24 easy Elf on the Shelf ideas to get you through December

by Sarah HILL November 30, 2022

Let's face it, the elf seems like a great idea at the time, we're all for adding to the Christmas magic, but he can be a little bit of a pain. Especially at 10pm when you're desperately scrolling quick and easy elf on the shelf ideas.

We know that even with the best of intentions, us parents have enough going on December and we need no-fuss, last-minute Elf on the Shelf options, we have you covered with our 24 Days of EASY Elf on the Shelf ideas.

Welcome party - that first night is all about the welcome party for you Elf. Maybe the toys all get together in a parade or maybe they all just give him a welcoming committee. He might bring the advent calendar and any other Christmas countdown fun, too. If you want to go all out, check out Lydia Louise's blog.
Write a letter to Santa. When he arrives from the North Pole, your Elf could bring a letter kit for writing to Santa (you could buy a pre-made one from the shop or print a template off, or even just good old-fashioned pen and paper.
Toilet paper time! Elf is getting settled in and his cheeky side is showing - toilet humour is always a winner with the children! Whether he is wrapping the tree in toilet paper or the other toys have trapped him in a toilet roll, it's a quick solution for the 3rd night of Elf on the Shelf! And all you need is toilet roll (and maybe a kid's sense of humour).
Hanging from a ceiling fan or light fitting. Elf is flying high on night four - maybe he is hiding on the ceiling fans (hot tip, dust them first!) or hanging from some baking twine on a light fitting. Either way, he is getting a great view of any mischief - so watch out kids! Another option is to create a zipline with a pencil and some string - heaps of fun! See Stockpiling Mom's blog for inspo.
Decorating the tree. If you haven't already put the tree up this might be a great one for night 5 - simply place the Elf somewhere in the tree with his hand on a decoration. Or if you have, then it's a lovely opportunity for the Elf to sit waiting with a new ornament or decoration for the children to hang on the tree.
Writing Christmas cards or wrapping presents. Time to get the kids to get some wrapping or Christmas cards done. You could set up some simple card craft or just writing in shop-bought cards. Elf is sitting waiting with his card he made or present he wrapped and all the tools - paper, glue and scissors etc. that is needed to get stuck in. For an added bit of fun, you can always have the Elf all wrapped in wrapping paper having got a bit carried away with his wrapping.
Baking cookies or Christmas treats. It wouldn't be Christmas without a bit of baking. Elf could be sat with all the ingredients ready for the kids to get stuck in or maybe he's made biscuits already and the kids just need to ice them?
Drive in movie. After all that Christmas craft and baking Elf needs a night off (we feel his pain!) and so he's gone in one of the toy cars to a drive in movie in front of the TV. He has been munching popcorn and it's all over the car (leave that bit out of you don't need any more mess in your house!). Check out the Mom Wife Busy Life blog.
Elf decorates with snowflakes! Remember in Elf the movie, when Buddy decorates the store full of snowflakes before Santa comes to visit? Well, that might be excessive, but it just cut out a handful of snowflakes and hang them around the house (you can even buy the ready cut ones if you just cannot be bothered - no judgement here!).
Toy donation. Christmas is all about giving and Elf has left a note and a box out asking the children to fill the box with toys they're finished playing with and would happily donate to another family. Then you can take the kids to the donation point with the box so they get to see where their good efforts go.
Cheeky graffiti. Elf has got hold of a whiteboard marker (non-permanent advisable!) and has written a message on the mirror or the window. Maybe he even drew some funny faces on the fruit in the fruit bowl?
Roasting a marshmallow on a tea light with Barbie. It's time for a date night with one of the dolls or with one of his toy mates and Elf is toasting a marshmallow (on a electric tealight!). All you need is a tooth pick / cocktail stick and a marshmallow - so simple!
Wrap the toilet up! That cheeky Elf is up to his antics again and has been creating mischief in the loo! He has wrapped the toilet lid with wrapping paper! This is a really quick win for those busy evenings when you forget until you go to bed. Just quickly tape some wrapping paper onto the seat lid and et voila!
Drawing a picture of Santa. This is a double-win because it'll hopefully encourage the children to do some 'quiet' drawing and colouring for... maybe 3 minutes if you're lucky. Elf got some paper and crayons and drew some festive pictures of Santa or the other elves or a snowman etc. - y ou get the idea.
Putting up Christmas lights. If you have a spare set of lights you haven't put up yet you can get the Elf to surprise the kids with a little extra light display. One idea is to hang the lights down the hallway outside their rooms so they get a magical surprise in the morning! Or he could just string them around the kitchen, ready for a festive breakfast!
Day spa. This lucky Elf gets a lot of relaxation time between his Elf scouting work and tonight he's relaxing in the sink or bathtub (with a doll sized cocktail?!) in his bathrobe. This might require a few props - you can get some miniature floaties / blow-up drink holders to pop him and some dolls in and you might be able to get an Elf dressing gown. For a low key idea you can always have him just relaxing with some Nutella on his face as make-shift face mask!
Elf school is in. Another easy set up for the busy evenings, this just requires a book (something festive if you have it) and a few toys. Elf holds the book and they all sit around him just like at school or playgroup.
In a Christmas stocking. If your kids are impatiently wanting to look in their stockings every day, they might get a surprise when Elf's legs are sticking out the top of the stocking one morning! Or he can be cheekily peaking out the top, spying on the comings and goings!
Sleeping in a school bag once school is out. When school holidays start and the school bags are abandoned, Elf has realised it's a nice quiet place to nap. If the kids are having trouble finding him, maybe ask them if they left something in their school bag - there's Elf holding onto the lost item and having a nice nap, tucked up inside the bag.
Snow ball fight! There a few ways to spin an Elf and toys snowball fight - one is with ping pong balls or you can stack white marshmallows and icing sugar is scattered around. Elf has made a snow angel in the dusting of snow, too! See this fab example at hisugarplum.com.
Stealing chocolate. There are a lot of chocolates around the house and Elf has got into the tin of Christmas chocolates. This is a win for the parent too, because we need some empty chocolate wrappers abandoned around the tin (which means some chocolate needs to be eaten first!) and Elf has a little choc smeared on his face.
Christmas train ride. Elf has hitched a joyride on the toy train! Or, he is tied to the tracks by some other naughty toys! Either way, this is a nice simple but super fun idea.
Bringing a letter from Santa. It's nearly time for Santa to arrive and Elf to leave, but before he does he has a letter from Santa telling the children how well (or not) they have behaved and that he'll be here soon. There are some wonderful Santa letter companies these days, but you can always pen something yourself!
Elf has the cookies, carrots and drink ready for Santa's visit. It's nearly time for Elf to go back to the North Pole til next year and the grown-ups can breathe a sigh of relief. But before he goes, he's got the goodies ready to put out later. Til next year Elf!

Looking for more festive fun ideas in the run up to Christmas? Check out our Christmas movie countdown here.