Just wanted to share this with anyone who doesn't know about it. It's the most wonderful thing to do for your kids. I believe it's quite a big thing in America.
OK, in advance you need to buy a toy elf or similar (ours is a snowman from B&Ms!).
On December 1st the elf arrives at your house with a letter from Santa. We always put up our tree on December 1st so one of us rings the doorbell while we're doing it and asks DS1 to answer it , to find the xmas snowman on the doorstep.
The letter says something along the lines of "dear X , my name is XX and I'm a xmas elf/snowman. Santa has asked me to stay with u till xmas eve and have fun with you! Yadda Yadda...." you could also mention something along the lines of the elf will be making sure you behave etc, altho I can never think of how to word that in a less terrifying way.
Anyway the elf then has 24 days to get up to mischief or do fun treats.
As an example , last year our snowman did the following (without DS1 seeing any of it being set up) -
When DS finished his homework one evening the snowman was waiting on the settee with a dvd and box of popcorn for him.
On xmas eve he was lying on DS's bed with new PJs for him to wear.
He laid out all the ingredients to do some baking.
However he often does naughty things like -
He was hanging on the xmas tree and had eaten one of the chocolate decorations.
He spilled (out of date) rice crispies on the floor.
I know it all sounds silly but it's the most fun ever. Last yr DS1 was 6 but he still believed every word of it. He screamed with excitement when he opened the door "HE'S COME TO STAY WITH US AGAIN!!" And he was so furious when he ate the decoration that he put him on time-out and shouted at him. And he regularly sat and stared at it to try to catch it in the act! Me and Dh had loads of fun thinking of things to do without being caught. It's brilliant :)