Elf Preschool Theme Fun Crafts and Activities
Bringing your elf on the shelf ideas into the classroom with an elf preschool theme is a fantastic way to encourage learning and fun this December. If introducing elf activities to your preschool classroom or homeschool sounds daunting, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with elf printables and activity ideas your preschoolers will love.
Elf Preschool Theme
Begin by letting your class choose a name for the elf, welcome him or her with fun welcome notes and activities, and set about learning with a brand new elf preschool thematic unit. The elf on the shelf makes learning math concepts, building fine motor skills, and learning to read magical during the holiday season.
Keep reading to discover favorite elf on the shelf ideas and printables.
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Elf Activities
Are you looking for fun elf on the shelf ideas to help your preschoolers welcome an elf this holiday season? I’ve got some great ideas for the arrival of your elf on the shelf this year!
The Arrival of the Elf and Welcome Elf Ideas
Welcoming the elf gets easier with fun elf activities including elf printables. Don’t miss this printable elf welcome letter! It’s editable to customize your elf on the shelf arrival for each child this year.
Another fun way to welcome the elf is with a special gift delivery. Wrap your elf in festive holiday paper and have him arrive from the North Pole this year.
Preschoolers can have fun naming the elf on the shelf together too. You can arrange a class vote where kids vote on the most popular elf names. Then, record and graph the data for more learning fun.
Naming your elf on the shelf can be a writing activity for more advanced learners. Have kids practice writing the names they think are best on paper to be drawn from a hat. When the name is chosen, use my Elf Adoption Certificate printable to make it official.
Make an ELF Door Craft that can be a magical surprise for your little ones. Or have them craft their own elf door.
Elf Ideas
Put Your Preschoolers Under Elf Surveillance
Having trouble managing behaviors in your preschool classroom this December? It’s a crazy time of year, and all this excitement might have your preschoolers being more silly than usual. You can use the elf on the shelf to encourage good behavior by putting your preschoolers under elf surveillance this year.
Post a sign in your classroom or homeschool space to let your preschoolers know they’re under official elf surveillance. With just a few gentle reminders, they’ll be behaving for the elf in no time! You can use my latest elf printable to help too.
This elf printable is an official elf surveillance report to let your preschooler know when he or she has gone too far. You can fill in this document from the elf and give it to your kids to help them try harder next time.
Elf surveillance isn’t just for bad behavior, though. You can use elf surveillance to catch kids being good too. Write a quick note from the elf to let kids know when they’re caught being extra nice by official elf surveillance.
Encourage Learning with Elf Printables
My favorite part of adopting an elf preschool theme for December is the opportunities for magical learning. For example, there are lots of ways to encourage early literacy with your preschoolers and elf on the shelf ideas.
Elf Literacy Activities and Book Suggestions
You can read about the elf on the shelf together during story time to encourage your preschoolers to expand their vocabularies and fall in love with books. Start with The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Carol V. Abersold.
Then, try these other great elf classics for storytime this December:
The Elf on the Shelf Night Before Christmas Book
Elf Pets: A Reindeer Tradition
The Elf on the Shelf: Santa’s North Pole
Positioning your elf in certain places around the classroom (or your home) is a great way to encourage reading among your preschoolers too. Set up your elf on the bookshelf with a great holiday picture book.
Your preschoolers will be so excited to read the book the elf is holding! Alternatively, you could have the elf attach sticky notes with “ELF BOOK PICK” to certain titles to encourage kids to reach for those books.
STEM Elf Activities
There are all kinds of great STEM elf activities you can do with your preschoolers this Christmas too! These are fun ways to encourage science, math, and more with your early learners. Check out my favorite elf activities inspired by STEM learning principles in my Elf on the Shelf Tinker Box Supply List and all kinds of great activity ideas too.
Tinker trays are excellent for preschool learners because they encourage kids to build problem solving skills and think creatively. Preschoolers get to use new materials to create new things they choose without instructions with a tinker tray. As they make together, your preschoolers will be inspiring and encouraging one another as their imaginations run wild!
If you’re looking for a more structured elf activity than tinker trays, don’t miss my Marshmallow Catapult Elf STEM project. It’s a creative way to introduce preschoolers to STEM principles, simple machines, and have fun getting crazy with mini marshmallows this Christmas.
Elf on the Shelf Ideas for the Holidays
I’ve got so many fun elf activities you can enjoy with your preschoolers this Christmas! I’m excited to share more of my favorite elf on the shelf ideas for your elf preschool theme this year.
Check out more ways to incorporate fun and learning with your elf preschool theme by clicking on the links below.
Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Teens
Pancake Breakfast with the Elf
DIY ELF Door Craft for Christmas
Reindeer Cupcakes with the Elf
Elf on the Shelf Ideas in the Kitchen
Elf on the Shelf Printables
Elf Cookies with free template
Elf on the Shelf Goodie Bag Printables
Editable Elf on the Shelf Printable Activities
Cereal Treats and Elf Printable
These elf printables and activities will inspire and delight your preschoolers this December. Do you have any great elf on the shelf activity ideas I didn’t mention?
What’s your favorite way to incorporate the elf into your preschool themes this December?
Share your great ideas in the comments. I can’t wait to read them and try a few at home with my crew too!
Christmas Themes
200 Preschool Themes and Activities
