Looking for Elf on the Shelf arrival gift ideas for your little ones? We share 37 fun suggestions to celebrate your elf’s arrival.
As Elfie returns to join the crew, it can be fun for them to bring a little something for your children to mark the beginning of advent. What better way for your elf to make a grand entrance and sprinkle some Christmas spirit.
Of course any advent treat will do the job perfectly. We’ve gathered together our favourite creative ideas for how to enjoy this fun tradition, including lots of easy last minute gifts and small presents that won’t break the bank so you can choose the perfect gift for your little one.
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Elf on the Shelf Arrival Gift: 37 Ideas
Elf On The Shelf Arrival Letter
The simplest idea of all but it could be the thing that sprinkles the most magic. A welcome letter as your elf returns to join you. Download our free printable poem or handwrite your own message from the North Pole. A great option for sharing news of what your elf friend has been doing the rest of the year.
Festive Treat
Why not have your elf make a special Christmas breakfast delivery? Add to a North Pole Breakfast or enjoy later in the countdown. This adorable Christmas tree pancake kit from the Stackable Pancake Co is spot on!
North Pole Breakfast Invitation
Rather than you putting on a North Pole Breakfast for your elf, they could deliver an invite as they arrive. Something to look forward to in the first days of advent. We’ve created a whole range of North Pole Breakfast & Elf Printables for you to use.
Download Your Printable Invite
Christmas Mug
The perfect addition to your North Pole Breakfast celebrations, or indeed Hot Chocolate station! And this Christmas Jumper mug from Emma Bridgewater will be used for years to come (plus £5 of each sale goes to Save The Children as well!)
Christmas Book
Whether it’s a novel to enjoy over the whole month or the ritual of a new book for the Book Advent Calendar each year, you can’t go wrong with a book as your Elf on the Shelf arrival gift. Check out our pick of the bunch with Christmas books for babies to tweens.
Advent Candle
Elf on the Shelf gifts don’t come much easier than an advent candle but that’s 24 evenings of candlelit dinners right there! We love these super cute designs by This Is Nessie.
Remember: New customers get 20% off at This Is Nessie with promo code: JOLLYFESTIVE
Advent Calendars
Is your elf in charge of delivering the advent calendars? Hannah’s family elf is! Such a fun way to add extra holiday cheer to an already exciting day if the advent calendars arrive by Elf-Mail!
Christmas Pyjamas
A classic and perfect elf on the shelf tradition! Enjoy those Christmas jammies for the whole month of December when they are delivered alongside the arrival of your elf. And Selfie Craft Co have taken the Christmas PJ to the next level with these countdown to Christmas colour-in pyjamas. Perfect for keeping little hands busy!
New Ornament
Your Elf could arrive with a new bauble for the Christmas tree. What a sweet tradition this would make and a great way to slowly build a collection of baubles for your little one too. We love the beautiful keepsake bauble designs by Jayne Remond.
Heirloom Ornament
Christmas Pickle
A fun variation on the bauble idea is a Christmas Pickle. There are few more quirky of the Christmas traditions that that of the Christmas Pickle! Your Elf could deliver the pickle each year and so begins the fun of festive hide & seek!
Christmas Tree
Forget the decorations … why doesn’t your Scout Elf arrive with the tree! Signalling the start of the holiday season loud and clear, this would make a fun elf arrival idea for the whole family. Whether the tree arrives ready to be dressed, or magically decorates itself overnight is up to you of course!
Tickets For Activities
Planning a surprise festive outing? Why not have a big reveal from your elf as they arrive? Perfect for trips to see Santa, visit light trails, ice rinks, or going on a Christmas train ride!
Cuddly Christmas Soft Toy
Make up for the no-touch rule for Elfie with a new cuddly toy friend. We love the fabulous Jellycat range for serious points on the cute scale!
Christmas Crayons
What better Elf on the Shelf arrival gift than something to help write and decorate a letter to Santa?! We can’t resist these fabulous Christmas crayons by Crayon Box.
Christmas Escape Game Puzzle
Ideal for any treasure hunt / puzzle loving children! Help Head Elf Bernard send a special Christmas message in this festive escape room style challenge from Puzzle Post. Aimed at 6-9 year olds, it’s a fabulous elf delivery … especially as you write or record the message to be uncovered!
Christmas Activity Book
An activity book to keep your little one busy over the festive countdown. We love Orchard Toys’ Countdown To Christmas with activities for every day of December.
Hands-On Imaginative Play Craft Kit
Perhaps your little one would prefer some imaginative play? What about a playdough creative kit to enjoy. We adore these mini kits from Little Hands Learning.
Christmas Game
We love the idea of Elfie arriving with a new Christmas game in tow! There’s any number of fabulous festive games available. We love The Christmas Express Game, for a festive twist on Snakes & Ladders – perfect for a selection of ages.
New Outfit
What about if your elf arrives sporting a fresh look with a new adorable elf outfit?! We love the creations by Totally Elf – the perfect fit for your elf friend!
Baking Project
Time for some festive baking? Your Elf could deliver the ingredients for a fun festive bake. We’ve got all sorts of ideas from the Jolly Festive kitchen. Or you could gift our cookie jar sprinkle cookie mix, ready to be whipped up into tasty treats!
Pamper Time
What could be more indulgent than a special festive bath complete with goodies from your Elf on the Shelf. Check out Soul and Soap for beautiful Christmassy bath bombs and shower foams that are sure to be a hit.
Candy Cane Treasure Hunt
Your Elf on the Shelf could share a message that they’ve laid out a Candy Cane Treasure Hunt for your little ones around the home.
Grow Your Own Candy Cane Garden
Sticking with the candy cane theme … how about your scout elf arrives with peppermint swirl (or equivalent) seeds to plant. Then, overnight the seeds could start to grow into candy canes. Obviously not the best botanical lesson 😉 but a fun way to share a little Christmas magic!
Christmas Craft Kit
Perfect for keeping excited little ones busy, your elf could deliver a small Christmas craft kit to enjoy. We love the range available at Baker Ross.
Elf Pet
Welcome members of the extended Elf on the Shelf family with an Elf Pet. We love Noorah, Santa’s magical arctic fox.
Elf Friend
If you’re feeling brave, welcoming a new addition to your family, or simply want to mix up the festive fun, why not have your elf arrive with a friend from the North Pole! Double the trouble, double the fun?!
Cookie Cutters
Have your elf arrive with some festive cookie cutters to get busy making cookies for family and friends. Don’t forget you can also put your cookie cutters to good use decorating wrapping paper!
Kindness Advent Calendar
Encourage an advent of kind acts for others with the delivery of a kindness advent calendar by your Scout Elf.
Snow Globe
Both of us have heirloom Snow Globes that come out year after year and take pride of place on the sideboard. Lean into The Santa Clause movie and have your elf deliver a Snow Globe from the North Pole each year for your little one, full of magic and wonder. We love this beauty from Little Empire Homeware.
Reindeer Food
Magical reindeer food, or the ingredients to make it, would make a wonderful North Pole gift from your Elf on the Shelf!
Movie Night Treats
What’s the Christmas countdown without some movie night snuggles?! Your elf could bring a gift of movie night treats to enjoy as you watch a Christmas movie together. May we suggest …. Elf 😉
Paper Chains
We love paper chains. So versatile, so fun and very eco friendly! If your Elf on the Shelf arrives with a gift of paper chains, you could immediately have a paper chain making competition. And then begins the decorating! Perfect, easy fun for the whole family.
Scavenger Hunt
A great way to get the kids outside. Your Elf could arrive with a Scavenger Hunt to enjoy with the results being sent back to the North Pole for Santa to see.
Snow Spray & Stencils
Get busy decorating your windows and turning your home into a Winter Wonderland when your elf arrives armed with snow spray, direct from the North Pole! We love the range from Snow Windows – the original Snow Spray artist.
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What Gifts Does The Elf Bring?
Having your elf deliver a treat as they arrive is a great way to set the tone for the start of the holiday season. Whether it’s a personal message, new Christmas toy, something tasty, advent calendar, or an invite to a special occasion, this is a fun way to get the holiday spirit going for the whole family.
It doesn’t need to be anything particularly extravagant. Anything your Elf on the Shelf brings along is sure to bring sprinkled with Christmas magic. For example, a handwritten note from the North Pole, free printable colouring page, or scavenger hunt activity are all fun ideas that won’t cost a penny!
When Else Could An Elf On The Shelf Bring A Gift?
Of course, we’ve been talking about gifts delivered for your elf on the shelf’s arrival on December 1st. But there’s no rule that says it has to be then! Some other great times for an elf gift include:
- Tree Decorating Day – great for an annual bauble tradition!
- First day of the school holidays – delivering some holiday fun to keep the kids entertained
- Tickets for an event during the Christmas countdown – how magical to have these arrive ‘By Elf’, especially if it’s for a visit to see Santa himself!
- As they leave on Christmas Eve – maybe your Elf delivers the Christmas Eve Box, or a goodbye message and a gift to keep your little one from feeling too sad at their departure the next day.
- On Christmas Day – perhaps your Elf leaves a gift alongside the stocking treats from Santa Claus (just set one of the smaller gifts aside and mark it from Elfie.
There are so many cute ways to set up new traditions with presents from your elf.
We do hope you’ve found these Elf on the Shelf Arrival Gift Ideas useful. What other ideas have you got in mind for Elfie? Do let us know in the comments below!
Share Your Elf Adventures!
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @jollyfestive.
And be sure to tag #jollyfestive in your photos. We love to see what your elf has been up to this year!
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