Before he leaves, our elf is returning the things he has borrowed. A toy car, a little bear and a book have all appeared at the lost-property desk. 🧸
He is calling it tidying. We are choosing to believe him.
This last-day elf idea gives the final morning a helpful little job.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- Plain kraft gift bags for the returned treasures (paid link)
- Two or three familiar toys or a small book
- Paper, a pen and removable tape
Setup:
Choose a few clean, familiar things from around the house and place them in a kraft bag. Leave enough showing for the children to recognise them. Add “Back to their owners” on a broad paper label. Use items that can be moved without upsetting anyone’s bedtime routine.
Sit your elf beside the bag with his back against a steady support. Put a mitten near one of the toys as though he is handing it back. If there are several children, use separate labelled bags or include a little list of who owns each item.
Leave a farewell note saying that the elf is making sure everything is home before he goes home too. The children can claim their treasures and put them away. This is a gentle goodbye job rather than a hunt for genuinely missing belongings.
Make it cheaply:
Use a shopping bag you already have or a small open box instead of new kraft bags. Labels can be made from scrap paper. The toys should come from your own shelves, so there is no need to buy anything to fill the return bag.
Browse more elf goodbye and leaving ideas for your next scene.
