Looking for some Elf leaving ideas for their final day? As a mom who has done the elf tradition with her kids for years I’ve got loads of great ideas to make you elf’s leaving day magical.
From creative ideas that will take a bit of planning to last minute elf leaving ideas because you forgot to move the elf again (we’ve all been there) these suggestions should give you all the inspiration you need to make this Christmas extra special.
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Elf Leaving Ideas
This marks our fourth year of having an elf in our home for December and when I tell you I feel like I have really researched every elf idea out there I really mean it!
I’ve shared our last minute ideas before which has all the actual tried and tested ideas that have worked in our home but personally I quite like to make sure that we mark our final elf day.
Depending on how many plates I’ve been spinning in December this can be an over the top last huzzah or something that’s quick to set up.
Whether you’re sad that your elf is leaving or ready to party to see the back of them (or both because parenthood is weird like that) these ideas should help to make your elf saying goodbye that little bit more special and something that your kids will remember.
What Day Does The Elf Say Goodbye?
Traditionally your elf will normally leave your home on Christmas Eve (December 24th). This means that the final evening that your elf will move is December 23rd.
Simple Elf Leaving Ideas
Ideas that require a tiny bit of planning ahead but are still easy and quick to set up.
Christmas Eve Box
If you have Christmas Eve boxes (or if it’s a tradition you’d like to start) then why not have your elf deliver them on their final day?
Good things to put in Christmas Eve boxes are pyjamas, slippers, Christmas books, candy, bubble bath and anything that encourages kids to go to bed and get a good night’s sleep!
Elf Packs a Suitcase
Have your elf leave a note saying goodbye and give them an elf sized suitcase as a prop.
We’ve done this as a last minute leaving idea before purely because one of my kids decided that they didn’t want our elf to travel all the way back to the North Pole empty handed so we made sure that we packed them some mini-brands treats and a goodbye note from my kids.
Donut Worry
We’ve used donuts as a way to welcome our elf’s arrival before but there’s no reason why you can’t flip the days and do it as a leaving idea instead.
Just leave a note saying ‘donut worry, I’ll be back next year’ and some festive donuts as a treat.
Elf’s Leaving Game
As someone who has had an elf for Christmas for a few years, our tradition now is that on our elf’s final day they have a game to play to have one last bit of fun with my kids before they go.
My kids love this because it’s fun and they get treats (and it’s possibly a little over the top) and I love it because as long as I plan ahead it’s really quick to set up the night before. It does work best if you have multiple kids taking part.
Simply get a load of paper cups and turn them upside down, under each cup place a little treat like chocolate coins or Christmas candy or place one of your elf’s favorite ‘treats’ which in our case is brussels sprouts.
Kids can take turns lifting up the cups and they get to win whatever is under it.
Elf Drives Away
If your kid has any toy cars then create a final festive scene by popping your elf in it in front of your door, ready to leave.
No cars? You could set up an elf sleigh or even an elf sized aeroplane for them to leave in.
Cute & Heartwarming Final Day Ideas
The sweetest ideas for your elf to leave that will help make your Christmas extra special.
Elf Leaves a Goodbye Letter
Leave a note from your elf saying thank you for letting them stay and that they can’t wait to do it all again next year. You might want to leave a treat from your elf too.
Elf Hugs
If one of the rules for having an elf that your family follows is that kids aren’t allowed to touch their elf then why not make an exception for the last day?
Leave a note with your elf saying they’d love to get hugs for their final day before they go back to see Santa.
Baking Day
Have your elf leave out the ingredients for baking some festive treats for your family to bake together. Maybe you could bake cookies for Santa.
Funny Elf Departure Ideas
Silly and fun ideas for your elf to leave that will put a smile on your kid’s faces.
Crisp-mas Tree
This is an idea that I did in our second year of having the elf visit our home and it was a popular one with my kids as not only was it fun it also meant that they had a lot of snacks to get them through the holidays!
All I did was write a sign from our elf saying ‘Merry Crispmas’ and cover our Christmas tree in packets of crisps. In the USA? I think Merry Chipmas would work just as well.
Toilet Roll Decorations
We’re still at the stage where covering things in toilet roll gets a laugh out of my kids and actually this is a really quick elf idea too!
Just leave a note from your elf saying that they wanted to help decorate before they left and then grab some toilet paper rolls to decorate with.
Winding them round your Christmas tree is always a good option but if you want to do your living room or something instead then go for it.
Magical Last-Day Elf Ideas
Special ideas to help keep the magic of Christmas alive.
Leave an Elfie
If your child is likely to miss their elf why not leave them with a memento of the time they spent together?
If you’re planning your elf departure in advance you could take a few photos during the month of your elf’s adventures in your home but if you’ve left it until last minute (which is normally me) then just take a photo of them somewhere festive in your home like on your Christmas tree.
Either use an instant camera or print the photos out for them to find.
Feeling brave? Why not see if you can pop your elf under your kids arm while they sleep and take a picture of them snuggling together.
Wrap Up Your Home
For our first year I went a little bit over the top with our final day of having our Elf visit. It was a bit of work and to be honest I don’t think I’ve ever topped it but the look on my kids face’s made it very much worth it.
I grabbed some elf themed wrapping paper and wrapped up as many things in our front room as I could manage in 20 minutes. For me that was our fireplace, some pictures and wall hangings and this took two rolls of wrapping paper.
I’ve seen some pictures on Facebook of people who wrap entire rooms (sofas, televisions, rugs…) but I’m very aware that with it being Christmas Eve the next night you might not want to be up all night wrapping things.
Last-Minute Elf Goodbye Ideas
Super quick ideas for when you’re in a hurry or forgot to move your elf for the last time.
Elf Leaves in an Envelope
Grab an envelope or mail bag and write Santa’s address on it so that your elf is ready to travel back quickly by elf mail.
Pop your elf inside it with their head sticking out.
Flour Messages
For a fun way to leave a note pour a little flour onto a surface such as your table and then carefully write a message in it such as ‘see you next year.’
I’ll Miss Shoe
We’re always fans of silly jokes and play on words so why not pop your elf into one of your kids shoes and leave a note saying ‘I’ll miss shoe!’
It’s A Wrap
Wrap your elf either in wrapping paper with their head poking out or in a tortilla wrap and leave a note saying ‘It’s a wrap! See you next year.’
What To Do After Your Elf Leaves
As one parent to another the most important thing to do is to put your elf somewhere safe and remember where that is. While it’s almost a parenting rite of passage to forget where you’ve hidden your elf from one year until the next it’s a stressful one I’m sure you’d rather avoid!
Make sure your elf isn’t anywhere that your kids could see it, that your partner won’t accidentally throw it away and that your dog won’t find it either.
You now have eleven months to relax before you start thinking about our elf arrival ideas…..
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