Elves are the quiet heroes of the North Pole, and children love the idea of tiny helpers who are watching over their home. A few small touches each December can make the whole house feel a little more magical.
Leave a note from an elf
A short note from an elf, with a small mess or a silly joke, is one of the easiest ideas. Keep the handwriting simple, use a different colour pen from the adults, and sign the elf's name.
Set up a pretend workshop
Use a cardboard box, some tinsel and a few scraps of paper. Let the children decorate it as the workshop and place a little toy bench inside. Adding a letter slot means the children can post their own wish lists.
Let the elves check the nice list
Keep a notebook called the nice list in a visible spot. Children can add a line each time they help with the dishes or share a toy. It turns good behaviour into a game without any threats.
Keep the mischief gentle
Elves can knock over a jar of pencils or leave a trail of glitter. A little chaos is fun. Keep it safe, and tidy it up together the next morning.
Make the elves a bit of a mystery
Children enjoy finding clues. Hide a small elf hat or a sparkly footprint somewhere new each morning and let them search for it.