Free elf arrival letter
Type your child’s name and your elf’s name, pick first year or returning elf, then print the letter at home.
Type your child’s name and your elf’s name above to download. Until then the preview uses example names.
Dear Maya,
Hello from the North Pole! My name is Pip, and I am a courier for the Tiny Wonder Post, the little post office that carries magical mail to children all over the world. Santa asked me to stay with your family until Christmas Eve, and I am SO excited to meet you.
Every night, while you are fast asleep, I will fly back to the North Pole with news of your day. Every morning, I will land somewhere new in your home, so look for me when you wake up! Sometimes I will leave a note, a puzzle, or a tiny mission.
This year I am collecting Wonder Sparks. A Wonder Spark appears every time someone is kind, and each one helps light the Great Post Lantern that guides the Christmas Eve mail. There is just one rule: please don't touch me, or my magic might get wobbly. But you can talk to me any time. I love to listen.
What is an elf arrival letter?
An elf arrival letter is the note a Christmas elf leaves on its first morning. It introduces the elf by name, explains the one big rule of elf magic, no touching, and promises to carry news of kind deeds back to the North Pole. Parents print it the night before the elf appears.
How to make your elf arrival letter
- Type the names Enter your child’s name, or up to four children, and your elf’s name. Stuck on a name? Pick one above or browse our Christmas elf names.
- Pick first year or returning elf First year for a brand-new elf; returning elf for an elf coming back from last year.
- Print and place Download the free PDF, print it at 100% on plain US Letter or A4 paper and leave it beside your elf tonight.
Elf return letter for a returning elf
Is your elf coming back from last year? Choose Returning elf and the letter becomes an “I’m back!” return letter. Your elf says how much they missed your family, reminds everyone of the no-touching rule and promises a brand-new season of missions and hiding spots.
The return letter needs no details from last year, so it works even if nobody remembers what the elf got up to. For kids aged 8 and up, your elf comes back as a newly promoted Senior Courier with harder codes and sneakier hiding spots in store.
Sample “I’m back” elf return letter
Every letter prints on one page in US Letter or A4, with your names, the arrival date and your elf’s signature. This sample is the returning-elf version for ages 4–7.
Elf welcome letter wording for every age
Some families call it a welcome letter, others an arrival letter; it is the same first-morning note. The wording follows your youngest child’s age:
Ages 2–3: a few short sentences: where the elf comes from, “Can you find me?” and a gentle reminder not to touch. Ages 4–7: the elf introduces the Tiny Wonder Post, explains the nightly trip to the North Pole and the hunt for Wonder Sparks, which appear whenever someone is kind. Ages 8+: a courier “reporting for duty”, with codes to crack and missions to come.
Want the house rules on a card of their own? Print the free elf rules card with your elf notes. Tick Add a line about telling Santa if you like a light reminder that the elf reports to Santa.
Tips for your elf’s first morning
The first morning sets the tone for the whole season. A short, warm letter that names the elf, gives one simple rule and leaves room for wonder works better than a long list of conditions. For toddlers we keep sentences short; for older children the letter adds a hint of mystery about the North Pole.
Leave the letter where your child will spot it first, such as the breakfast table or beside their shoes, with the elf sitting right next to it.
Questions
Is an elf welcome letter the same as an arrival letter?
Yes. Families use both names for the letter the elf brings on its first morning. Pick first year for a new elf or returning elf for an “I’m back” letter.
When should the elf arrive?
Most families welcome their elf between Thanksgiving weekend and December 1. Any night works; pick your arrival date and the letter is dated that morning.
Do I need to sign up?
No. The free letter is made in your browser and the names you type are never sent to us.
Does it work with the elf we already have?
Yes. The letter is signed with the name you type, so it works with any elf doll.
What is included for free?
One personalized letter page in US Letter or A4, with names up to 20 characters each. The Elf Story Kit adds a note and a setup idea for every night of the season.