’tis the season for an elf to visit from the North Pole! Here are Some Easy Elf On The Shelf Ideas to inspire your elf mischief and goodness. Yes, I think elves should prank and treat – nicely of course! Both things have been known to create smiles in children of all ages!
Some Easy Elf On The Shelf Ideas
PARENT CLUB TIP: if you have a bilingual household like mine…have your elf speak another language. We call our elf “Lutin” (Lutin = Elf in French). He writes French letters to the kids too. It’s a good way to include our 2nd language and culture into a holiday tradition.
Sleeping in a tissue box, head in a candy bag, being put in a time out are easy elf on the shelf ideas which take no time at all.
Writing a message, drawing on fruit, and bundled up in a wash cloth in the fridge are next level ideas which take a minute more effort.
Putting out ingredients to make cookies, fixing a toy, zip-lining all take more effort (and will require you to stay up after the kids go to bed).
RELATED: Check out my Elf on the Shelf Pinterest board for more inspiration
We also have a special elf on a shelf box where he “lives”. Which means after the kids discover him in the morning or afterschool – they have to put him back to bed in his special Christmas box before they leave for school or when they go to bed. Why? So I know where to find him! It also gives the kids a parental “go to bed and be good” moment with their elf.
I will confess…I’ve never actually read the elf on a shelf book nor do we have the actual elf on a shelf elf. I admit…I bought a knock off elf at a post-Christmas sale a few years ago.
But the point of the elf isn’t to have the actual “brand” elf right?! It’s to create excitement about Christmas. To break the December routine and have something fun to look forward to in the morning. To have a little family Christmas tradition daily.
I love all of these ideas! We’ve been doing Elf on the Shelf for years, and I’m starting to run out of new ways to do it. Thanks!
Loving the car race idea! We love our elf!
LOL!! The Elf in the bag of candy is super cute! I must try that idea out!
I have a good friend that loves doing Elf on the Shelf! I will tell her about this post. She is always looking for ideas!
These are all fun ideas. I really like the ziplining idea as well as the playing cards with the stuffed animals.
This would have been fun to do when my daughter was younger. The Elf on the Shelf knows how to get into some mischief.
awesome ideas! My hubby has some crazy ideas he does for our elf on the shelf!
Our elf loves to sit next to the Wampa on our shelf in the kitchen and also the angel on our tree.
After 5 years I am out of Elf ideas!!!! I need this!
Love the idea of scribbling on a piece of paper. Sounds like such a fun tradition!
These are great Elf on the Shelf ideas. I wish I would have done this when the kids were younger. I will have to wait for grandchildren to do it now.
I will have to try a few of these ideas this year. I have been looking up ideas for our Elf on the Shelf to get into.
Thanks for the great Elf on the Shelf ideas. I am excited to do this for the kids this year.
The Elf on the Shelf idea really seems to be trending. I think the photo on your post with the elf’s head stuck inside a candy bag is absolutely hilarious!
These are great ideas! Definitely sharing this to a friend who’s doing elf on the shelf every year!
My neighbors are doing elf on a shelf, I will send her these ideas.
oh my gosh I totally need this! It’s only been about 6 days and I’m running out of ideas for our three little elves!