20 Super Entertaining Elf On The Shelf Ideas

As if we don’t have enough going on in December, let’s add in Elf On The Shelf! Don’t forget to hide the skinny red elf before the kids discover it hasn’t moved! We are half way through December and these elves seem to be everywhere.

#dontforgettomovetheelf is real. If this is you, you are not alone. Many parents dread Elf on the Shelf. We’ve heard the confessions… “ours isn’t coming until our child realizes it’s missing”(praying Christmas comes and goes). Other elves arrive only to remain in the same place for a week with a note eventually appearing stating elf sickness. Some have bandaids while others have casts on broken legs. I heard one elf got “reassigned” to New Jersey, never to return. For many of us, it’s racing to move Elfie before he’s seen, sometimes stuffing him under your shirt or chucking him behind a piece of furniture. This was me the first year. Then, I discovered the magic of this tradition. My kids are believers, so I am happy to keep the magic alive.

I mistakingly never read the book our first elf came with. Well, maybe I read it, but I didn’t really “read” it. So, when child 2 came along we got another elf (not realizing it should be one elf per family, not per kid). Of course the new elf had to have some distinguishable differences to prevent fights over who’s elf was who’s. Our knock-off blue elf arrived by way of ChinaPost. Then, after the 3rd baby, our pink elf showed up.

This team of elves has brought so much joy to our mornings. Some mischief took planning while most is pretty simple using items from around the house. The one thing which consistently worked for us was preparing the night before. Here are some great examples of the elf antics in our house this year…(the little green elf is our baby photo-bomber)

Elf on the Shelf swinging from candy canes — swinging on candy canes (items needed: candy canes & tape)

Crashing the toy party (items needed: toys)

zip lining (items needed: twine, scissors & tape)

Elf on the Shelf snowball fight — having a snowball fight (items needed: box of sugar cubes & mini marshmallows)

Elf on the Shelf roasting marshmallows — roasting marshmallows over a kitchen candle (items needed: toothpicks, mini marshmallows, coffee cups & candle)

Elf on the Shelf Roomba — going for a ride on the Roomba (we used a to-go box for their carriage and some decorative cotton snow)

Elf on the Shelf Sled — sledding (items needed: twine, double sided tape, cardboard snack packaging)

Elf on the Shelf captured by army men — Case of mistaken identity; captured as intruders (items needed: shoelace & toy figurines)

Elf on the shelf climbing up wall on bows — bow climbing!

Elf on the Shelf snow angels — We left the flour out after making cookies & the elves made snow angels (items required: Flour)

Elf on the Shelf fishing — elves mistook the dog bowl for a fishing hole (items needed: chopsticks, fishing line & either mini fish toys, Swedish fish candy or goldfish crackers)

Elf on the Shelf Selfie — taking “elfies” with the kids while they slept. (items needed: mini photo frames, scissors & a color printer)

the elves brought a few new Nutcracker friends (items needed: Nutcrackers)

Elf on the Shelf toilet paper tree — Elf on the shelf toilet paper

Elf on the shelf swing — swinging (items needed: twine, double sided tape, paper towel/toilet paper roll)

Elf on the Shelf Superheros — blending in as super heroes (items needed: pieces of felt, double sided tape, scissors, glue gun, see template below for DIY)

Haven’t gotten enough Elf on the Shelf?

Looking for your own red boy Elf scout? click here
For a red girl elf scout, click here
Need a different colored elf scout? check out all the options here from Munchkins and Doodlebugs
Looking for accessories, pets and clothing? Check out Amazon and Etsy

If you need another festive holiday activity for the kids, decorate some Christmas cookies! Check out our go-to recipe here.