What does the elf learn in school?
The elfabet!
Looking for a way to make your elf visits both magical and educational this December? Have your elf teach your kids the elfabet by introducing a new letter of the alphabet each day with playful setups that highlight words beginning with that letter. From A to Z, your elf can help children learn letters, sounds, and vocabulary in a hands-on, memorable way. Not only does this keep the holiday tradition exciting, but it also turns it into a fun daily literacy adventure for little ones.
This post includes multiple daily alphabet inspired elf ideas for each letter of the alphabet. They're perfect for parents or teachers who want to sneak a little learning into the festive fun.
ELF ELFABET: DAILY LETTER IDEAS FOR YOUR ELF
Most children who have an elf friend that visits are in those early years when learning the alphabet is brand new and exciting. That makes December the perfect time to introduce or reinforce letters in a playful, festive way. By setting up your elf with simple alphabet-themed ideas, you can turn daily elf adventures into opportunities for little ones to be intrinsically exposed to different letters each day.
If you want to include all 26 letters keep in mind you'll need 26 nights of elf activities so your elf will need to arrive before December 1st, or stay past Christmas Eve. If you elf comes on Thanksgiving you'll have 28 days.
Letter A Elf Ideas
Apple watch - the elf can surprise the kids with their very own apple watches made from real apples. They probably won't be able to tell the time properly though. Whoops.
Astronaut - if the elf can teleport to the North Pole each night, it's likely they can make it to out of space too. Dress them up in a space suit {or alfoil} and put them in a rocket ship or hanging in space.
Alien abduction - If you want to kick things off with a real bang the elf can be abducted by aliens in a ufo. Check out how to do it in this post.
Letter B Elf Ideas
Banana minions - everyone knows how much minions love bananas! The elf can turn your bananas into minions with a black marker.
Bad milk - draw a mean face on the milk jug and leave a note saying the milk's gone bad.
Balloon trap - if your elf is feeling adventurous they can spend a day stuck inside a balloon. They'll need a larger balloon and a canning funnel to get in {or a bobo balloon}.
Bottle trick - another way the elf can wow your kids with a magic trick is to get stuck inside a bottle, but how did they get in there? Teach your elf how to do the stuck in a bottle trick here.
Letter C Elf Ideas
Car wash - if you have a dishwasher the elf can turn it into a fancy car wash for toy cars with some blue door streamers or ribbon.
Candy cane hunt - the elf can hide a heap of candy canes around the house for the kids to find. They can use real candy canes, or if you prefer to avoid a possible sugar high, use this printable candy cane scavenger hunt.
Candy crush - the elf can make a real life game of candy crush using real candy and a toy mallet or hammer.
Cookies - the elf can either bake mini cookies, or be taking some from a cookie jar.
Letter D Elf Ideas
Drums - the elf can become a drummer using their own set of DIY drums and symbols made from recycled cans.
Do not feed the dinosaurs - if you have any dinosaur figurines the cheeky elf can be feeding them even though there's a do not feed the dinosaurs sign.
Dessert - the elf can bring some sweet treats for dessert, or set up dessert for breakfast.
Letter E Elf Ideas
Eye pad - if your kids have been begging for an ipad, the elf can bring them one, but it's probably not the type of eye pad they're expecting.
Elf yourself - the elf can draw an elf hat on the bathroom mirror in washable markers so everyone in the family can take their own selfie as an elf.
Eggs - the elf can fry some eggs for breakfast, but they'll be special gummy eggs instead of real eggs.
Letter F Elf Ideas
Farts - uh oh, the elf farted and they're stuck in the jar and it stinks! For added effect spray some fart spray or put a few drops of peppermint oil on a piece of paper towel in the jar so it really smells if the kids open it.
Fishing - if you have a fish tank the elf can be sitting on top fishing. Or they can fish in the sink with some robo fish or goldfish crackers.
Frozen - if your kids love the movie frozen, Elsa can accidentally touch the elf and freeze them in a block of ice. They might need a sunny spot to thaw out during the day.
Floss - the elf can try to do the floss with dental floss. They might end up a bit wrapped up.
Fortnite - if you have older kids the elf can get up to some Fortnite fun like bringing v bucks, finding a loot chest or dressing up as Marshmallow. See more Fortnite elf ideas here.
Letter G Elf Ideas
Gaming - if the elf is into gaming like the kids, set them up on the couch with some headphones and a controller.
Grinch - the elf can dress up in a Grinch costume for a day, or you can introduce a Grinch to get up to mischief with the elf for the rest of the season. There's lots of Grinch & elf ideas here.
Golf - the elf can play a game of real life mini golf with a desktop golf set or a candy cane golf club.
Letter H Elf Ideas
Hanging around - the elf can have fun hanging around from a clothes hanger on the Christmas tree. Hopefully they don't get too dizzy being upside down all day.
Hairdresser - the elf can set up their own hairdressing salon with other toys like barbie dolls.
Hot chocolate bar - the elf can bring some hot chocolate mix or hot chocolate bombs so the kids can make their own yummy hot chocolate.
Harry Potter - if your kids love all things Harry Potter, the elf can dress up as Harry or Hermione and do some magic tricks.
Hospital - if the elf is accidentally touched or injured they may have to visit the hospital. You can get an elf medical certificate if they need time off while they recover.
Letter I Elf Ideas
Ice skating - the elf can turn a sink into an ice skating rink, but they better be careful of thin ice.
Invisible - the elf can do the ultimate magic trick and turn invisible for the day.
Igloo - if it's getting too cold, the elf can build an igloo out of toilet paper rolls to try and stay warmer inside.
Letter J Elf Ideas
Jenga - the elf can play Jenga with other toys. If you don't have a Jenga set they can use kit kat pieces as the blocks.
Jedi - the elf can dress up as a jedi and use the force.
Jingle bells - surround the elf with mini Christmas bells and pretend they're singing Jingle Bells.
Letter K Elf Ideas
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| Image: @ourmagichouse_eots |
Kite - the elf can have fun flying a paper kite.
Kisses - wrap the elf up in aluminium foil to look like a big Hershey's kiss. The elf could also bring some real kisses for the kids.
Karaoke - the elf can borrow a doll microphone and sing karaoke with other toys.
Letter L Elf Ideas
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| Image: @jamesandholly.eots |
Laundry - the elf can do laundry with some Barbie or felt clothes, mini pegs and a bit of string.
Lemonade stand - the elf can sell lemonade {or elf pee} at a lemonade stand. Learn how to make an ice fresh lemonade stand just like the one in the duck song here.
Letter M Elf Ideas
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| Image: @ourmagichouse_eots |
Mermaid - the elf can turn into a real life mermaid with a special mermaid tail.
Melted snowman - the elf can bring a snowman back from the North Pole, but it'll probably melt before the kids wake up.
Moon phases - the cheeky elf can use a moon phases printable to teach the kids the phases of the moon, but look out cos they might moon the kids themselves.
Mystery drinks - the elf can hide a few different drinks inside a box with other the straws sticking out and the kids need to drink from each straw and guess what the drink is.
Letter N Elf Ideas
Noodles floating - the elf can make noodles float in the air with this clever magic trick.
North Pole breakfast - the elf can set up a festive North Pole breakfast surprise for the kids to find in the morning.
North Pole news - the elf can keep up to date with everything that's happening at the North Pole by reading the North Pole Times.
Letter O Elf Ideas
Oreo trick - the elf can bring the kids some mini Oreos, but they might be a little minty.
Ornaments - have the elf bring some new ornaments for the Christmas tree, or they could take them all off the tree and the kids need to decorate it again.
Oranges - sit the elf in a fruit bowl with oranges with googly eyes.
Letter P Elf Ideas
Pokémon - turn your elf into a real life Pokémon. Follow these instructions to make a free personalised elf Pokémon card then they can battle it out with other toys.
Pead my pants - the elf can pee their pants on the counter with frozen peas.
Popcorn party - the elf can make a bag of popcorn in the microwave ready for a movie night.
Letter Q Elf Ideas
Quarantine - if the elf gets sick they can be put in quarantine for a day {or more} so they don't spread their germs to the rest of the family.
Q-tip snowflake - even if it doesn't snow where you live the elf can bring some snowflakes using q-tips.
Letter R Elf Ideas
Rock, paper, scissors - the elf can try and play a game of rock, paper, scissors with the real items.
Reading books - the elf can read a story to other toys. They can even read a mini version of the elf on the shelf book.
Road trip - if you have a big enough toy car the elf can pack up a suitcase and get ready to go on a road trip.
Rock climbing - but without the rocks. Elves prefer rock climbing on bows.
Letter S Elf Ideas
Snow angel - the elf can make a snow angel on the kitchen bench in flour or fake snow.
Sack race - the elf can have a sack race in brown paper bags with other toys.
Scavenger hunt - the elf can hide and set up a scavenger hunt for the kids to find them, or to find special treats.
Snowball fight - the elf and other toys can have a snowball fight with mini marshmallows.
Shoe shoe train - set up shoes in a line to look like a train and put the elf and some other toys in their own shoe carriage.
Letter T Elf Ideas
Taco Tuesday - everyone loves tacos on a Tuesday, including elves!
Toilet paper Christmas tree - decorate the Christmas tree with a toilet paper garland.
Tangled in Christmas lights - the elf was helping to decorate and got all tangled up.
Tight rope walking - some extra special elves can tight rope walk across hanging Christmas lights.
Letter U Elf Ideas
U-tube - the elf doesn't understand why the kids think YouTube is so great, watching a u on a tube is booooring.
Upside down - have the elf hanging upside down somewhere in the house.
Underwear tree - decorate the tree with the kids undies, but make sure they're clean.
Uranus - set up a solar system or planetarium to view Uranus and have the elf's bum as Uranus instead of the planet.
Letter V Elf Ideas
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| Image: @ourmagichouse_eots |
Vacation - have the elf set up on a beach or tropical vacation, or send a postcards photo of them on vacation somewhere.
Vet - have the elf bandaging injured toy animals.
V bucks - if your kids play Fortnite the elf can bring them some special elf v bucks.
Letter W Elf Ideas
Weightlifting - have the elf lifting marshmallow weights on a toothpick barbell.
Wrapped in paper - the elf can wrap themselves up as a present with Christmas wrapping paper.
Wrap lunchbox - the elf can surprise the kids with everything in their lunchbox wrapped up in Christmas paper.
Letter X Elf Ideas
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| Image: @elves_unicorns_sparkle |
X-ray machine - the elf can get an x-ray with a real skeleton or a special elf x-ray machine.
Xylophone - if you have a toy xylophone {or a real one} the elf can get the mallet and create a special festive tune.
Letter Y Elf Ideas
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| Image: @jamesandholly.eots |
Yoga - elves love doing yoga to relax too.
Yoghurt - the elf can snack on some Yoplait yoghurt.
Yeti - the elf can have a visit from little Grunt his yeti friend, or dress up just like him with this yeti costume.
Letter Z Elf Ideas
Zooming away - if the letter Z coincides with the day the elf leaves, he can be zooming away into a special portal.
Zip lining - the elf can zipline across the room using a candy cane so they don't fall.
Zoo - the elf can visit the zoo if you have lots of animal figurines to create a pretend zoo.
If you're looking for even more funny, easy, or even elaborate Elf on the Shelf ideas, join our Facebook group Elfing Around for lots of inspiration from thousands of elf enthusiasts around the world.
More Elf Ideas
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