2025 Elf Kit Survival Guide

Day 2

Let's get cracking, don't delay Christmas mischief is on the way!

Instructions

• Dress your elf in the enclosed Nutcracker outfit and place the mask on him.
• Pose your elf in a playful or heroic stance — maybe standing guard by a toy soldier or keeping watch over your Christmas tree.
• Add a small prop (like a toy drum, sword, or candy cane baton) to complete the look.

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Set up multiple nutcrackers with a mini stage or performance area with twinkle lights and music notes.
• Add other dolls, figurines, or toy soldiers, or nutcrackers to create a Nutcracker performance scene.
• Sprinkle a bit of “snow” (cotton balls or white felt) for a magical touch.

Activity Ideas

• Have your kids put on their own Nutcracker performance using dolls or stuffed animals.
• Listen to a few songs from The Nutcracker and let the kids dance like sugar plum fairies or toy soldiers.
• Talk about what makes The Nutcracker a holiday tradition — and maybe plan to watch the ballet together this season!

Day 3

• Touchdown! It's Christmas Time!

Instructions

• Put together the end zone and kicking stand.
• Pose your elf mid-“game” — maybe holding a mini football, running toward the goal, or celebrating a touchdown!

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Dress your elf in sports or football gear — helmet, jersey, or any fun accessories you have on hand.
• Create a mini football field using green felt, paper.
• Use white tape or chalk to mark yard lines and end zones.

Activity Ideas

• Have your kids set up their own Elf Bowl using stuffed animals or small toys as teams.
• Play a quick round of indoor football (use a soft ball or paper football).
• Talk about your favorite football team and maybe even wear your team colors for the day!
• Encourage the kids to practice good sportsmanship—just like the elves do
  at the North Pole games!

Day 4

Write your wishes one-by-one, I'll share them all with Santa when you're all done!

With hearts full of excitement, we're putting our wishes on paper, ready to send Santa's way in preparation for the big day!

This activity is not just about asking for gifts but also about fostering a heart and attitude of gratitude.

Instructions

• Set out the Santa letter templates, envelopes, and pencils for your kids
  to fill out.
• When complete, have your kids fold the letter and place inside the provided envelope and place in your mailbox!

Scene Enhancements

• Add a mailbox or envelope drop box for Santa letters.

Activity Ideas

• Talk about Christmas being the spirit of giving and ask your ask who they would like to get a Christmas gift from this year.
• Play background Christmas music
• Make some hot coco to sip on
• Draw pictures of items on the wish list
• Let the kids decorate their letters with stickers or drawings before placing them “in the mail.”
• Talk about how Santa represents the spirit of giving and love during the holiday season!

Day 5

Jingle Bells, my poop smells, it's truly quite a sight. I clogged the toilet grab a plunger this might take all night!

Instructions

• Stage the scene by a bathroom, bed, or pillow pile, depending on what fits your setup.
• If near the bathroom, place the elf with a plunger as if they’re on a late-night “rescue mission.”

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Include a tiny flashlight or nightlight to make it look like your elf’s been at it all night.
• Use melted chocolate chips or a small smear of brown cookie dough for a playful (and harmless!) “mess” effect — just keep it contained on a napkin or small dish.

Activity Ideas

• Have your kids “rescue the elf” by finding funny ways to help—draw a plan, make an invention, or tell a silly
  story about what happened.
• Challenge everyone to write a quick “Elf Incident Report” describing the event in their own words.
• Share a laugh together and then enjoy a cookie snack as your “elf repair crew reward.”

Day 6

Scavenger hunt [5 cards]

Instructions

• Hide the 5 scavenger hunt cards in different locations around your home.
• The final clue should lead your kids to the bathroom, where your elf is waiting!
• Use a sticky dot or tape to attach a loofah to your elf’s hand.

Cards:

• I got Lost in socks and underpants, now I Hide where the warm clothes ride!
• I slipped in quiet, not a sound while dreams were swirling all around - Now I'm near bulbs that shimmer bright, perched in festive light!
• Forks, knives and spoons - Oh my! I'm hiding where they like to lie!
• I slipped on some soap and flew through the air, I'm hiding where you scrub your hair!
• I was soaping you would find me! [last card]

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Wrap your elf in a washcloth, like a cozy towel after a bath.
• Add a bit of toilet paper around his hat so it looks like he’s “drying his hair.”
• Set up a mini “elf spa” scene on the counter or bathtub ledge—add small soaps, cotton balls, or a tiny cup for “hot cocoa.”
• Place a rubber ducky or a few bubbles around to make it extra cute.
• Use a battery tea light for a little glow and warmth to the scene.

Activity Ideas

• Talk about self-care and kindness—even elves need time to relax after all that mischief!

Day 7

I flipped two cards and made a pair! now it's your turn if you dare!

Instructions

• Set up your memory game cards on a
  flat surface like a table, rug, or play area. You can either:
• Lay out all of
  the memory cards for a full game setup, or
• Lay out half of the cards, and have your elf or your kids search for the missing matches hidden around the room!
• Pose your elf beside the cards, maybe holding one up or looking mischievous as if they’ve been playing all night!

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Add a small scoreboard or sign that says “Elf vs. Kids: Memory Match Championship!”
• Have your elf wear reading glasses or hold a tiny pencil to look like a serious “game competitor.”

Activity Ideas

• Play the memory game as a family—take turns flipping cards and cheering each other on!
• If your elf hides some around your house, have your kids run around the house finding the missing matches that the elf “hid.”
• Encourage teamwork and
  good sportsmanship—remind everyone that making merry memories is the best prize of all!
• Use the game at a restaurant to keep your kids entertained!

Day 8

I'm on the case, I'm on patrol! with a notebook and pencil too - follow the rules or I'll write about you!

Instructions

• Dress your elf in the police officer outfit and add the police hat.
• If your elf’s arms aren’t bendable, use the tip of a pencil eraser to gently guide the arm through the sleeve—this works great for tight spots!
• Pose your elf in a “law enforcement” stance—standing guard, holding a badge, or writing a pretend ticket for “too much mischief.”

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Bring out toy police cars, handcuffs, or walkie-talkies if you have them.
• Set up a mini police station or Elf Jail (e.g., Legos) scene nearby.
• Place a few stuffed animals, dolls, or action figures inside a “jail” as if they’ve been caught for silly “holiday crimes” (like eating cookies before dinner!).

Activity Ideas

• Have your kids pretend to be Elf Deputies—make their own badges with paper and crayons.
• Talk about what makes someone a helper and how even Santa’s team works together to make good choices.
• End with a little ceremony—kids can “release” the toys once they’ve learned to be kind and follow Santa’s rules!

Day 9

I came, I saw, I took a bite and I ate it all last night!

Instructions

• Use the ice cream cup for today’s scene.
• Place your elf next to the refrigerator, on the counter, or by the freezer with the spoon in hand.
• If you want to take it up a notch, place the elf inside the freezer (but only if you can check early in the morning—no overnight freezing!).

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Sprinkle a few fake ice cream drops or a small napkin mess nearby to show that your elf couldn’t wait!
  Set out some basketball figurines
• Add mini toppings like sprinkles or M&Ms for color and fun.

Day 10

Give it a whirl then do your part - spread Christmas cheer from your heart!

Instructions

• Take the spinner out of the box and set it up for your kids.
• Pose your elf with one arm resting on the spinner, as if he just gave it a big twirl.
• Make sure the spinner is ready for your kids to take turns spinning when they find it!
• You can add small props around the spinner depending on the options listed—cookies, songs, or gifts.

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• If you have a book of Christmas carols, set it nearby in case the spinner lands on a “Sing a Song” option.
• Set out a favorite cookie recipe or
  display festive plates for baked goods to deliver to neighbors.
• Place a large garbage bag donation bin nearby so kids can start filling it right away if landing on "Donate Toys"
  

Activity Ideas

• Use this day to talk about the meaning of Christmas—joy, generosity, and shining kindness
  wherever you go.

Day 11

Caution - Shovel in hand, making a mess SNACKFORT construction is all success!

Instructions

• Set up your construction scene using
  the items from your kit.
• Choose your location - the pantry (for a snack-building site) or the toy room (for a Lego or Duplo build zone).
• Fill the wheelbarrow with cereal (not included) or lego pieces to create the look of “building materials.”
• Pose your elf mid-project — maybe holding a tiny tool, stacking graham crackers, or leaning on the wheelbarrow.

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• In the pantry, scatter a few cereal
  pieces and stack graham crackers like he’s building a house.
• In the toy room, use Legos or Duplos to build a tower or house or Train Tracks (who also works hard!) and place Barbie or other figures nearby — maybe Barbie’s the new homeowner!
• Add caution tape (ribbon or paper strips work great!) around the scene to make it feel like a real construction zone.
• Include a small light or flashlight to spotlight your elf’s “work.”

Activity Ideas

• Have your kids build their own creations — snack towers with graham crackers or Lego buildings like the elf’s.
• Talk about what it means to be a hard-worker and how teamwork helps make big projects fun!
• For an extra laugh, let the kids make up a silly construction site story about what their elf is building today.

Day 12

Checkmate's the goal straight from the North Pole; No need to guess let's see who is the BEST!

Instructions

• Set up a mini chess board with your elf seated as if mid-game.
• If your kids are 6 and older, this is a perfect day to introduce or practice the game of chess.
• Pose your elf with one of the chess pieces in hand, looking deep in thought—like a true strategist from the North Pole!
• If your kids are younger, use a bonus day—swap in an age-appropriate scene.

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Place your chessboard on a small table or play area where your kids can join in.
• Add a tiny notebook and pencil to make it look like your elf is “studying
  moves.”
• Use toy figures as opponents or “spectators” cheering the elf on.

Activity Ideas

• Teach your kids the basics of chess—how each piece moves and the idea of checkmate.
• Play a short family game or help your kids play against each other.
• If your little ones are too young, try a simpler matching or pattern game inspired by the chessboard.
• Talk about how patience and strategy make games (and teamwork) more fun.

Day 13

Build it tall and make it sweet, This gingerbread is too good to eat!

Instructions

• Set out the gingerbread craft pieces and supplies for your kids to build their own easy, no-mess version.
• This craft can be done in the morning during quiet time, or saved as an after-school activity—whatever
  fits your family’s rhythm best!
• [Instruction sheet included in package]
  

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Pose your elf beside the gingerbread craft holding a tiny candy or spatula—ready to help decorate.
• Add a few mini candies or candy canes nearby as “building materials.”
• If you want a little extra flair, set out a small construction zone materials [Day 11]

Activity Ideas

• Plan for making a real Gingerbread house!

Day 14

No time to delay, let's sleigh the day!

Instructions

• Today’s setup uses the Sleigh — and there are lots of options for where
  to place it!
• If you have a staircase, position the Sleigh on the stair railing so it looks like your elf is sliding down mid-flight.
• If you don’t have stairs, use fishing wire [included in kit pack] to hang the Sleigh between pendant lights or from one point to another—like your elf is gliding through the living room; Secure the Sleigh by tying the wire through four connection points (front and back) to keep it level and safe.
• Pose your elf sitting upright, arms out or holding on tight for the “ride.”

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Add a trail of snowflakes or cotton fluff to make it look like your elf zoomed in from the North Pole.
• Sprinkle a touch of fake snow or glitter below the Sleigh for a“fresh snowfall” effect.
• If your home has stairs, you can also set mini figures or animals below cheering your elf on.
• Add some string lights nearby for a glowing nighttime sled ride look.

Activity Ideas

• Place out a fun breakfast treat draped in streamers -- like donuts that the kids have to sneak around to get to the fun treat!
• Use these printables for kids to get Santa to his sleigh!

Day 15

This pillow is for dreams both cozy and bright to bring Christmas Even closer each night!

Instructions

• Today is Pillowcase Day!
• If you happened to forget to move your elf overnight, this scene is the perfect “sleeping on the job” setup.
• Place your elf in your child’s bedroom, tucked in or resting on the new pillowcase.
• Make sure to wash pillowcase before use—each wash makes it softer and
  fuzzier!
• When your kids find the elf, they’ll also discover their new pillowcase waiting on their bed.

Activity Ideas

• Use this moment talk about rest and
  recharging—even elves need a nap sometimes!
• Make it a family bedtime story night—read a Christmas classic together while everyone snuggles up with their new pillowcases.
• For extra fun, let the kids draw or write a dream they think the elf
  might’ve had while “sleeping on the job.”

Day 16

Breaking News: Hot off the press fresh as morning dew, the Best Elf has the latest gossip just for you!

Instructions

• Today is Reading and Relaxing Day!
• Set your elf up with a tiny coffee cup beside the coffee pot, as if he’s sipping his morning brew and reading the “news.”
• If you’re not a coffee drinker, place your elf in your favorite chair or your child’s reading spot instead.
• Make sure the setup looks cozy and calm—a quiet moment before the next round of holiday mischief!

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Add a few coffee beans or a tiny spoon next to your elf’s cup for realism.
• If near the coffee pot, sprinkle some cocoa powder or fake coffee drips for a fun, “messy barista” look.
• Place a small folded napkin or notepad nearby as if your elf is “taking notes” on holiday happenings.
• If using a reading chair setup, add a blanket, glasses, or book prop to
  complete the cozy scene.

Activity Ideas

• Have your kids read the elf’s “news” out loud—make it silly or let them create their own headline for the day!
• Turn this into a family reading time—everyone grabs a book, hot cocoa, or snack, and reads together for a few minutes.
• If you’re using the coffee pot scene, parents can enjoy their morning brew while the kids giggle over what their elf is “reading.”
• Encourage your kids to write their own funny “Elf Newspaper” with made-up North Pole stories—it’s a creative way to blend reading and imagination!

Day 17

Sip sip hooray! I'm counting down the days to Christmas day!

Instructions

• It’s a funny day —
  your elf’s turning into a mini influencer with his very own Stanley-style mug!

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• If your kids use a Stanley mug, set your elf beside theirs holding his own
  cup. You can even use glue dots to
  attach the mug to his hand so it looks like he’s taking a sip of his favorite
  drink.
• For a twist, place your elf in the refrigerator — your kids will
  love finding him chilling out and “enjoying” some of the family’s favorite juices!

Day 18

Turn the pieces, find where they go; watch a Christmas scene start to show!

Instructions

• Today is Puzzle Day! You can choose how to play:
• Option 1: Spread puzzle pieces around the house like a mini scavenger hunt for your kids to find.
• Option 2: Lay the puzzle out on a table or floor for everyone to work on together.
• Option 3: Keep the puzzle in the box for a simple surprise and let your kids decide when to start it.
• Pose your elf sitting beside the puzzle box, holding a piece like he’s trying to find where it fits.

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Sprinkle a few puzzle pieces around your elf to make it look like he’s been busy assembling all night.
• Hide puzzle pieces around the room as a seek-and-find game.

Activity Ideas

• If your kids finish early, they can swap puzzles with each other for extra fun.
• Talk about how puzzles are like teamwork—every piece matters, just like everyone in your family.

Day 19

Load your candy, take your aim; peppermint target is the name of the game!

Instructions

• Today is Peppermint Target Day!
• Use the peppermint discs and place them anywhere around your house—on walls, doors, furniture, or even hanging from string.
• Your elf brings the gumdrop “guns” and foam discs for your kids to use to “shoot” the peppermint targets.
• Pose your elf mid-action—maybe holding a foam disc or standing beside a target like he’s leading the peppermint patrol!

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• When the game’s done, have the kids collect all the peppermints and return them to the elf so he can “report back to Santa” on their accuracy.
• Set up a peppermint target range—use painter’s tape to stick the foam peppermints to safe surfaces.
• If you want to go big, place a few targets at different heights or distances for a full obstacle-style game.
• Have your kids use the gumdrop shooters to try to hit as many peppermint targets as they can find!

Activity Ideas

• Turn it into a Christmas challenge course—set a timer and see who can hit all the targets first
• Talk about focus and patience—how taking your time and lining up your shot helps you succeed.
  
  
  
  

Day 20

Serving stacks with peppermint flair; iHOPP's open pull up a chair!

Instructions

• Today is Peppermint Pancake Morning! If your kids love pancakes, this is the perfect day to make a fun holiday breakfast together.
• Mix up your favorite pancake batter and serve them with a festive twist:
• Add crushed peppermint candy canes for a minty North Pole flavor.
• Or, if peppermint isn’t their favorite, top with a dollop of whipped cream or even a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• Pose your elf in the kitchen with a mini whisk, spoon, or spatula, like they were “caught” cooking up breakfast magic.

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Set your elf near the stove or breakfast table, with a tiny plate of pancakes or a small cup of syrup beside them.
• Sprinkle a bit of flour or powdered sugar around for that “busy chef” look.
• If you want to go all out, use a toy skillet or mini mixing bowl to make it look like the elf’s been hard at work.

Activity Ideas

• Make breakfast together as a family—let the kids help mix, pour, and decorate their pancakes.
• Encourage creativity—add toppings like sprinkles, marshmallows, fruit, or chocolate chips.
• Talk about how sharing a meal brings people together, and how even simple traditions—like pancake morning—create the best memories.

Day 21

Don't be a bore, let's play connect four!

Instructions

1. Set up the Connect Four game (the mini game from your kit) on a table, placing your elf seated beside the game, as if they have been waiting (not so patiently!) for a challenger with a few pieces already dropped into the slots
2. Angle your elf’s hand toward the next piece or lightly tape a piece to its hand so it looks mid-move.
   

Scene Enhancement Ideas:

• Create a Game Night Vibe - Grab a couple of other board game boxes from home and stack them nearby.
• Add a few bowls of snacks (marshmallows, popcorn, pretzels) to make it look like the elf prepared for a long night of fun.
• Use construction paper or notebook paper to draw a handmade “Scoreboard”—Elf vs. Kids.
• Position dolls, stuffed animals, or action figures around the game as an enthusiastic audience. Have one stuffy hold a handmade “Go Elf!” sign made from a sticky note.

Activity Ideas

• Younger kids: Have kids sort yellow and red items around the house (Lego bricks, crayons, socks!) to match the Connect Four colors. Turn it into a race: who can find five yellow items fastest?
• Have kids predict: “What move should the elf make next to win?” They can draw the game grid on paper and map out possible moves.
• Hide a few extra colored pieces (or use small toys/coins in two colors) around the house. The kids must find them before they can challenge the elf.

Day 22

Stacked them up in a perfect row... then I sneezed... down they go!

Instructions

• Set your elf sitting at the top of a staircase, legs dangling over the first step, proudly holding or pointing to the first domino.
• Create a long trail of dominoes going down the stairs, curving or zig-zagging.

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Use additional dominoes and create a Christmas tree or heart at the bottom or end!

Activity Ideas

• Have kids count how many dominoes your elf used, estimating first and then counting.
• Encourage little engineers to test what happens if dominoes are spaced closer vs. farther apart? How can they make the chain reaction turn corners more smoothly?
• Talk about cause and effect—how one tiny domino can create a huge chain reaction. Kids can share times when a small action (a smile, a kind word, helping someone) made a big difference.

Day 23

Greatest of all Toymakers is what they say; mischief and magic every day!

Instructions

• Place the elf in their special “GOAT: Greatest Of All Toymakers” shirt. Position them proudly like they’re being honored at an awards ceremony.

Enhancement Ideas

• Lay out a “red carpet” using gift wrap or red construction paper.
• Add a small pretend camera (from our 2024 kit)

Activity Ideas

• If your kids have a GOAT shirt, set it out for them to wear!
• If you were a toy designer in Santa’s Workshop, what toy would you create? (set out legos, blocks, magnetic tiles, or playdoh
• Provide paper, foil, markers, or cups to create a homemade trophy and ask kids Who deserves a GOAT trophy in your life today?

Day 24

You've been so sweet, you past the test; you made the nice list you're the best!

Instructions

• Place the shiny medal on your child’s pillow, hanging from their doorknob, or laid neatly on their bed. If you prefer a morning surprise, place it on the kitchen table or near your child’s breakfast spot.

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Set up the elf surrounded by paper scraps, ribbon bits, or tape as if they handcrafted the medal overnight.

Activity Ideas

• Invite your child to wear their medal proudly as a celebration of their kindness and good choices.
• Conversational starter: What’s one kind thing you did today that made you feel proud?

Bonus (#25)

This elf stands still with heart so bright, to honor the king born on Christmas night

Instructions

• Place the ornament prominently on the Christmas tree — front and center

Enhancement Ideas

• Place the ornament next to your nativity set. Pose the elf watching over the scene quietly.
• Place the ornament where lights shimmer around it.
• Lay a soft white cloth or scarf under the ornament to symbolize purity and peace.
  
  

Activity Ideas

• Invite your child to place the ornament in a special place on the tree. This is where we honor the true joy of Christmas.
• Read the Christmas Story as a family. Take a moment to read Luke 2 or your favorite children’s Bible version. Let your child hold the ornament while you read.

Bonus (#26)

Looking sharp and full of cheer; hands off or my magic disappears!

Instructions

• Put your elf in the adorable cactus outfit; pose them standing tall and proud, like a cactus guarding the desert.

Scene Enhancement Ideas

• Arrange a few toy animals like a lizard, snake, or roadrunner near the elf.
• Place the elf on a small piece of burlap, faux sandpaper, brown felt, or craft sand to give a desert feel.

Bonus (#27)

Ice is slick, the game is tight; Santa's Elves play hard all through the night!

Instructions

• Set up the mini ice-hockey rink from your kit on a counter, position your elf holding to execute a play. Place the ball on the board.

Scene Enhancement Ideas:

• Scatter a few tiny “ice shavings” made from torn white paper to make it look like the elf has been practicing their slap shot.
• Bring in stuffed animals, dolls, action figures, or Lego minifigures as opposing teams or cheering fans. Make tiny “Team Elf!” or “Go Hockey!” signs using toothpicks and sticky notes.
• Set out “arena snacks” for the elf:
  Mini marshmallows (as popcorn), Hot cocoa packets, A few pretzels or cereal pieces in a tiny cup

Activity Ideas:

• Kids can draw jerseys for Team Elf or Team Kids
• Create their own Hallway Hockey (Safe Version!) 1) Roll up a pair of socks into a soft ball. 2) Use wrapping paper tubes or wooden spoons as makeshift sticks. 3) Set up two goals using shoes or small baskets.

Bonus (#28)

Tagging along with festive cheer, making memories far and near

Instructions

• Today is a super special day
  — it’s Tag Along Day!
• Place your elf in the elf carrier and bring the magic along for the ride.
• This scene is perfect for a night out looking at Christmas lights, a trip to gymnastics, or even traveling to visit grandparents. Your elf can join you on the plane, train, or automobile — wherever your holiday adventures take you!

Activity Ideas

• 📸 Don’t forget to snap a photo of your kids carrying their elf — a memory to cherish for years to come.