Have you been wondering how to switch from Elf on the Shelf to Kindness Elves? You’re not the only one. Many of us find Elf on the Shelf a bit creepy. He doesn’t promote the values we want at Christmas. Who has time to pose him every day? And, really, who has the time to clean up after an elf during the holiday season?
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Of course, if you and your kids love Elf on the Shelf, you don’t need to switch. But if you’re not quite sure about that pesky elf, there are resources to help you make a gentle switch to Kindness Elves this Christmas.
The 12 Days of Christmas Kindness with the Kindness Elves are traditionally from December 13-24, although you can do them (or as many as you want) whenever works best for your family or classroom.
How to Make the Switch to Kindness Elves from Elf on the Shelf
Anna of The Imagination Tree, the original founder of The Kindness Elves™, answered that question recently at The Kindness Elves Facebook page. You can read her suggestion (and the suggestions of others who’ve made the move.
Using Kindness Elves Just Got Easier!
There’s something new that makes the Kindness Elves easier and even more fun!
The Kindness Elves™ Accessories Pack
There’s a new Kindness Elves™ Accessories Pack! It contains:
- Visual Step-By-Step Guide for Parents about using the Kindness Elves and Accessories
- 50 Acts of Kindness Cards (including 10 blank for your own ideas)
- Little Book of Big Kindnesses
- Mini Postcards for the Kindness Elves to write to the children
- 8 Sheets of Stickers
- Bottle of Magic Sprinkles
I’ve already ordered my accessories pack! I know my granddaughter will love it!
Kindness Elf Resources
There are lots of great resources and free printables for Kindness Elves. You can find links to them in the posts below.
I was so excited when I learned there were variations of Elf on the Shelf that encourage kindness. You can find a roundup of ideas in my post “Using Variations of Elf on the Shelf to Encourage Kindness.”
In my post on “Using Kindness Elves to Encourage Kindness {Ideas and Free Printables},” I added more resources and free printables.
In my “New Kindness Elf Ideas for Building Character This Christmas,” I added new ideas from the 2015 Christmas season.
“Sweet and Simple Kindness Elf Activities for Toddlers” tells what my granddaughter and I did last Christmas.
“The Kindness Elves Meet Pete the Cat … and Go on a Great Adventure” tells about one of our favorite activities with the Kindness Elves (along with one of our favorite children’s book characters)!
You’ll find more ideas to use with your Kindness Elves in my post with “20+ Acts of Kindness Advent Calendars and Christmas Countdowns {Free Printables}.”
I have a post about where to get Kindness Elves.
And here you’ll find all my posts about the Kindness Elves!
Wishing you fun and kindness this Christmas season!
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Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
Photo Credit: Background photo at top of post by Mark Baylor.
Related Posts
Where to Get the Best Kindness Elves with Options for Skin, Hair, and Clothing Color
The Ultimate Guide to Kindness Elves
How to Have a Kind Classroom with the Kindness Elves {for Teachers and Parents}
New Kindness Elf Ideas for Building Character This Christmas
Using Kindness Elves to Encourage Acts of Kindness in the Family
Sweet and Simple Kindness Elf Activities for Toddlers- Using Kindness Elves to Encourage Kindness {Ideas & Free Printables}
- How to Add Kind Words from Books to the Kind Words Challenge
For Christmas every year, our family tradition is to make and decorate an ornament for each family member. Love Christmas traditions!
Doing 24 activities with kids during advent countdown. Great family bonding time!
My family has a tradition of making tamales at Christmas.
My most favorite thing about the holiday is having all my kids at home together for some family time !
Our familiy tradition is that each child chooses a new ornament relating somehow to the past year/event. When the girls “leave the nest” they will each take with them a set of ornaments from their lives.
My favourite tradition is cutting down the Xmas tree and then decorating it. 🙂
Indeed, we should give love on Christmas day and this is a genuine idea of showing kindness and love for others.
Great idea! This will be our first year including the Elf for Christmas, so I’m glad I ran across your post. Since I’m new to this tradition, my husband and I have been researching ways to include it. I think utilizing it as a teaching tool is the perfect twist to a very fun tradition. Thank you for sharing!
Cheers,
Lisa at Dreams and Caffeine
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is playing the Christmas chimes. My brother made a set of chimes from pipes. Every year, we gather and play or favorite Christmas songs on the chimes. Everyone gets one or two chimes and my dad directs the music. Good times.
My parents always let me open one present on Christmas Eve then we would watch holiday movies. I do the same with ny kids now.
I hadn’t heard of kindness elves before. Very cute idea! My favorite Christmas tradition is baking cookies with my kids. They just love it and so do I!
#MMBH
Christmas crafts, night hikes in the falling snow, christmas carols!
The kindness elf seems to be a better alternative to elf on the shelf. I’d rather teach kindness than mischievousness. Can’t wait to read more and give it a try. I think I might try it at home and in my preschool class.
My favorite tradition is having the children recite a verse or poem or sing a song at our church and for the family.
One of my favorite traditions is making christmas ornaments with my kids to give to family members. We vary up what kind we do every year and I try to make sure it is something they can do by themselves (they are so proud when they can do it all by themselves) and can be unique to them.
My favourite things about the holidays is being able to get together with my entire family, all together.
My favorite holiday tradition is making chocolate covered pretzels with my mom!
My favorite time at the holidays is after the dinner is over and we all sit around playing games and visiting!
I really like the Advent Calendar and going to my sister’s house Christmas Day.
Incredibly inspiring article, Thank you