Kindness Elf – 24 Days of Elf on the Shelf

Elf on the Shelf has always been about mischief, but this year, our elf is doing 24 acts of kindness. Your kids will love having a Kindness Elf and doing kind acts for others!

It’s almost December, and time to bring out the Elf on the Shelf. In the past, Elf on the Shelf has been 24 days of mischievous acts but this past year I’ve been teaching my daughter to really be aware of what people are feeling, or needing, so this Christmas season, I decided our elf would take a different twist, and instead of 24 days of mischief, she is starting a new tradition of doing 24 days of random acts of kindness, making her a kindness elf.

If you are looking for a way to encourage those around you, teach your kids to show compassion to others, or about the true meaning of Christmas, I encourage you to have your Elf on the Shelf take on these 24 acts of kindness this Holiday Season.

Starting December 1st, until the Christmas Eve, here are 24 ideas for your Kindness Elf!

For a printable version of these ideas (and more I’ve added over the years) click HERE.

#1 Give hugs

People love hugs, they make them feel loved. Give 10 people hugs today and tell them why you love them so much. It can be a relative, a sibling, an elderly friend, hug away! And don’t forget to hug your Kindness Elf!

#2 Give your teacher flowers

Don’t you just love flowers? They make me so happy. Pick some flowers today (or ask for mommy’s help to buy some) and give them to your teacher. She will feel so special and I guarantee you it will make her day!

#3 Christmas presents for everyone

Christmas is a time when you get presents, and it’s a lot of fun. Unfortunately there are a lot of little kids that won’t get presents this year, because their parents don’t have any money.

Let’s ask your mom to take us shopping to purchase a gift, or gift cards, for someone in need. I bet she will know who needs it the most too!

#4 Pass it on

You know what I heard? People love coffee! Ask your parent to take you to a drive through coffee shop and after ordering your drink, use your money to also pay for the person’s drink who comes in after you. I bet it will make their day and maybe they’ll even pay for the next person’s drink!

#5 Breakfast in bed

You know what would make your parents feel so loved today? Making them breakfast in bed! I got everything out for us, let’s put it together and take it to them.

#6 Siblings

Your sister (and/or brother) might not always act like she likes you, but I know deep down she loves you. Do something today to show her how much you love her too. I bet she’d love a nice warm cup of hot chocolate on this cold winter day!

#7 Food for the needy

It’s cold outside today! Did you know that when it’s cold out, lots of people go to the local shelter to get food, because they don’t have any. I bet our shelter is running low on food. Ask your mom if she has any cans of food she doesn’t need, let’s bag them up and take them to the shelter today.

#8 Help out someone in need

It always feels good to have someone help you out. While you’re at school, or out with your mom today, look around and see if there’s anyone that needs help. Maybe it’s opening a door for a stranger, letting someone borrow your umbrella, use your imagination, it will be fun! Offering someone help, when they need it, will make them feel so special.

#9 Thank your carpool mom (or bus driver)

Isn’t it so fun that you get to ride to school each day with your friends? I know it’s fun for you but sometimes it can be a lot of work for your car pool driver.

I thought it would be nice to do something special for her so I made this little gift for you to give to her. When you give it to her make sure to tell her thank you for always taking you to school, and how much you love spending time with her.

#10 Coloring

When you color someone a picture it makes them feel loved, because it means you thought about them. Let’s color someone a picture today and when you give it to them, make sure you tell them how much you love them (and how good of an artist your Kindness Elf is). 😉

#11 Helping mom

I bet your mom is really tired today. Do you know she’s been doing a lot of Christmas shopping for you.

Why don’t you help her out by picking up your toys and emptying the dishwasher, without her having to ask. I bet she’ll feel SO loved!

#12 Picking up after others

It makes God sad when people litter His beautiful earth. Pick up 5 pieces of trash today and put them in the trash can. Make sure to wash your hands afterwards so you don’t get any germs!

#13 Send a letter

It has been awhile since you sent a letter to your pen-pal, we should draw a special picture for them and mail it this afternoon! A picture in the mail is always a fun way to make someone’s day!

If you don’t have a pen-pal, write a letter, or draw a picture for a friend you haven’t seen in awhile.

#14 Bake for your neighbors

People love to receive homemade goodies because they know it means you spent time making something special for them. Bake cookies for your neighbors, and deliver them with a note or a picture you drew for them.

#15 Use kind words

I love it when people say nice things about me, I bet your friends would too. At school today, compliment each of your friends, and tell them something you love about them, or why they are so special to you.

Scripture says, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Proverbs 16:24

#16 Candy Canes!

Look what I found last night, a whole bunch of little candy canes! Give a candy cane to everyone you see today, it will make their day and give them something sweet to eat. (You can have one too, but only one)

#17 Christmas Vacation starts tomorrow!

Christmas vacation starts tomorrow, yay, that means the month of December is almost over and it’s almost Christmas!!! I bet your teacher is going to miss you this vacation. Write her a note, to give her on the last day of school, and tell her all the things you love about her so when she misses you she can look at it and it will make her smile.

#18 Pray for our Military

Did you know there are lots of mommy’s and daddy’s that don’t get to spend Christmas with their kids because they are in Afghanistan fighting the war. Today let’s pray for all the mommy’s, daddy’s and kids, that Jesus would keep them safe and bring them back together soon. The Bible says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Let’s thank God for the brave soldiers that risk their lives so we can enjoy the freedom we have in our country.

#19 Don’t you just love mail?

I saw your mailman yesterday, delivering lots of Christmas cards to your mailbox, and it gave me a great idea! Let’s draw him a picture and tell him thank you for always bringing your mail. I bet it will make his day and put a smile on his face!

#20 Serve others

There are lots of people that dedicate their lives to serving the poor so I thought today it wold be fun to go help them out. Ask your mom to call the local Mission and let’s see if we can go help them serve food to the poor today. I bet it will be so much fun because Acts 20:35 says, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

#21 We love Grandma and Grandpa

You haven’t gotten to see Grandma and Grandpa in a few weeks, I bet it would make their day to hear from you! Let’s call them, just to say “hi” and tell them how much you love them.

#22 Blessing daddy

I was thinking about all the fun things we’ve done this holiday season and I realized that we almost forgot your dad! We did something nice to help out mom, we made something for your sister, but we forgot all about your dad! Let’s do something extra special for him today. I’ve seen him get up and make coffee in the mornings, I think it helps wake him up, so let’s take him a coffee at work today and maybe you could even draw him a picture for his office. I can’t wait, he’s going to love it!

#23 Your choice

It’s almost Christmas, can you believe it!? We’ve done 21 acts of kindness and I’ve had so much fun, have you? Today I thought it would be fun to let you choose what we do. You have such a kind heart, I know you’ve learned more about what kindness means, and I know you’ll think of something amazing! If you need help, make sure to ask for mommy’s help, she’s pretty nice too.

#24 See you next year!

Click here to download a blank copy of this printable goodbye letter for your child, from your elf.

I hope you have enjoyed our new twist on Elf on the Shelf, and this new tradition of a Kindness Elf. I am so excited to do this with my daughter this year, I know she’s going to love it, and what a great opportunity to show her that Christmas isn’t all about getting presents, and impressing Santa, but about loving and serving others.

Merry Christmas!

For some traditional Elf on the Shelf ideas, see my post for 24 {Easy} Elf on the Shelf Ideas!