The first morning your Christmas elf shows up, it needs something to say. This free printable elf arrival letter does the talking: it introduces the elf, explains how the nightly trips to the North Pole work, and sets the one rule that matters most, which is no touching.
The PDF goes past the first day. It also has a short letter for little kids, a welcome-back letter for an elf that visited last year, a rules poster, a Christmas Eve goodbye letter, six small notes and an elf name certificate.
What’s in the elf letter pack
- Classic arrival letter with blanks for your child’s name and the elf’s name
- Short letter in large print for toddlers and early readers
- Welcome back letter for a returning elf, with a line to add one thing the elf wants to do
- Elf rules poster with five simple rules kids can remember
- Goodbye letter for Christmas Eve, with a line for a favorite memory
- Six elf notes to cut apart and leave on different mornings
- Elf name certificate for the day your family picks a name
Everything is US Letter and prints fine on plain paper. The elf drawing is my own, a generic pointy-eared helper in a curled hat, so it works with any scout elf doll you already have.
The elf letters, page by page
Arrival letter
This is the one most families need. It reads like a friendly first hello, then covers the three things a child needs to know: the elf reports to Santa every night, it hides in a new spot every morning, and touching it can make the magic fade. Fill in the names by hand before you set it out.
Short letter for little kids
A three-year-old won’t sit through four paragraphs. This version uses five short lines and big type, so you can read it aloud in under a minute or let an early reader sound it out.
Welcome back letter
If the elf came last year, a first-meeting letter feels off. The welcome-back letter talks about the year at the North Pole and reminds kids of the no-touch rule without starting from zero.
Elf rules
The rules page is handy to tape on the fridge. Rule one also covers the most common worry: if the elf falls, a grown-up can pick it up.
Goodbye letter
Christmas Eve is the elf’s last night. The goodbye letter thanks the family and promises a return next year. Write one real moment from the season on the blank line; that detail is what kids remember.
Elf notes and name certificate
The notes are for ordinary mornings when you have no time to set up a scene: “Caught you being kind!”, a countdown note with a blank for the number of sleeps, and a few more. The certificate is for naming a new elf and makes a nice keepsake to save with your ornaments.
How to set up the arrival
- Print the letter you need and fill in the names. Use a different pen color or neat capital letters so it doesn’t look like your everyday handwriting.
- Pick a spot that’s easy to find on the first morning: the breakfast table, the tree or next to a cup of cocoa.
- Set the elf next to the letter after the kids are asleep. Many families do this on the night of November 30, so the elf is there on December 1.
- Put the rules page somewhere visible later that day, and keep the notes in a drawer for busy mornings.
- On Christmas Eve, set out the goodbye letter. The elf can leave a small treat or a candy cane with it.
A few tips
- Rolling the letter into a scroll and tying it with ribbon makes it feel like it came from far away.
- Print on cream or light kraft paper for an older, North Pole look.
- If someone touches the elf, a short “sorry” note from your child is a gentle fix. Some families sprinkle a little cinnamon next to the elf, called “elf medicine”, to bring the magic back.
- Save one copy of the name certificate and the goodbye letter each year. They become a small record of the season.
If your kids are writing to the North Pole too, pair this with the letter to Santa printable and the Christmas wish list. For quiet afternoons, the Christmas coloring pages keep little hands busy.
FAQ
Is this for a specific elf brand?
No. The letters talk about “your Christmas elf”, so they fit any elf doll or scout elf your family uses, whatever its name.
When should the elf arrive?
There is no fixed date. December 1 is the most common choice, and some families start the day after Thanksgiving, which is November 27 this year.
Can I use it in a classroom?
Yes. The pack is free for personal and classroom use. A class elf can use the arrival letter with the class name in the first blank.
Kids can start their Christmas wish list the day the elf arrives. There are 6 free printable templates, including a picture list for little ones.
