![Don’t Fail The Elf On The Shelf This Year – Make It Work!](http://townsquare.media/site/528/files/2013/12/Elf-on-the-shelf.png?w=300&h=200&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Don’t Fail The Elf On The Shelf This Year – Make It Work!
Every year, I tell myself 'this will be the year I make Elf on the Shelf work' and promise to do something creative everyday. I'm usually pretty successful the first week...and then it gets away from me. I forget a day or two or a week and then the magic just goes away. I tell myself 'hey, I tried'...but I usually feel like I let the kids down.
So this year...I'm getting started earlier than usual! Here's my plan:
- Google creative ideas for your Elf. Pinterest is a great place to start.
- Print a calendar for December 2016 and filling each day with a plan. You'll know what to expect each day.
- Keep in mind, you can make the Elf's visit shorter. Start a week or two before Christmas if you don't want to commit to the entire month.
- Try to encourage a welcome letter from the Elf. This is the perfect opportunity to have the children write their letters to Santa. (HINT: Sometimes, our Elf makes a brief appearance just before Black Friday & Cyber Monday)
- Brainstorm activites or random acts of kindness the kids can do each day and report back to the Elf.
- Make it easy on yourself. Sometimes, less is more!
- Use National Days of Observance for inspiration. Some fun days in December:
- National Pie Day
- National Cotton Candy Day
- National Cookie Day
- National Bathtub Party Day
- National Gingerbread House Day
- National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
- Don't have the original Elf on the Shelf? That's OK...use something else! I do!
Now get planning! I hope you have a successful year!
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