It’s that time again, or may have already been that time if you are one of the families that brings back the Elf the day after Thanksgiving. I have a love/hate relationship with our Elf who is appropriately named Elfie. While I love the joy that it brings my children, I hate having to keep track of the thing and come up with creative ideas for it to do. I also despise a mischievous Elf because I just don’t want to clean up after it to be completely honest. So I came up with a list of easy Elf on the Shelf ideas to get you through December and to Christmas. Minimal effort and minimal supplies; many of which you probably already have on hand. You can grab the calendar HERE.
Personally I like to get to gather all the items that I will need to make the Elf on the Shelf come alive. I put them somewhere to easily access throughout the month. This way I am prepared and it makes the nights after the kids go to bed that much easier. I find most of the items already in our home, Jo Ann Fabrics, Dollar Store or Target.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas
Day 1: Elf comes back in a toy plane or a car with a sign that says “I’m Back!”
Day 2: Elf makes a snow angel in flour on the counter
Day 3: Elf writes a fun message on the kid’s bathroom mirror
Day 4: Fishing for goldfish
Day 5: Tangled up in Christmas lights and hanging from the ceiling or ceiling fan
Day 6: In a mug with hot cocoa mix
Day 7: Zip lining across the living room with a candy cane
Day 8: In a fruit bowl with a sharpie drawing faces on the bananas
Day 9: Spelling out name in holiday M&M’s on the counter
Day 10: Hiding in the fridge with child’s favorite snack
Day 11: Taking a bath in the bathtub. Fill the bathtub with white balloons and put the Elf on top. Put some rubber ducks around the tub as well.
Day 12: Toilet paper snowman
Day 13: Playing in a ball pit. Put the Elf in the bowl and put pom poms around the Elf with some scattered around on the shelf.
Day 14: Print out a Christmas themed coloring page and have the Elf coloring the page
Day 15: Elf drinking milk out of a cup and a plate of cookies next to the cup.
Day 16: Riding a reindeer on the coffee table with kisses leaving a trail behind them
Day 17: Snowball fight! Make paper snowballs or large yarn balls to have next to the Elf. The Elf can hide behind a book or something on the counter or table.
Day 18: Make snowflakes, string them and hang them from the kid’s doors. Have the Elf hanging from the string
Day 19: Sledding down the banister. Make the sled out of taped together candy canes.
Day 20: Tic Tac toe. Make a board on a wall or window with tape. Have bows handy for the kids to play a game of tic tac toe.
Day 21: Feeding ducks in the sink. Have some rubber ducks in a sink and the Elf feeding them with pieces of bread.
Day 22: Stuck in a jar or glass. Have the Elf get stuck in a jar with candy or glass.
Day 23: Elf reading a book to kid’s stuffed animals by the tree.
Day 24: Christmas Eve! Elf sitting on wrapped books for the kids.
Day 25: Elf has left the house! Have a goodbye note in the tree with a small treat for the kids.
Also this year I will be adding these ideas as they come to life on my Instagram stories. Let me know if you try these and other ideas that you have!
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