Each night, after the children are asleep, the elf flies to the North Pole to report on the day’s activities to Santa. The elf returns before the children wake up and hides in a new spot around the house, leading to a daily morning game of discovery. In our case, the elf tells which calendar number can be opened. A key rule is that children cannot touch the elf, or it will lose its magic. They can, however, talk to the elf and share their Christmas wishes.