December 10 to December 25 is a busy time for dental practices. Patient schedules shift, more seasonal procedures come up, and team members take time off. While this can be stressful, it’s also a good opportunity to improve patient experience and lift team morale with simple, thoughtful activities.
The children’s book How to Catch an Elf is a great resource for this season. Its fun story and familiar style make it easy to create simple, enjoyable activities that families like and staff can set up quickly.
Here’s a fifteen-day plan with practical activities dental offices can use from December 10 to December 25. Each day builds on the last, helping create a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a sense of togetherness during the holidays.
December 10: Introduce the Book in the Waiting Area
Place How to Catch an Elf in a visible spot in the waiting room, along with a short handwritten note inviting families to read it while they wait. This sets a welcoming tone for the holiday season and shows patients your practice is family-friendly.
December 11: Create a Simple Photo Display
Crate and add holiday spirit to the waiting area by setting up a small 'elf trap' scene using safe, everyday items. Families might enjoy taking photos, and you can share these displays online for fun seasonal content. If you want ideas from patients, you could have a box for suggestions!
December 12: Provide Coloring Pages
Coloring can be calming and relaxing. Consider putting out coloring sheets so kids can design their own elf traps. This keeps children busy, helps lower their anxiety, and gives staff a chance to chat with families in a relaxed setting.
December 13: Share Basic Oral Health Tips
Put up a small poster inspired by the book with a few easy brushing or flossing tips. This keeps dental advice simple and ties it to the holiday theme.
December 14: Begin a Light-Hearted Raffle
Let kids enter a drawing when they finish a coloring sheet. Prizes could be dental kits, children’s toothbrushes, or small holiday items. These little rewards help make visits more enjoyable.
December 15: Offer a Short Read-Aloud Session
If there’s some downtime, have a team member read the book aloud in the waiting room. This gives families a special experience and helps keep things calm during a busy month.
December 16: Display Children’s Artwork
Reserve a section of the office wall for an “Elf Trap Gallery” to display children’s artwork. Families enjoy seeing their kids’ work recognized, and this adds a personal, community feel to your practice.
December 17: Move an Elf Figure Through the Office
Move an elf figurine to a new safe spot each day. Younger patients like searching for it, which can help them feel more comfortable and make the office more fun.
December 18: Host a Toothbrush Search Activity
Hide a few new toothbrushes around the office for kids to find. If they spot one, give them a sticker or small prize. This simple game makes their visit more fun.
December 19: Share a Social Media Highlight
By now, your office has plenty of material to share online. Post a short highlight featuring one of the activities or a photo (with the right permissions). Staying visible in December helps build patient loyalty and keeps your practice top of mind.
December 20: Offer Seasonal Oral Health Guidance
Use the book to start a conversation about holiday dental topics, like sugary treats or brushing routines during school breaks. Give families a short handout so they can remember your tips.
December 21: Address Cold-Weather Tooth Sensitivity
Give out a short info sheet that explains how cold weather can affect teeth to show patients that your office can be a trusted source for all their dental and oral seasonal needs.
December 22: Highlight Your Team
Feature team members with short spotlights, and recognize their hard work to help keep spirits up during this busy month of holiday cheer.
December 23: Share a Recommended Reading List
Share a short list of similar children’s books, like How to Catch Santa, How to Catch a Snowman, or How to Catch a Tooth Fairy. Recommending these books encourages reading and family time.
December 24: Provide a Take-Home Note
Give out simple notes wishing kids a happy holiday break and reminding them to keep up good brushing. This leaves a positive impression before the holidays.
December 25: Publish a Holiday Greeting
Share a short, friendly holiday message on your website or social media. Staying in touch over the holidays keeps your practice top of mind without overwhelming anyone.
Why These Activities Support Practice Performance
As you do these daily activities, their benefits become clear as they do the following:
- Create fun moments for families.
- Helps your practice run more smoothly.
- Provides a schedule and plan of activities to provide festive fun to the office
- Create a dental office with a more welcoming, fun atmosphere
Increase and lead to better online reviews and more loyal patients. - Reduce nervousness, especially for kids; these small touches can ease their nerves and make visits go more smoothly.
- Enhance team culture by having a plan, which gives everyone a sense of stability during a busy month.
Holiday Staffing: How to “Catch” the Right Temporary Support
Even the best engagement plan needs a strong team. December often brings staffing changes, so it’s essential to have reliable support ready. Planning for temporary help is key.
Like in How to Catch an Elf, practices can use good planning to find the right temporary help. Here are some steps to make sure you have the support you need:
- Plan early. The week before Christmas fills quickly, and earlier postings attract stronger candidate pools.
- Clarify the shift. Clearly outline hours, responsibilities, and workflow expectations.
- Offer competitive seasonal rates. Demand increases in December, and competitive compensation helps ensure timely responses.
- Leverage availability tools. Viewing the calendars of already-available candidates is often faster and more effective than waiting for applicants.
- Maintain a preferred list. Track reliable temporary professionals for future scheduling needs.
By planning for holiday staffing, practices can maintain steady patient care and let their teams join in holiday activities. Princess Dental Staffing helps by quickly connecting you with qualified candidates and offering flexible scheduling for temporary help.
Creating a Season of Intentional Magic in the Dental Office
When you have both strong patient engagement and steady staffing, the rest of the season feels easier to manage. Daily activities are easier to keep up with, your team feels less stressed, and your practice can give patients a consistent, memorable experience.
How to Catch an Elf is fun because of the creativity and planning in each attempt. The same is true for dental practices in December. With a clear plan, good communication, and reliable staffing, the holidays become a time to create special moments in your office instead of just reacting to surprises.
By approaching December with intention, mixing creativity, careful planning, and team support, you build an environment families remember and staff truly value. This not only ends the year on a high note but also sets a positive tone for the next one.
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