Christmas is coming! Already the streets are being covered in snow and children have been writing their wishlists for weeks now. It's time to prepare for Santa's arrival, but there are a few rules that need to be followed before Santa comes.

1. How to
prepare for
Santa's Arrival

2. Christmas is coming! Already the streets are being
covered in snow and children have been writing their
wish lists for weeks now. It's time to prepare for
Santa's arrival, but there are a few rules that need to
be followed before Santa comes.

3. 1) Naughty or nice list
Before Christmas arrives, Santa has many different ways to find
out whether children are naughty or nice. One of the most
well-known is writing them up on his naughty or nice list. Now, if
you've got your elf on the shelf, it's time to introduce yourself!
After all, what better way for a magical elf from Santa's
workshop to determine how good a child is than by spying?
If your elf hasn't been found yet, that doesn't mean they're not
going to be found! Santa has many ways of seeing into our
homes, but if you haven't followed the rules then elf is going to
report that you're not good.

4. Now that your elf is in your house and they've met
everyone, there's something really important about their
role... elf has a mission! Your elf's mission is to fly back to
the North Pole on Christmas Eve and tell Santa how good
or bad the children have been. The only way for this not to
happen is if they get found before December 24th. So
keep them hidden away at all times until Christmas Eve -
no exceptions! If they get caught early, it's going to ruin
Christmas for kids everywhere! Nobody wants that, so
just keep elf hidden!
2) Keep your elf out until Christmas Eve!

5. Everyone knows that Santa has a big workshop
at the North Pole where he makes all of his
presents for children. And what better elf to
report back about how good the children have
been than elf from his very own workshop? This
elf has been working with him for decades and
knows exactly what's going on, unlike some
other elf... But remember, if your elf gets found
before Christmas Eve then there will be no
presents for anybody!
3) Santa's Workshop

6. It may seem strange but Elf on the Shelf doesn't tell Santa
about naughty things children do. It goes without saying that
every child should eat vegetables and fruit, but elf has a
bigger focus. They don't tell Santa about eating chocolate
before breakfast, for example. However, the elf will say if you
ate chocolate before Christmas Day! If elf tells Santa that
you've been snacking on chocolate he could potentially deny
your children presents! So make sure to wait until after
December 25th to eat all of your delicious chocolates and
sweets! Don't be like those naughty adults who eat them
before the big day because elf doesn't need to know about it -
we're sparing you from elf's wrath by not making elf aware of
it (and elf's wrath is terrifying).
4) No eating chocolate until Christmas Day!

7. Everyone knows that elf gives presents and toys to all the good boys and girls. The only problem
is elf can't make presents and toys all by themselves! elf needs your help in making plenty of
presents and toys for other children who have been nice. elf wants you to make at least one toy
object each day starting from when elf first arrives up until Christmas Eve. elf will be checking
every night, so if elf finds that you haven't made any toys then elf is going to tell Santa that you're
not such a good boy or girl after all! Make sure that you follow the rules to avoid this terrible fate!
5) Presents and toys

8. Every Christmas morning there's always one person who gets a little confused... Where did Santa get these beautiful
decorations? It's simple: elf has been busy making them for you! elf has been working tirelessly every day up until
Christmas Eve to make enough beautiful ornaments. elf is there to help Santa decorate the Christmas tree, but elf does
much more than just that! elf even prepares all of the stockings so they are ready when children wake up on December
25th. elf wants to make sure that everybody has a great time during Christmas, so it's important to the elf that you follow
all of these rules!
6) Making ornaments - elf on the shelf

9. Everyone knows about Santa Claus and his magical workshop in which he
makes presents for kids. But where do those toys come from? It's simple: elf
gets them from another magical place called Toyland. Toyland isn't accessible
by regular people, elf has a magic key which is the only way elves can
access this wonderful place. elf needs your help keeping those doors locked
at all times, so Santa and elf can keep doing their important work! elf cannot
risk those toy-producing doors getting opened by children who want to play
with some of those toys before Christmas Day. If elf gets caught early then
there won't be any presents for anyone on Christmas morning! elf just wants
to make sure that every child wakes up on December 25th to a bunch of
amazing presents under the tree. That's why it's best if we just avoid elf
finding out about any naughty things you've been getting up to - especially
when the elf isn't around.
7) Locked doors

10. 8) Naughty children
You've been a very naughty elf. elf finds out that you've
been doing some things elf doesn't like elf finds out
about such bad topics such as: breaking rules
(including elf rules), lying, cheating etc. When the elf
finds out that one of these terrible things has taken
place then the elf is going to tell Santa Claus and Santa
is going to send you back to the North Pole in shame!
You'll be sent away from your family with only a
suitcase full of coal for all of your trouble... So how can
we avoid this seemingly bleak future? It's simple: just
follow all of the rules! elf will never find out if there are
no rule-breakers around here....

11. 9) Chores
elf on the shelf elf is tired of doing all the work by itself, elf wants you to do some chores
around here too! elf enjoys helping out with housework and cooking dinner, but elf doesn't
enjoy cleaning up messes after children. elf wants everyone to pitch in - that's why elf has
come up with several 'chores' that elf would like you to complete.

12. 10) Adventure time
Every Christmas elf likes to embark on an exciting
journey... But where does this magical adventure take
place? It's simple: it takes place in your home! You see,
last year when Santa visited he saw how much fun
elves had explored different houses (he even gave us
his blessing!) so we're going to join him in this fun elf
adventure! elf will be visiting your home every night up
until Christmas Eve to see what kind of adventures elf
can have. elf has packed elf bags full of all sorts of
amazing things, but elf needs little helpers to find them.
elf wants to make sure that children are helping elf find
all the different gifts elf has brought you... But elf
doesn't only bring presents - elf also brings lots and lots
of magic!

13. When it's finally December 24th then elves are going to write a letter to Santa Claus! Elf knows that there are some
very special children who always ask for something really creative which is why elves take their letters very seriously
indeed. However, sometimes Santa might receive letters from elf children who elf doesn't consider elf material. elf is
going to be reading all of these letters and elf will know if you didn't follow elf rules - so it's better not to risk elf finding
out about anything naughty elf shouldn't know about. elf always checks to see if children have been making a special
effort with their writing and that they've included all of the important questions that Santa needs to be answered for
his magical work.
11) Letters to Santa