How to use your Elf on the Shelf to spread the Christmas spirit (and still have fun)

Last year was the first year we had an elf come to our home. While I love, love, love the idea of Elf on the Shelf, I don’t really like the “Santa’s watching you so you’d better behave” part. We don’t do threats…well, we don’t do threats that involve imaginary characters anyway. I like the silliness, the creativity, and watching his eyes light up when he discovers the crazy things his elf has been up to. But I wanted to do something more positive, still silly, but with a purpose (and we all know every activity needs to be educational in our house). So his elf arrived with a letter stating he and P will be taking part in “Operation Cheer”.

How to use the Elf on the Shelf to spread the Christmas Spirit (and still have fun) Arrival Letter{Life as a Field Trip}

Click here to print your copy of the Operation Cheer arrival letter

Each day in December his elf, Elf-vis, gave him a Christmas Cheer Mission in order to spread the Christmas spirit. His first mission was to make handmade Christmas cards for someone he thinks might not get one. He thought of three people right away who might really appreciate a handmade card. My heart melted.

Operation Cheer 25 Mission {Life as a Field Trip}

Click here to print the Operation Cheer missions

To adapt it for your family, print the letter and missions or hand write and adapt my arrival letter and missions. Possible missions might include calling someone and wishing them a Merry Christmas, making homemade ornaments to give away, helping someone with chores to make their day, stopping by to surprise Grandma and sing Christmas carols, baking something with mom to give to the neighbors, doing something to make his mom’s day easier, do something to make his dad smile, something for his overworked and underpaid teacher.

This year I don’t think I’ll put out a mission every day with his Elf. There’s just too much going on in December to fit every activity in.

Click here to print and write your own Operation Cheer missions.

Or if you’re looking for a really easy Elf on the Shelf alternative try the Lazy Mom’s Elf on the Shelf.

*Originally posted December 2, 2012.

7 Comments

  1. What an awesome idea! I really struggle with the “Santa is watching” part of Christmas, and we’ve really tried not to go there. At our house, we have a small box in which we have put the Baby Jesus from our manger scene. Every time we do something kind during Advent, we write it on a small rectangular piece of brown paper that becomes a piece of hay in the manger. But I like your idea of giving the kids something specific to do!

    • The hay idea is genius, too! Because Paolo is a little older now I think he’ll do great with this twist on the traditional Elf on the Shelf, but I wish I’d had the hay idea when he was younger.

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  3. This is our first year with an Elf (after resisting for the past 5) and I am so lucky I found your blog!

    I can’t wait for my kids (now 5 & 7) to receive their first mission tomorrow. Thank you so much for the quick & easy tools to spread a little extra cheer this year.

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