31 Elf On the Shelf Ideas

These 31 Elf On the Shelf Ideas should help make your elf antics a little easier. Bonus: these elf on the shelf ideas use things you already have around the house so there is no cost or running around to stores to pick up supplies.

TIP: have your elf visit during the day when the kids are at school. Why? Because at night one can forget (I know I do…I’m way too tired at bedtime and kept forgetting elf stuff). However, since I’m work-from-home…I get the kids off to school and then do my elf antics…that way it’s an after-school surprise rather than a morning wake-up disappointment.

31 Elf On the Shelf Ideas

I know you only need 24 ideas (leading up to Christmas) but I added extras so there can be choice. Go ahead an pin or print the list out so that you can refer to it anytime.

For more inspiration: surf over to my elf on a shelf pinterest board (adding new elf pins as we go).

You could also find inspiration from my post on 15 ACTIVITY AND SCHOOL BREAK THEME DAY IDEAS FOR KIDS to come up with your own Elf on the Shelf Ideas (maybe you have a sports week or a pirate day?) 

I also like the idea of using theme days for the time after the holidays…when all the celebrating has past but the kids are still on vacation. Theme days provide a bit of fun during school breaks (and also a pretty great New Year’s Eve/Day idea for kids!).

For example: travel day – you could make Belgium waffles for breakfast, have French Fries for lunch and then Italian Make-Your-Own Pizza for dinner. And in between, set the kitchen chairs up like an airplane and pretend you fly to some distant place. Build a living room fort and you are IN that far away place. Travel only needs your imagination!

SHARE: What would you do for an Elf on the Shelf or Theme Day?…