An elf on the shelf arrival letter introduces your elf and explains its December visit. A goodbye letter thanks your child for specific moments before the elf returns to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Keep a few notes during the month, and those same details can appear in Santa’s Christmas letter.
Copy a first-visit note, returning-elf greeting, or gentle goodbye below. Replace the example names and memories with your family’s details.
Quick Answer: Leave the arrival note beside the elf on its first morning. Use a real memory in the goodbye. Have Santa’s letter ready before the elf promises one.
Go straight to the arrival letter samples or the goodbye letter samples.
Arrival, Goodbye, and Santa’s Letter: The December Timeline
Choose the arrival and departure dates before writing. Santa’s letter can follow the goodbye that night or wait until Christmas morning.
| Letter | When to leave it | Who it’s from | What to include |
| Arrival | Your chosen start date, often late November or December 1 | The elf, or Santa introducing the elf | Name, visit plans, and any family rules |
| Mid-December note, optional | When you have a specific moment to mention | The elf | A short thank-you or activity suggestion |
| Goodbye | Christmas Eve morning or evening | The elf | A remembered moment and the plan to return |
| Santa’s letter, optional | Christmas Eve night or Christmas morning | Santa | Recognition that connects with the elf’s visit |
The brand’s guide to the original elf tradition explains the no-touch rule and Christmas Eve return to the North Pole. Choose an arrival date that suits your family.
Elf on the Shelf Arrival Letter Samples You Can Copy
A short elf on the shelf arrival letter needs the elf’s name and a clear explanation of the visit. Include one personal detail your child will recognize. If you follow the original story, add its no-touch rule in a calm sentence.
These examples use Ava for the child and Pip for the elf. Change those names before printing or copying a letter by hand.
For a First-Year Elf
Dear Ava,
Hello from the North Pole! My name is Pip, and Santa sent me to visit your family until Christmas Eve. Each night I’ll fly back to the workshop. In the morning, look for my new spot.
Please leave me where I land so I can keep my flying magic. You can tell me your Christmas wishes anytime; I’m a good listener.
I hear you love helping in the kitchen. I’m looking forward to seeing what you make together this December!
Your new friend,
Pip
Read the note together and answer any questions about the elf’s visit.
For a Returning Elf
Dear Ava,
I’m back! I still remember the paper snowflakes you made last December. Santa kept hearing about them at the workshop.
I hear you’re learning to read aloud this year. I’ll be glad to listen while you practice. Please leave me in my landing spot, just like last time.
I’ve missed your family. Let our December visit begin!
Love,
Pip
Pick a memory from your photos or last year’s notes that your child will recognize.
An Elf on the Shelf Letter From Santa to Introduce the Visit
Santa can introduce the elf, leaving the elf’s own voice for later notes.
Dear Ava,
Pip is on the way to your home for a December visit. Please help this little traveler settle in and listen for the stories Pip brings from the workshop.
I hear you’ve been helping set the dinner table. Pip is looking forward to joining your family’s Christmas preparations.
Enjoy finding a new landing spot each morning. Pip will return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, when we’ll have plenty to talk about.
With Christmas cheer,
Santa Claus
Keep each voice consistent. Santa’s introduction doesn’t need to promise another letter.
A Kindness Elves Approach
Anna Ranson of The Imagination Tree describes kindness elves that suggest helpful activities and leave notes recognizing kind acts. Families can adapt that approach to their own visiting elf.
Dear Ava,
I’ve come to share a few kindness ideas with your family this December. For our first one, shall we draw a picture for someone we miss?
I’ll leave another idea when we have time for it. You can write me a note too, or draw a picture of something you enjoyed doing.
I’m glad to spend December with you.
Your friend,
Pip
Choose manageable activities, such as making a card. Keep the invitation optional on busy days.
How to Personalize an Elf on the Shelf Arrival Letter for Siblings
Greet each child by name and give each a separate detail. A shared letter can still recognize what matters to everyone in the house.
Ava, I hear you’re practicing reading aloud. I’ll be glad to listen.
Leo, I hear you helped put away the toy cars. Thank you for making room for my landing spot!
Match the details to each child’s age and interests. Avoid comparing siblings or making one child responsible for the other’s choices.
Keep a separate note for each child’s December memories.
Elf on the Shelf Arrival Ideas That Put the Letter First
Pair your elf on the shelf arrival letter with a setup you can prepare using things already at home. The note should be easy to find and read.
- An envelope delivery: Write your child’s name on an envelope and place it beside the elf. A handmade North Pole return label finishes the setup.
- A wish-list invitation: Leave a blank sheet with the note and invite your child to write their wishes. Our guide to helping your child write a letter to Santa gives you a starting point.
- A breakfast arrival: Set the elf beside your child’s cup, with the letter propped where they can see it.
- A family outing announcement: Near St. Louis, the note could introduce a planned visit to Santa’s Magical Kingdom’s drive-through Christmas lights. Check the attraction’s current information before naming a date.
- A ribbon-tied scroll: Roll the note and tie it with ribbon. Leave it on the kitchen counter if you don’t have time for a scene.
Write the letter before arranging the props.
Notice, Note, Name: Keep the Details for Christmas Eve
Keep a phone note of December moments, with enough detail to remember them later.
- Notice: Look for something worth recognizing, such as helping at dinner or sticking with a tricky page of reading.
- Note: Record what happened and who was there. Add the date if it helps you remember.
- Name: Mention one or two moments in the goodbye, then carry a detail into Santa’s letter.
For example, your note might read: “December 9: Ava gave Maya the last candy cane.” The goodbye could thank Ava for sharing it. Santa’s letter could say that Pip told him about her kindness to Maya.
Our sample wording for Santa’s reply can help you turn a short note into a personal sentence.
For an occasional message between arrival and goodbye, use our guide to short elf notes during December. Keep those notes brief so the tradition stays manageable.
Elf on the Shelf Goodbye Letter Wording for Christmas Eve
An elf on the shelf goodbye letter explains the departure and recalls a real moment. Match its wording to a morning or bedtime farewell.
A Standard Goodbye Letter
Dear Ava,
Tonight I fly back to the North Pole. Before I go, thank you for sharing your candy cane with Maya. I also loved listening while you read to your stuffed animals.
I’ll take those memories home with me. Enjoy Christmas with your family, and I’ll see you next December.
Love,
Pip
A Gentler Goodbye for a Child Who Finds Leaving Hard
Dear Ava,
It’s time for me to go home, but I’ll remember our December visit. I especially loved the picture you made for Grandma.
You can draw a goodbye picture or leave me a note tonight. I’ll carry it back to the workshop with me.
I’ll see you next Christmas. For now, let’s enjoy our last evening together this year.
Your friend,
Pip
Read the goodbye together. A farewell activity lets your child take part, though leaving may still feel sad.
If Santa’s letter is already ready, add: “After I leave, look beside the tree for a letter from Santa.” Choose a location you can follow through on.
For a letter you’re preparing at home, our guide to editing and printing a Santa letter PDF covers the practical setup.
Let Santa’s Christmas Eve Letter Remember the Elf’s Visit
Santa’s letter can mention what the elf noticed. The elf thanks your child for the visit; Santa recognizes something from their year.
These examples carry the same detail into both letters.
| Moment from your notes | Elf goodbye wording | Illustrative Santa wording |
| Ava shared a candy cane with Maya | “Thank you for sharing your candy cane with Maya.” | “Pip told me how you shared the last candy cane with Maya.” |
| Ava practiced reading aloud | “I loved listening while you read to your stuffed animals.” | “I hear you’ve kept practicing your reading, even when a word feels tricky.” |
| Leo helped set the table | “Thank you for helping get dinner ready.” | “I heard about your help with the dinner table this December.” |
Use those details to write Santa’s letter yourself. Santa’s Magical Kingdom also offers personalized letters, with an order form that asks about achievements and proud moments.
Describe the actual moment in that field: “Ava gave her cousin Maya the last candy cane without anyone asking.” Check names and details in any available preview.
The letter page lists email and printed mail delivery. Before planning a Christmas Eve reveal, confirm the current delivery options and timing. A parent or guardian should complete the order and provide the personalization details.
Create Your Child’s Letter From Santa
Small Mistakes to Avoid in the Letters
Reread each note to catch changed names or promises you can’t carry out.
- Keep the elf’s voice steady. Save its name and a previous note so you can match the tone and handwriting.
- Leave gifts open. The elf can carry a wish list without promising a particular present.
- Keep recognition specific. Thank your child for something they did rather than rating the whole month.
- Check any promised surprise. Have Santa’s letter ready before an elf note tells your child to look for it.
- Keep family details accurate. If Maya is a cousin, describe her as a cousin throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elf Arrival and Goodbye Letters
When should the elf’s arrival letter appear?
Place it beside the elf on the first morning of your family’s visit. Late November or December 1 works for a December tradition, but a later start is fine. Choose a date that fits your schedule.
What changes in a returning elf’s letter?
A returning elf can begin with a familiar memory. Use a photo from last December to recall one, then add something current. Keep its name and rules consistent.
Should the arrival note explain the rules?
Include the rules your family follows, using simple wording. The original story includes a no-touch rule and an elf that listens without talking. You can explain those while reading the note together rather than filling it with instructions.
When should I leave the elf on the shelf goodbye letter?
Christmas Eve fits the original tradition’s departure. Choose morning or bedtime for the farewell. Adjust “tonight” or “today” to match when your child reads the note.
What if my child feels sad about the elf leaving?
Read the goodbye together and make space for their feelings. Explain when the elf will return, then let your child draw a farewell picture or choose where to keep the letter. A warm goodbye can still bring tears.
What are kindness elves?
Kindness elves suggest helpful activities and recognize kind moments. In Anna Ranson’s version, children can write back, making the notes part of the activity. You can use that approach with your family’s elf and choose tasks that fit your child’s age.
What if the elf arrives late?
Start when your family is ready and keep the explanation short. A returning elf could write, “The workshop kept me busy, but I’m glad to be here now.” You don’t need extra activities to make up for the missed days.
How do I connect the elf’s goodbye with Santa’s letter?
Use one detail from your December notes in both letters. Let the elf remember it from the visit and Santa acknowledge hearing about it. When ordering a personalized letter, describe that moment in the achievement field and review any available preview.
Your Elf on the Shelf Arrival Letter Starts the Christmas Eve Story
Introduce the elf, keep a few notes during December, and use a real memory in the goodbye. If you’re adding Santa’s letter, carry a detail forward and prepare it before the farewell night.
When your notes are ready, create your child’s letter from Santa using an accomplishment your child will recognize.