80 Elf On The Shelf Ideas To See You Through December

The holiday season is here, and one of the most exciting parts of it is having a special elf on the shelf to help spread the Christmas cheer. Not only does having an elf on the shelf add to the festive spirit, but it’s also an inventive way to keep your little ones engaged and entertained.

From festive decorations to sneaky escapes to silly shenanigans, here are 80 fun elf on the shelf ideas to see you through December. Here they are:

1. Welcome Back: Elf arrives with a note from Santa and a little gift for the kids.
2. Marshmallow Bath: Elf relaxes in a bowl filled with mini marshmallows.
3. Toilet Paper Roll Snowman: Elf stacks rolls of toilet paper to make a snowman.
4. Cereal Fun: Elf spells out a festive message with cereal on the kitchen counter.
5. Candy Cane Hunt: Elf hides candy canes around the house for the kids to find.
6. Super Elf: Dress your elf in a tiny cape and have it “fly” from a light fixture.
7. Snow Angel: Elf makes a snow angel in a small pile of flour on the countertop.
8. Banana Minions: Elf draws minion faces on bananas.
9. Christmas Tree Nap: Elf is found sleeping under the Christmas tree.

10. Sack Race: Elf sets up a mini sack race with other stuffed toys.
11. Fishing Adventure: Elf goes fishing in the sink or a bowl with a toothpick rod.
12. Elf Twister: Elf plays Twister with a homemade mini Twister board.
13. Cookie Thief: Elf gets caught with a half-eaten cookie.
14. Reading Time: Elf reads a Christmas story to other toys.
15. Zip Line Fun: Elf rides a zip line made from yarn or string.
16. Sticky Note Snowflakes: Elf decorates a window or mirror with snowflake-shaped sticky notes.
17. Tangled in Lights: Elf gets tangled in a string of Christmas lights.
18. Hot Cocoa Break: Elf enjoys a tiny cup of hot cocoa.
19. Gone Fishing: Elf fishes for goldfish crackers in a bowl.

20. Elf Portrait: Elf draws a self-portrait on a mini easel.
21. Yoga Elf: Elf strikes a yoga pose with a small towel or mat.
22. Candy Cane Sled: Elf uses a candy cane as a sled down a pillow or book ramp.
23. Elf Workout: Elf lifts mini marshmallow weights.
24. Sticky Situation: Elf gets “stuck” to the wall with a piece of tape.
25. Message in Spaghetti: Elf spells out a message with cooked spaghetti noodles.
26. Chocolates Galore: Elf dives into a bowl of chocolate candies.
27. Christmas Countdown: Elf updates a countdown to the Christmas board or calendar.
28. Gift Wrapping Helper: Elf wraps a small gift or gets tangled in wrapping paper.
29. Snowball Fight: Elf sets up a mini snowball fight scene with cotton balls.
30. Elf’s Laundry Day: Elf hangs up tiny clothes on a string.
31. Hide and Seek:Elf hides in a stocking or behind a picture frame.
32. Cookie Decorating: Elf decorates cookies with icing and sprinkles.

33. Mug Hug: Elf cozies up inside a coffee mug.
34. Elf in the Fridge: Elf raids the fridge for a midnight snack.
35. Gingerbread House Construction: Elf builds a gingerbread house.
36. Christmas Carol Karaoke: Elf holds a microphone by a phone or tablet with lyrics on the screen.
37. Cotton Ball Igloo: An elf builds an igloo out of cotton balls.
38. Elf on the Shelf Selfie: Elf takes a selfie with a camera or phone.
39. S’mores Time:Elf roasts a mini marshmallow over a tea light candle.
40. Christmas Puzzle: Elf starts a Christmas puzzle for the family to finish.
41. Elf’s Lemonade Stand: Elf sets up a mini lemonade stand with a sign.
42. Stilts Fun: Elf walks on stilts made from candy canes.
43. Balloon Ride: Elf floats away with a bunch of balloons.
44. Elf’s Art Gallery: Elf displays mini artwork on the wall.
45. Tea Party: Elf has a tea party with dolls or action figures.
46. Elf’s Magic Trick: Elf performs a magic trick with a coin or card.
47. Christmas Crafting: Elf makes a simple Christmas craft.
48. Elf’s Bubble Bath: Elf takes a bubble bath in a bowl with pom-poms.
49. Board Game Night: Elf sets up a board game to play with other toys.
50. Baking Time: Elf mixes up some pretend cookie dough.
51. Elf’s Obstacle Course: Elf creates an obstacle course with string and tape.
52. Secret Message: Elf writes a message with invisible ink (lemon juice) that appears when heated.
53. Elf’s Disco Party: Elf sets up a mini disco with a flashlight and shiny paper.
54. Jingle Bell Rock: Elf rocks out with a tiny guitar and jingle bells.
55. Elf’s Snow Globe: Elf sits inside a clear plastic cup decorated to look like a snow globe.
56. Candy Cane Jail: Elf is “locked” in a jail made of candy canes.
57. Elf’s Science Experiment: Elf conducts a simple science experiment like a baking soda and vinegar volcano.
58. Christmas Origami: Elf folds paper into Christmas shapes.
59. Elf’s Movie Night: Elf sets up a movie night with a small screen and popcorn.
60. Elf’s Scavenger Hunt: Elf creates a scavenger hunt with clues for the kids.
61. Christmas Tree Farm: Elf sets up a mini Christmas tree farm with twigs and greenery.
62. Elf’s Balancing Act: Elf balances on a ball or ornament.
63. Pancake Breakfast: Elf makes tiny pancakes for a toy feast.
64. Elf’s Beauty Salon: Elf has a spa day with cotton pad face masks and cucumber slices.
65. North Pole Breakfast: Elf prepares a special North Pole-themed breakfast.
66. Elf’s Photo Booth: Elf creates a photo booth with props for other toys.
67. Christmas Cookie Taste Test: Elf sets up a taste test with different cookies.
68. Elf’s Hideout: Elf builds a fort out of books and blankets.
69. Elf’s Magic Seeds: Elf plants “magic seeds” (tic tacs) that grow into candy canes overnight.
70. Elf’s Chalk Art: Elf draws festive chalk art on a small chalkboard.
71. Christmas Caroling: Elf holds a songbook open to a Christmas carol.
72. Elf’s Fashion Show: Elf dresses up in various outfits and has a runway show.
73. Elf’s Pet: Elf brings a plush pet from the North Pole.
74. Christmas Bingo: Elf sets up a game of Christmas bingo for the family.
75. Elf’s Treasure Hunt: Elf hides a small treasure for the kids to find.
76. Elf’s Hot Air Balloon: Elf floats in a balloon made from a paper cup and a balloon.
77. Christmas Crafting: Elf makes Christmas cards or ornaments.
78. Elf’s Winter Wonderland: Elf creates a winter scene with fake snow and mini trees.
79. Elf’s Good Deed: Elf writes a note suggesting a good deed for the day.
80. Farewell Letter: On Christmas Eve, Elf writes a goodbye letter, thanking the kids for fun and reminding them he/she will report back to Santa one last time before heading to the North Pole.

Here are some additional tips for setting up your elf on the shelf

• Move your elf every night. The elf is supposed to move around the house while you’re asleep.
• Get creative with your poses. The more creative you are, the more fun your kids will have.
• Use props. Props can help you create more elaborate scenes.
• Take pictures. Taking pictures of your elf is a great way to capture the memories of the season.
• Most importantly, have fun! The elf on the shelf is a fun tradition that can bring your family closer together.

Enjoy your December filled with elfish fun and creativity!