Elf Pets have become a popular Christmas tradition in many households. These adorable plush elves are sent from the North Pole by Santa Claus to watch over children and report back to Santa on their behavior. Many kids enjoy adopting an Elf Pet and including them in their Christmas activities. But one question that often comes up is: Do Elf Pets go back to Santa after Christmas?
What are Elf Pets?
Elf Pets were first created and sold by a company called The Elf on the Shelf in 2005. They created a line of small elf dolls designed to be adopted by families and named by children. The elves are known for flying back to the North Pole each night to report to Santa on the child’s behavior during the day. In the morning, the elf returns and lands in a new spot in the house for the kids to find.
The Elf Pets line expanded beyond just elf dolls to include other North Pole plush animals. Options today include reindeer, Arctic foxes, penguins, and more. While the elf dolls maintain their spying and reporting duties for Santa, the additional plush pets do not necessarily report back. They are simply adopted as friends and companions for children over the holidays.
The Tradition of Sending Elf Pets Back to the North Pole
For many families with an adopted Elf Pet, sending their elf back to Santa at the end of the Christmas season has become an important tradition. There are a few reasons this tradition has emerged:
- It completes the story of the elf’s journey from the North Pole to visit the family for Christmas.
- It explains why the elf disappears from the house after the holidays are over.
- It allows families to sustain the magic of the Elf Pet by having them return each holiday season.
- It gives parents a dedicated time to pack up their Elf Pet for next year.
This tradition helps maintain the Elf Pet mythos and build excitement for their return next Christmas. Children also enjoy the ritual of saying goodbye, thanking their elf for visiting, and wishing them well on their trip back to Santa. Some children even write letters or draw pictures to send back with their elf.
How Families Send Elf Pets Back to the North Pole
When it comes time to send an Elf Pet back to Santa, families have come up with many creative ways to complete the yearly ritual. Here are some of the most popular methods:
The Christmas Morning Departure
One of the most common approaches is having the elf leave on Christmas morning. Parents place the elf in a visible location so he or she can “see” the children open presents. Then once the gift opening is done, the elf disappears – presumably having departed for the North Pole.
Christmas Eve Send Off
Some families have the elf leave on Christmas Eve night before heading to bed. They place the elf in a conspicuous spot like by the Christmas tree or near the cookies left out for Santa. In the morning, he or she will have disappeared overnight on the trip back north.
Mailing the Elf
You can build up the send-off by having your child pack up their Elf Pet and put them in a box addressed to Santa Claus at the North Pole. Take a trip together to the post office or mailbox to mail your elf. This helps create a concrete goodbye rather than just having them disappear.
North Pole Express Delivery
For a very dramatic farewell, set up a North Pole Express train station in your home. Build a train car box and conductor hats to wear. Talk about the long journey back to the North Pole. Your child can tuck the elf in with cookies for the trip, then wave goodbye as they “depart” on the Express.
Magic Key to the North Pole
Some parents hide a magic key near the elf, usually on Christmas morning. Explain that this key opens a magic door that lets the elf travel instantly back to Santa. Have your child take the key and hold it to the elf, saying the magic words that allow the elf to return home. Then you can quickly stash the elf away while distracted.
When Should You Send an Elf Pet Back?
Most families send their Elf Pet back either on Christmas Day or somewhere from December 26-31st. Here are some guidelines on ideal timing:
- If having your elf disappear overnight on Christmas Eve is important, aim for Christmas morning.
- If you want your elf present for Christmas Day festivities, wait until at least December 26th.
- For school-aged kids, sending the elf back before they return to school helps provide closure.
- New Year’s Eve or Day is a fitting end-of-year date for your elf to depart.
- Just don’t forget to ship your elf back – kids will notice if they linger past January 1st!
Take your holiday schedules and family preferences into account. Somewhere around late December is ideal for most families. Just try to avoid sending your Elf Pet off too far past Christmas or they may lose their magic!
Getting Your Elf Ready for Next Christmas
Once you’ve completed the send-off, you’ll need to pack up your Elf Pet properly to ensure they are good to go upon their “return” next holiday season. Here are some tips:
- Carefully box up the elf and any accessories in tissue paper or other packing materials.
- Store the box in a cool, dry place away from bugs, dust, and humidity.
- Consider placing a note in the box reminding yourself of your elf’s name, backstory, and any personality quirks.
- Set a reminder on your calendar in early November to take out your elf for the new holiday season.
Proper storage is key to keeping your elf looking great year after year. With care, most Elf Pets can handle many trips back and forth from the North Pole!
Kid Reactions to Sending Elf Pets Away
Children will have their own unique reactions when you go through the ritual of sending an Elf Pet away. Some common responses include:
- Sadness. It’s natural kids will be a little sad at saying goodbye to their elf friend. Let them know the elf had fun but needs to get back to help Santa.
- Excitement. However, many kids also get excited knowing their elf will be back with new adventures next Christmas.
- Disbelief. Older kids may express some skepticism about the elf’s ability to travel back to the North Pole. Humor their critical thinking kindly.
- Pride. Boost the excitement by praising your child’s excellent care of their elf during their stay.
Validate your child’s emotions while keeping the focus on the magic. This tradition is about building family memories more than prolonging a belief in Elf Pets literal abilities.
Can Elf Pets Stay All Year?
While sending Elf Pets back is a fun tradition for many, some families opt to have their elf stay year-round. Reasons include:
- Wanting their child to enjoy the elf’s company outside the holidays.
- Avoiding the effort of packing and storing the elf away.
- Disliking the pressure or forgetting to move the elf at night.
- Feeling their child may become upset if the elf disappears.
There are creative ways to adapt the tradition for a year-round elf:
- Explain the elf stays to have adventures with your child during the rest of the year.
- Focus the elf’s magic on watching your child’s good behavior instead of spying for Santa.
- Have the elf depart for a quick summer trip to the North Pole to see Santa before returning.
- Send the elf away for a final trip when your child outgrows the tradition.
While most Elf Pets aim for a Christmas-only tradition, there are still ways to enjoy their magic all year if that works better for your family!
Troubleshooting Common Elf Pet Send Off Issues
Despite best laid plans, you may encounter some hiccups when attempting to orchestrate your Elf Pet’s departure. Here are some troubleshooting tips for common issues:
My child got very upset when we sent our elf away
If your child is devastated at saying goodbye, emphasize that the elf had so much fun but needed to help Santa back home. Reassure them the elf will be back next Christmas. Consider sending a “letter from the elf” later reassuring they made it back safely.
We forgot to send our Elf Pet back in time
First, don’t panic. If it’s still January, quickly mail your elf back explaining they got distracted or lost on the way. For later months, say the elf stayed to spend extra time but got called back urgently to prepare for next Christmas.
The Elf Pet got damaged during storage
Minor damage can be explained away as adventure mishaps on the trip back north. If needed, you can always purchase a replacement or try DIY repairs before the elf returns next holiday season.
My child is getting suspicious of our elf’s abilities
As kids get older, they will naturally become skeptical about an elf’s magic. If they start questioning it openly, lean into the fun fantasy rather than trying too hard to convince them. The tradition shifts focus to family bonding over make-believe.
Conclusion
Sending adopted Elf Pets back to Santa is a fun family tradition many embrace during the holidays. Kids love the excitement of seeing their elf depart for the North Pole until next Christmas. However, the send off is not a requirement. You can adapt your elf’s story in a way that works for your family. The most important thing is making memories together. Just be sure to store your elf carefully once the season is done. With proper care, they should return on schedule next holiday season to spread more Christmas joy!