PHOTO BY LYNNRGARDNER

Create a Holiday Woodland Elf House Outside

And watch your grandkids enjoy the naughty and nice holiday elves

by Catherine Gannon Taintor

November 2022

HAVE A MERRY DECEMBER PLAYING OUTSIDE

Children love hearing stories about tiny magical elves that live deep in the forest. Woodland elves are beautiful and dress all in green to blend in with the trees. The woodland elves are great craftsmen. They love woodworking and pottery making. Some of them help Santa at Christmas time. Others help Mrs. Claus bake scrumptious cookies. It’s a wonder they can stay so slim.

Describe for your grandchildren elf magic. Woodland elves love chatting with forest animals, especially the wise owls. The garden woodland elves whisper encouragement to their carrots and beets as they grow. Tell them an elf tale about how elves are playful and love playing pranks.

ASK YOUR GRANDKIDS TO HELP YOU CATCH AN ELF

Explain to your grandkids, it is really, really difficult to trap an elf. Few children succeed. Think about it. Then suggest that your grandkids build a lovely new house for the woodland elves for the holidays. A new house just might coax the elves to come out from the woods.

Be sure the new elf house includes: a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, and a bedroom. And a picnic table is a must! Elves love to picnic even in the snow. They do love Christmas parties and just might need a bigger house to fit all their friends.

COLLECT NATURAL MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTION

• Bundle up your grandchild and look around for things to help you build a house
• Gather small twigs, acorns, leaves, berries, pinecones, pods, small stones, and grasses.
• If you live near the beach collect scallop shells, mussel shells, whelks, and sea glass.
• Discuss together what an item might be used for. For example, a mussel shell might make a nice bathtub. A small stone might be a fridge etc.

HOW TO BUILD A WOODLAND ELF HOUSE OUTSIDE

• Choose a spot outside your house. A tree hollow, under a rock ledge, in between tree roots, in front of a tree stump.
• Draw a circle in the dirt with a twig and line it with pebbles.
• Fill the circle with soft material like moss or pine needles
• Ask your grandkids to help design the house
• Create rooms with twigs
• Remember elves are eco-friendly. Make the elf house with all-natural materials. No plastic.
• Construct a roof of twigs and leaves (or canvas) to keep rain and snow out
• Don’t forget the admiration phase. It is the most important phase.

AND NOW—LET THE FUN BEGIN!

• Leave food out for Wood Elves to eat. Elves are partial to chocolate and oatmeal cookies. Be surprised when kids report food has been eaten.
• Be surprised when kids find items from their bedroom in the house or an ornament from the Christmas tree.
• Elves are fussy about decorating. Be surprised when kids report elf furniture has been moved around.
• Elves are loving. They just might leave the kids a Hershey’s kiss to thank them.

TWO THINGS EVERY WOODLAND ELF KNOWS

(from the movie “Elf”)

• The best way to spread holiday cheer is to sing a carol loudly for all to hear.
• There’s room for everyone on the nice list!