Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas

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.

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!