A 24-day elf plan is your best insurance against the most common elf disaster of all: it's late, you're exhausted, and your mind is a total blank. With a plan, you glance at today's idea, grab the supplies from the box, and you're done in five minutes.
Our plan follows a simple logic. Week one is low-key, so you're not burned out by December 3rd. The bigger craft and baking ideas fall on weekends. And on the 24th, the elf says goodbye.
The weekdays in this plan match 2026: December 1st is a Tuesday, and the weekends fall on the 5th/6th, 12th/13th and 19th/20th. In other years, just swap a few days so the craft ideas land on weekends again.
How to use this 24-day elf plan
- Print it or take a screenshot. Tape it inside a cupboard door where little eyes won't look.
- Swap freely. Every idea is a suggestion. Rough day? Grab something from the 5-Minute Pranks.
- Build in rest days. The elf is allowed to do nothing sometimes. For those days we have Emergency Letters.
- Prep your supplies. Everything you'll need for the month is on our Elf Supply List for Parents.
Each idea links to its own page with a picture, supplies and how long it takes.
Week 1: Settling in (December 1–6)
Week one is all about getting to know each other. The elf moves in, looks around and only does small things. That keeps expectations realistic – for the kids and for you.
- December 1 (Tue): The elf arrives. A tiny suitcase by the door, a few footprints, a welcome letter. Moving-In Night
- December 2 (Wed): The elf reads a bedtime story to the stuffed animals. Calm, cozy, zero mess. Elf Story Time
- December 3 (Thu): The yogurt, cheese and cucumber in the fridge suddenly have eyes. Googly Eyes in the Fridge
- December 4 (Fri): There's a little note waiting in the elf mailbox. Greetings from the Mailbox
- December 5 (Sat): Craft weekend! The elf has made a tiny modeling-clay family, and the kids get to add to it. Play Dough Family
- December 6 (Sun): St. Nicholas Day, a tradition in many European homes: the elf has polished everyone's boots. If you don't celebrate it, the shiny shoes are still a fun surprise. St. Nicholas: Polished Boots
Daily letters for this week: Daily Letters Week 1.
Week 2: The elf gets bolder (December 7–13)
Everyone knows the elf by now, and he's feeling braver. Weeknights still stick to quick ideas.
- December 7 (Mon): Monday blues: the elf is fast asleep in a matchbox bed. Sleeping in a Matchbox
- December 8 (Tue): The milk is blue. One or two drops of food coloring are plenty. Blue Milk Surprise
- December 9 (Wed): Every toothbrush is wearing a party hat. Toothbrush Party
- December 10 (Thu): There's a compliment note at every seat. Compliment Notes
- December 11 (Fri): The TV remote is gift-wrapped. Perfect timing for a Friday night. Gift-Wrapped Remote
- December 12 (Sat): Craft day: the elf has cut paper snowflakes and invites everyone to join in. Paper Snowflakes
- December 13 (Sun): Midnight bakery: cookie cutters, floury footprints and a recipe card. Today you bake together. Midnight Bakery
Daily letters: Daily Letters Week 2.
Week 3: Peak busy season (December 14–20)
This is the week when school plays, office parties and everything else pile up. So weeknights mostly get ideas you can set up in two to five minutes.
- December 14 (Mon): Everyone's shoes have been swapped around. Swapped Shoes
- December 15 (Tue): A rubber duck race is lined up on the edge of the tub. Rubber Duck Race
- December 16 (Wed): The elf has set up a hide-and-seek game with riddles. Hide and Seek Riddle
- December 17 (Thu): Wish list mail: the elf is taking the kids' lists to Santa. Wish List Delivery
- December 18 (Fri): A mini movie theater for the stuffed animals – and maybe a family movie night too. Tiny Movie Night
- December 19 (Sat): The big weekend one: the kids' room is caught in a yarn web. Untangling it is half the fun. Caught in a Yarn Web
- December 20 (Sun): The elf helps decorate the tree – or has already made a start. Elf Decorates the Tree
Daily letters: Daily Letters Week 3.
Week 4: Final stretch and farewell (December 21–24)
The last days are short, warm and a little bittersweet. The elf thinks about others and gets ready to leave.
- December 21 (Mon): A toilet paper snowman in a scarf is standing in the bathroom. Toilet Paper Snowman
- December 22 (Tue): The elf has made a thank-you card for the mail carrier. The kids get to hand it over. Thank-You Card for the Mail Carrier
- December 23 (Wed): Last night: the elf packs his suitcase. Last Night: Packing Up
- December 24 (Thu): Christmas Eve. A little bell and a goodbye letter are waiting by the door. Christmas Eve: Bell and Letter
Daily letters: Daily Letters Week 4. For the last day there are also dedicated Farewell Letters and the Farewell set. Ideas for a gentle goodbye are in Saying Goodbye to Your Elf.
Making the plan your own
Every family is different. A few easy tweaks:
Busy weeknights
Swap anything that takes more than five minutes for an idea from No-Mess Ideas. Save the big stuff for weekends.
Toddlers
For two- and three-year-olds, ideas with food, stuffed animals and rubber ducks work best. Replace the yarn web and swapped shoes with calm little scenes. More in What Age Is Right for an Elf?.
Less mess, more heart
If you'd rather focus on kindness than chaos, swap some days for ideas from Kindness Ideas. There's a complete plan for that in The Kindness Elf: Good Deeds Instead of Chaos.
A later arrival
Some elves move in on the first Sunday of Advent or around mid-December. Just start with day 1 on your arrival date and skip a few ideas from the middle.
What to prep in advance
One Sunday afternoon in late November saves you a lot of December evenings:
- Print the letters for all four weeks and sort them by date
- Cut out and glue paper crafts like the Suitcase and the Mailbox
- Pack a supply box: googly eyes, food coloring, yarn, party hats, spare toilet paper
- Set a 9 p.m. phone reminder
And if things go sideways anyway, Forgot the Elf? Quick Fixes has your back.
FAQ
Does the elf have to do something every day?
No. Plenty of families schedule one or two rest days a week. The elf is tired, traveling, or just leaves a short note.
Can I use the plan for more than one child?
Yes. Most ideas work just as well for siblings. With a big age gap, the elf can take turns focusing on the younger and the older child.
What if an idea falls flat?
No big deal. Not every idea clicks with every kid. Make a note of what worked and do more of it next year.
Is there a version for daycare or school?
Different ideas work better for groups. Check out Class Elf at School and Elf at Daycare.