families at Christmas time. Whether your Elf visits your house every holiday season or is new to the tradition, finding fun ways to welcome your Elf to your home is a great way to kick off the holiday season. Grab your FREE Elf on the Shelf letter to welcome your elf home this year!
These printable letters are part of a set of Elf on the Shelf printables I will be sharing. They all coordinate with a similar theme. (You can get the matching Elf on the Shelf Goodbye Letter now too.)
Elf on the Shelf Welcome Letter
If you’re new to the Elf on the Shelf tradition, you’re going to need a fun way to explain the elf to your kids. Including a cute letter with your elf upon his arrival is a great way to tell your kid how the elf works and what they’ll do during their visit.
Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition in which Santa sends scout elves out to children’s homes during the holiday season to keep an eye on the kids while Santa is busy making toys. Each night, the elves fly back to the North Pole to report back to Santa. Then they fly back home and appear in a new location each day.
A welcome letter is a perfect way to explain this fun tradition to your kids.
The best part is that you can make it look like your family’s elf brought the letter along with them! Simply set out your elf in a spot where your kids are sure to see them and place the letter in their lap. When your kids spot the elf, take the letter and read it to them so they know exactly what to expect during your elf’s visit.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE ELF ON THE SHELF FIRST TIME ARRIVAL LETTER
Returning Elf Letter
You can still use this cute tradition, even if you have an Elf on the Shelf that visits your home every year. While your kids will probably know the routine after your elf’s first visit, it’s always a good idea to remind them what the elf will be doing while he’s hanging out at your house.
Using a letter upon your elf’s return can help remind your kids that your elf is working for Santa and will report back to the big guy every night.
You can use the letter to create a family tradition to kick off the holiday season! Your kids will look forward to reading your elf’s letter when he returns to your home each Christmas.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE ELF ON THE SHELF RETURN LETTER
When Does Elf on the Shelf Arrive?
The date of your elf’s arrival really depends on when your family starts celebrating the holiday season.
According to the Elf on the Shelf website, the elves’ official arrival date is the last week of November, leading into December. But that doesn’t mean you have to follow those guidelines.
If your family starts celebrating the holiday season after Thanksgiving, have your elf arrive during the weekend following the Thanksgiving holiday. Or mark December 1st as your elf’s arrival date to ring in the holiday season.
Basic Elf Rules
Since you’ll be welcoming your elf to your home before long, it’s a good idea to brush up on the Elf on the Shelf rules. These common guidelines are followed by most scout elves, which means your elf will probably follow the same rules:
- Don’t touch the elf! If a human touches an Elf on the Shelf, they’ll lose their magic. So, it’s important to remind your kids that your family’s elf can’t be touched under any circumstances.
- Elves can’t talk, but they do listen. While your elf won’t be able to talk to your kids, they love listening to their stories – especially when it comes to Christmas stories. Your kids can share their secrets and let their elf know what they want Santa to bring them for Christmas.
- Your elf must return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Your family’s Elf on the Shelf can have fun at your house all through the Christmas season, but they have to return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve to help Santa prepare for Christmas.
In addition to traditional rules, there are a few other guidelines many families follow during their elf’s visit.
Traditionally, your family’s elf leaves your house each night to return to the North Pole, and when they come back, they land in a new spot in your house. Sometimes, families create funny scenes surrounding their elf, while others just hide the elf in new locations for their kids to find.
DOWNLOAD ELF ON THE SHELF ARRIVAL LETTER
DOWNLOAD ELF ON THE SHELF RETURN LETTER
No matter how you plan to celebrate the holiday season with your Elf on the Shelf, it’s sure to make a ton of great memories for your kids. And it’s going to be an amazing holiday tradition for your family to enjoy throughout the Christmas season.
Get ready for the holidays by grabbing your FREE Elf on the Shelf letter. And if you need more ideas for your Elf, I’ve got 50+ Elf on the Shelf Ideas on my other site. They’re all easy ideas and there is a free printable cheatsheet too!
BUY ELF ON THE SHELF
| Item | Price | Prime | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Top | Elf on the Shelf : A Christmas Tradition Boy Light | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Elf on the Shelf : A Christmas Tradition Girl Light | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Elf on the Shelf : A Christmas Tradition Boy Dark | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition Girl Dark | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
ELF ON THE SHELF PRINTABLES
You can get all of the coordinating printables:
- Elf on the Shelf Arrival Letter (for new elves and returning elves)
- Elf on the Shelf Goodbye Letter
- Elf on the Shelf Rules
- Printable Elf Adoption Certificate
- Elf on the Shelf Naughty Letter & Nice Notice
