Christmas is such a magical time of year, and like any parent we live through our kids.
Before you know it, Christmas will be here, and Santa will be ready to come down that chimney. As moms we are preoccupied with menus, holiday shopping, However, before Santa comes that elf on the shelf will be here to help us get ready.
We all get a little over whelmed with Christmas to dos, but it is the worst when the elf hasn’t moved in 3 days, we can’t exactly say mommy forgot. So, no more saying the elf was sick, or they took a few days’ vacation back at the north pole.
In previous years I was always scrambling at the last-minute ideas for those elves. So, I compiled easy and quick ideas that you can put together in a matter of minutes.
Before you check out all the fun and super simple Elf on the Shelf ideas…
Be sure to snag the free printable Elf Arrival Letter and Good Bye Letters.
Elf Marshmallow Bath
Add some marshmallows to a crock pot or a large bowl and add your elves and they can take a marshmallow bath! Pair this with a pack of their favorite hot coco and a cute Christmas mug and you have a cute gift from their ELF.
Army Man Take the Elf Hostage
Tie up your Elf or Tape him up and surround him by little army men. Check the dollar store for little army men.
Camo Elf Hiding in the Christmas Tree
Add a little green to your Elf's cheeks and you can have a little elf camouflaged in your tree.
Elf in the Jaws of T-Rex
Have a T-Rex laying around? Add your elf on the shelf in the T-Rex's mouth and you have a GODzilla situation.
Elf Snowmen
If your kid's love the movie Frozen or maybe they just love the snow, this is a cute and easy idea for your elves. All you need is either a stack of toilet paper or paper towels, an orange marker and a black marker to draw the face on your snowmen. Let it snow!!!
Elf Playing a Game with a Doll
Pair your Elf on the shelf with your child's favorite Barbie or favorite Superhero and a board game and you definitely have a great battle.
Camo Elf Hiding in the Christmas Tree
Add a little green to your elves cheeks and stick him in your Christmas tree. This is a great way to add a smile to your kids face:).
Elf Airways
Flying in on a paper plane into the Christmas tree. This is another way your child can crash land into the tree.
Riding your pet
Attached to your pet’s collar for a fun ride. My kids love this idea, it gives the ultimate Toy Story vibes!! Our dog is older and is pretty tame, if you have a puppy this may not be a great idea.
Turn the Elves into Superheros
My kids love superheroes and although they have their favorite superhero, they will enjoy seeing the elf dressed as all of them. There are many masks on Pinterest. Check out these downloads.
Reading a book
Elf Reading a Book to his Friends. Grab some stuffed animals and gather them around a good Christmas book, this can also can be a great gift from the elf.
Scavenger Hunt
Bringing an Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt game to play.
Scribbling on a Frame
Scribbling on photo frame with dry-erase marker. Chalk marker may work well for quick clean up.
Sprinkle Angel
Let your Elf on the Shelf imitate making a snow angel. Colorful sprinkles work well for this idea, but you can also use flour, sugar, coconut flakes, or mini marshmallows.
Reindeer Droppings
Who knew reindeer poop could be so tasty? This Elf on the Shelf idea is simple to recreate: fill a container with brown-colored treats (like chocolate chips or cocoa-flavored cereal), and stick in a paper sign glued to a popsicle stick.
Sledding Race
On your mark, get set, go! It's your elf against a stuffed animal in this downhill sledding race. Recreate it by attaching sheets of paper together and securing them to a windowsill. Your racers can ride paper plates in any color.
Egg-cellent
Ask your child to open the fridge, and they'll catch the sneaky elf defacing your eggs. Make sure to draw funny faces on each egg with marker.
Googly Eyed
All you need for this last-minute Elf on the Shelf idea is a pack of googly eyes—plus the contents of your refrigerator or a reminder that they are watching to see if you are naughty nice.
Say Cheese
Set up toys in a family portrait-style pose, then position your elf as the photographer with a camera. We have a kids toy camera this works great with.
Not-So-Frosty the Snowman
This Elf on the Shelf built a snowman on the counter—then destroyed it with the hairdryer. Before trying this idea, make sure the liquid won't stain your counter, floor, or surface of choice.
Still Standing
Lift your elf up—literally—by transforming two rolls of wrapping paper into stilts. A pair of winter boots give Santa's helper some feet—and they also hold up the paper rolls.
Gone Fishing
Fishing enthusiasts will go crazy for this Elf on the Shelf Ideas. Simply fill your sink with water, drop in some fish-shaped crackers, and position your elf with an easy DIY fishing pole. Don't put the crackers in the water too early, though, or they may disintegrate!
Bathroom Break
Elves need to use the bathroom, too! For this clever Elf on the Shelf idea, perch the toy over your toilet seat, or sink with their legs secured snugly under the lid. Drop a few peppermints into the water as "elf poop."
Grinch
Have some fun with that naughty Grinch with your Elf the Shelf. If you don't have a Grinch you can always print one out as well.
Naughty or Nice
We did this one year with my boys. Under the naughty we had play coal. Under the nice we had a pair of flyers tickets. This can work with movie tickets, sports tickets, plays etc. They absolutely loved this idea.
Elf Baking Cookies
Santa's North Pole Wrestling Team
This can be done with WWE Wrestlers, GI Joe's, super heroes you name it. If you have more than one elf they can wrestle each other.
