How to Pick a Blueprint (aka Pose Your Elf)

One of the things my husband and I have been talking about is how to decide which pose (we call them blueprints) to use each night. We want to make sure that our daughter is excited to find her elf every morning, but we also want to make sure that we can manage the elf on top of all the other craziness the holidays bring.

The first thing we considered was her age. Our daughter is two and a half years old, so her age still plays a key factor in choosing a blueprint. We wanted blueprints that would capture her imagination and she would enjoy, so tried to find blueprints where the elf was in a pose she would understand. For example, she is too young for gum, so wouldn't understand the elf swallowing gum, whereas an older child may find this blueprint hilarious. We think she would like to see her elf feeding a baby doll or playing with Sophia's ice cream set. Lastly, I don’t think that she will be able to stop from touching the elf, so most of the blueprints we chose would let us keep the elf out of her reach, whereas this isn't as much a consideration for older children who have more self-control.

This is related to the first, but we also kept her interests in mind. She loves reading, having tea parties, and playing with her firetruck and tractor. All of these were things we wanted to incorporate into the blueprints we chose. Think about what will make your child smile and look for a blueprint that incorporates those items whether it is baseball (maybe your elf is signing a baseball), watching movies, or having a spa day. Maybe there is a scene from your child's favorite movie or song you can have the elf reenact?

The other big thing we are taking into account is what we have going on each day or night. There are a few other days that we are planning something special, such as when we are traveling. That day the elf will be in a snow globe so my daughter can hold the elf without touching her. We’re hoping it will help keep her entertained while driving. If we have a particularly busy day, we are going to plan to do a simpler blueprint. We are also going to do something special for the elf’s arrival and when she leaves.

Are there other things we should be considering? If so, please let us know!