5 minutesNo mess
Fridge Note and Cocoa Bed
A visiting elf waits on the fridge with a handwritten hello and a cocoa mug made into a tiny overnight bed.
Arrival · Kitchen · Nice · Household items · Toddler-safe
Printable December plan
December 2026 visiting-elf calendar
One idea a night from December 1 to 24, generated from the library. Arrival and goodbye scenes sit underneath so the first morning and Christmas Eve are not last-minute either.
Help With My Elf
December 2026 · Full calendar
Dec 1
Cereal Box Hide-and-Peek5 minutes · No mess · Kitchen
Dec 2
Banana Doodle Sleigh Ride5 minutes · No mess · Kitchen
Dec 3
Toilet Paper Hallway Trail5 minutes · Low mess · Bathroom
Dec 4
Tissue Box Bunk Bed5 minutes · No mess · Bedroom
Dec 5
Cutting Board Flour Angel15 minutes · Messy · Kitchen
Dec 6
Remote Control TV Throne5 minutes · No mess · Living room
Dec 7
Pillow Fort Sleep-In15 minutes · No mess · Bedroom
Dec 8
Napkin Wrapped Spoon Gift5 minutes · No mess · Anywhere
Dec 9
Sticky-Note Sunrise on Mirror5 minutes · No mess · Bathroom
Dec 10
Rolling Pin Counter Ride5 minutes · No mess · Kitchen
Dec 11
Sock Puppet Laundry Friends5 minutes · No mess · Laundry
Dec 12
Cookbook Coffee Table Nook5 minutes · No mess · Living room
Dec 13
Paper Snowflake Living Workshop15 minutes · Low mess · Living room
Dec 14
Spaghetti Fishing in the Sink5 minutes · Low mess · Bathroom
Dec 15
Underwear Hats on the Dryer5 minutes · No mess · Laundry
Dec 16
Ornament Inspector on the Mantel5 minutes · No mess · Tree & mantel
Dec 17
Paper Chain Mantel Helper15 minutes · Low mess · Tree & mantel
Dec 18
Empty Mug Bubble Bath5 minutes · No mess · Bathroom
Dec 19
Mixed-Up Shoes by the Door5 minutes · No mess · Anywhere
Dec 20
Flashlight Campout Under a Chair5 minutes · No mess · Bedroom
Dec 21
Laundry Basket Bumper Car5 minutes · No mess · Laundry
Dec 22
Blanket Fort Movie Night5 minutes · No mess · Living room
Dec 23
Christmas Card Mantel Mail Room5 minutes · No mess · Tree & mantel
Dec 24
Towel Sleeping Bag Nap5 minutes · No mess · Laundry
Arrival extras
Use these the night before December 1, or whenever the elf first shows up.
5 minutesNo mess
Mixing Bowl Arrival Nest
The elf arrives tucked in a mixing-bowl nest with a dish-towel blanket and a wooden-spoon pillow.
Arrival · Kitchen · Nice · Household items · Toddler-safe
5 minutesNo mess
Hat Mountain by the Door
The elf sits on a pile of winter hats near the door as if it just hiked in from the cold.
Arrival · Anywhere · Nice · Household items · Toddler-safe
Goodbye extras
Christmas Eve send-offs when the visiting elf heads north.
5 minutesNo mess
Packed Pouch Until Next Year
The elf sits beside a tiny packed pouch and a see-you-next-year note, ready to head north overnight.
Goodbye · Anywhere · Nice · Extra props · Toddler-safe
5 minutesNo mess
Paper Airplane Aimed North
The elf holds a paper airplane pointed toward a handwritten North sign on the living-room table.
Goodbye · Living room · Nice · Household items · Toddler-safe
5 minutesNo mess
Stocking Nap and Thank-You
The elf tucks into a stocking on the mantel with a short thank-you note peeking out for the morning.
Goodbye · Tree & mantel · Nice · Household items · Toddler-safe
Flexible extras
Two spare everyday scenes for a sick day, a travel night, or a do-over.
15 minutesMessy
Cotton Snow on a Tray
The elf makes a contained snow scene with cotton batting on a tray and a spoon shovel.
Everyday · Anywhere · Naughty · Extra props
5 minutesNo mess
Picture Book Bedtime Nook
The elf reads an open picture book on the nightstand with a washcloth blanket and a bookmark.
Everyday · Bedroom · Nice · Household items · Toddler-safe
Unofficial. Not affiliated with The Elf on the Shelf® / CCA and B, LLC / The Lumistella Company.