The school bell has rung, the backpacks are stuffed in a closet until September, and somewhere around the second week of July you’ll hear the words every Canadian parent dreads: “I’m booooored.”
The good news though is you’ve got your Elf Mates® and they’re not just there for the holidays. These kind-hearted helpers stay and play all year long, which makes them the perfect sidekick for our gloriously long, patio-season summer break.
Here’s how to turn your Elf Mate into the ultimate summer boredom buster, from the cottage dock to the backyard tent.
Can Elf Mates come out in the summer?
Absolutely! This is one of the best parts of the Elf Mates world. Unlike your Scout Elf from The Elf on the Shelf®, who returns to the North Pole each night and heads home for the season, Elf Mates are Santa’s forest elves who stay and play all year round.
Their whole mission is spreading kindness, creativity and good deeds, and kindness doesn’t take a summer holiday.
Elf Mates are also meant to be touched, held and played with. So, while the Scout Elf has that famous no-touching rule, your Elf Mate can ride shotgun in the canoe, tag along on a hike, and get a little muddy at the campsite.
That hands-on freedom is exactly what makes them such a great summer companion for kids who need something to do.
So to wrap it up for all the busy parents:
- Yes, Elf Mates work in summer, they’re year-round kindness helpers, not just a Christmas tradition.
- Yes, kids can touch and play with them, perfect for adventures.
- Each Elf Mates sparks a different kind of play, the Chef, the Toy Maker and the Cobbler each inspire their own summer activities.
Summer adventures with the Elf Mates Chef
The Elf Mates® Chef stirs up kindness and teaches kids about sharing meals, reducing food waste and helping others. Summer hands you a whole menu of ways to play along.
- Become a campfire cook. Have your Elf Mates Chef “supervise” a batch of s’mores or help plan a no-waste cottage breakfast. Bonus Canadian points for a drizzle of real maple syrup.
- Run a lemonade-and-kindness stand. Set up a stand at the end of the driveway and donate a portion to your local food bank, a sweet way to beat the heat and give back.
- Harvest something. Whether it’s a backyard tomato plant or a U-pick strawberry run, the Chef loves teaching kids where food comes from and how to share the bounty with a neighbour.
Summer adventures with the Elf Mates Toy Maker
The Elf Mates® Toy Maker brings kindness to life through creativity, making gifts for others and giving toys a second life. Translation: this is your rainy-cottage-day MVP.
- Build a fairy house or fort. Gather pinecones, birchbark and stones on a hike and craft a tiny woodland home, your Toy Maker will approve of the imagination.
- Host a toy “spruce-up.” Long summer days are perfect for sorting through the toy bin and choosing gently-used toys to donate before the back-to-school rush.
- Make a handmade gift. Friendship bracelets, painted rocks for the cottage road, or a craft for a grandparent, the Toy Maker is all about creating something to brighten someone’s day.
Summer adventures with the Elf Mates Cobbler
The Elf Mates® Cobbler teaches gratitude and comfort by helping kids think about what others need. Summer is a wonderful season to put that into practice.
- Pack an adventure kit. Have kids put together a little “ready for anything” bag, bug spray, a water bottle, a sun hat, and talk about helping others stay comfortable and safe outdoors.
- Go on a gratitude hike. On your next trail walk, have kids name something they’re thankful for at each trail marker. The Cobbler is all about noticing the good around us.
- Collect for a cause. As you sort summer gear, set aside outgrown runners or rain boots to donate, a perfect fit for the Cobbler’s mission of warmth and comfort for others.
How do I bring my Elf Mates on a trip?
Easy, just pack them like you’d pack a favourite stuffie. Because Elf Mates are made for hands-on play, there’s no special ritual required.
Tuck them in the car for the drive up north, prop them on the picnic table, or let them “lead” the nature scavenger hunt. Snap a photo of their adventures and you’ve got an instant summer keepsake.
And don’t forget you can keep the good vibes rolling with our 25 Acts of Kindness Challenge for Kids, it adapts beautifully to summer.
Keep the magic going all summer long
Here’s the real secret: the Elf Mates aren’t really about beating boredom at all.
They’re about turning a long, lazy break into a season of creativity, kindness and connection, whether that’s at a Muskoka cottage, a Prairie campground, a Maritime beach, or simply the backyard with the sprinkler running. The boredom-busting is just a happy side effect.
So, before the next round of “I’m bored” sets in, dust off your Elf Mates and let the summer adventures begin. Ready to add a kind-hearted companion to your family’s summer? Discover the Elf Mates!
Frequently asked questions
Can Elf Mates be used outside of Christmas? Yes. Elf Mates are designed to encourage kindness, generosity and good deeds all year round, which makes them ideal companions for the summer holidays.
Can children touch and play with Elf Mates? Yes. Unlike Scout Elves, Elf Mates are huggable and made for hands-on, imaginative play, so they’re perfect for days out and adventures.
What’s the difference between Elf Mates and the Scout Elf? The Scout Elf reports back to Santa each night during the Christmas season, while Elf Mates stay and play all year, focusing on kindness and good deeds.
What summer activities can you do with Elf Mates? Baking and sharing treats, donating toys, crafting handmade gifts, dens, nature walks, wardrobe clear-outs for charity, and plenty more.