Elf on the Shelf Idea: Thank You Notes!

Want to teach your kids a little thankfulness this holiday season? Here’s what my family does for Elf on the Shelf thank you notes!

The elf on the shelf is one of my very favorite holiday traditions.

I know, I know, a lot of people hate it. Think it’s weird or too much work. For me, it is just a simple way to bring SO MUCH joy and excitement to my kids all month long.

I try to teach my children to be thankful and appreciative for everything they have and receive.

So, every Christmas Eve, we write thank you notes to our elf, Gumdrop!

This can be as simple or as elaborate as you want – we keep it simple – but is a nice gesture.

I also let the kids go 1 by 1 into the room where Gumdrop is and give him their note and tell him thank you. I could just cry at hearing their sweetness. It’s very very special to me.

Anyways, it’s pretty self explanatory, but here’s what we do!

Elf on the Shelf – Thank You Notes

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 5 minutes

What you need:

• Elf on the Shelf
• Craft paper – 1 sheet per kid
• Markers, crayons, pens, etc
• Optional: stickers, gems, googly eyes, glue – whatever your kid likes to craft with

What you do:

1. Fold the piece of paper in half and give it to you child to decorate.
2. Younger kids might need help writing.
3. Decorate with crayons, markers, stickers, or whatever!
4. Be sure to sign your name!
5. When dry, present the cards to your elf. It’s great to also tell them thank you out loud and that you will miss them until next year!

This has become such a sweet tradition for us. I love it and I love our elf!

Happy elfing around!