The elf is rehearsing his goodbye signal. 🔔
One ring means “see you next December”. Several rings probably mean somebody is enjoying the bell too much.
This elf goodbye idea uses a real bell for a little Christmas Eve farewell the children can join in with.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- A real brass handbell with a wooden handle (paid link)
- Scrap paper, a pen and an optional short piece of festive ribbon
Setup:
Stand the handbell on a stable table beside your elf. Tie a short ribbon bow around its handle if you want to make it festive. The linked bell is about 15 cm tall, so leave it standing beside the doll rather than trying to balance it in his hands.
Sit your elf with his back supported and rest one mitten near the bell. Write “One ring for goodbye” on a folded card and leave a farewell note wishing the family a lovely Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, invite the children to give the bell one ring each to wish the elf a good journey home. You can add a cheeky final line to his note: “One ring, please. Santa is trying to listen for sleigh traffic!”
Make it cheaply:
Borrow a working bell from your Christmas decorations, a toy music set or one you already have at home. A scrap of old gift ribbon and a handwritten card finish the scene without buying another bell.
Browse more elf goodbye and leaving ideas for your next scene.
