P.S. Remember I’m always watching and want to tell Santa you’ve been very good, so make sure you’re on your best behaviour! There are a few rules of course, like NO TOUCHING THE ELF or he'll lose his magic powers! If you want to know more you should definitely read these 10 Elf on the Shelf rules every parent needs to know. Simply pop your Elf inside a mason jar (or any kind of clear container), add hand sanitiser, plus a mask for the Elf’s face. Place a second folded balloon shape’s outer folded edge inside of the first, glued balloon shape, and press the middle folds down to ensure a strong hold. Whether you plan on introducing a Scout Elf to your kiddos for the very first time this year, or you already have one waiting to return, a letter is a lovely way of announcing their arrival on December 1st. Plus, it’ll get the kids extra excited for Christmas!

If you’re one of the many parents dreading the return of Elf on the Shelf, we have some good news for you. Christmas lights are sparkling, the weather’s getting frostier, and Scout Elves are making their way from the snowy North Pole. Under strict guidance of the Department of Elf Magic, all elves from the North Pole must quarantine upon arrival (for as long as you deem necessary to avoid the spread of any North Pole nasties). This mischievous little Elf usually arrives on 1 December (or around Thanksgiving, for our friends across the pond). Then, every day in December, once the little ones are in bed, parents place the Elf in different locations throughout the house, popping up somewhere new for kids to discover in the morning. Place a little note (either written on the mason jar with a marker pen or jotted down on a gift tag) saying ‘Elf quarantine area’ or ‘Elf isolation house’. How to write an arrival letter

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As well as being a really funny idea, it'll give you time to ease into things, not having to come up with something new for the Elf to do every night of the first week! The kids can use this time to talk to the Elf, from a safe distance, and get to know him. For older kids, you could put together a longer message for them to read aloud, bringing Christmas greetings from the North Pole, and prehaps a reminder about the most important rule - not to touch the Elf or he'll lose his magic!