Elf on the Shelf Ideas + Calendar
Christmas is just around the corner and that means it’s time to get your Elf on the Shelf ready for some fun! The tradition of the elf on the shelf is one that has been around for generations. I’ve collected some of my favorite ideas for you to try this year, so be sure to PIN this post and come back often.
Your Elf will love all of the new jobs you give him or her each day, and you’ll have a blast taking pictures and sharing them online with your friends. Be sure to tag me @southerncrushathome on social media if you use one of these, I’d love to see what you’ve done!
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If you do not have an Elf on the Shelf doll yet, you can shop for them below. The elves come in a boy or a girl option as well as all skin tones from light to dark.
Get your Elf on the Shelf ready for Christmas with these fun ideas!
- Give your Elf a new job each day – be sure to take pictures and share them online
- Have your Elf help you decorate the Christmas tree or make gingerbread houses
- Leave some yummy treats out for your Elf – he or she will appreciate it!
- Get creative with where you hide your Elf each day – think outside the box!
- Don’t forget to say goodbye to your Elf when Christmas is over – he or she will be back next year!
As Christmas approaches, don’t forget to get your Elf on the Shelf ready for the big day! Here are a few fun ideas to get you started. First, try dressing your elf in festive clothing. You can find elf-sized sweaters, hats, and scarves at your local craft store. Or, get creative and make your own outfit! Just make sure your elf is comfortable and can move freely.
Next, give your elf a special job to do each day. For example, one day your elf could help decorate the Christmas tree. Another day, your elf could deliver cookies to Santa’s elves. The possibilities are endless! Just make sure your elf is safe and not too mischievous. Use this FREE downloadable list of ideas and the handy calendar for planning!
Elf on the Shelf Idea List
The holiday season is a busy time for everyone, including your Elf on the Shelf. To keep things interesting (and to make sure your elf stays out of mischief), be sure to give him or her a new job each day. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
-Baking helper: Have your elf help you bake cookies or other holiday treats. Just be sure to keep an eye on him – you don’t want your elf getting too close to the oven!
-Gift wrapper: Elves are very good at wrapping gifts, so put him to work wrapping presents for friends and family.
-Decorator: Get your elf involved in decorating the house for Christmas. He can hang up lights, blow up balloons, or string popcorn.
-Scout: Send your elf out on a daily reconnaissance mission to check for signs of Santa’s impending arrival. He can look for tracks in the snow, listen for sleigh bells, or keep an eye out for reindeer.
No matter what job you give your elf each day, be sure to take plenty of pictures and share them online with friends and family. After all, what’s more fun than following the adventures of a little Elf on the Shelf?
When my kids were little we had a similar elf on the shelf and we called it “creepy elf” for fun. It got into so much mischief over the years. See examples below:
Download the complete list of ideas along with a handy calendar for planning out the ideas for your elf on the shelf!
Have your Elf help you decorate the Christmas tree or make Gingerbread Cookies
The holidays are a wonderful time to spend with family and friends, and one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit is by decorating your home. If you have an Elf on the Shelf, why not put him to work and have him help you with your holiday decorating?
He can help you string lights on the Christmas tree, or he can add some finishing touches to your gingerbread cookies. And when you’re done, you can enjoy a nice cup of peppermint hot chocolate together. So get creative and have fun this holiday season – your Elf will be happy to lend a helping hand.
Leave some yummy treats out for your Elf – he or she will appreciate it!
While the elves are known for being mischievous, they are also known for their love of sweets. So if you’re looking to put a smile on your elf’s face, be sure to leave out some yummy treats!
Cookies, candies, and other sweet snacks are always appreciated by elves. And if you really want to make your elf happy, you can even bake a special treat just for him or her. Just be sure to leave it out before you go to bed – elves are notorious night owls!
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Get creative with where you hide your Elf each day – think outside the box!
As the holidays approach, many families begin to prepare for the arrival of their Elf on the Shelf. While the Elf is mostly known for getting into mischief during the night, he also needs a place to hide during the day. Here are a few creative ideas for where to hide your Elf each day:
-Inside a toilet paper roll
-At the bottom of a cereal box
-Hanging from a light fixture
-Perched on top of the fridge
-Tucked inside a shoe
-Peeking out from behind a curtain
With a little ingenuity, you can come up with endless possibilities for where to hide your Elf each day. Just be sure to check all potential hiding spots before you go to bed, or you may find yourself with an extra helping of holiday mischief!
Don’t forget to say goodbye to your Elf when Christmas is over – he or she will be back next year!
As Christmas comes to a close, don’t forget to say goodbye to your Elf on the Shelf! Although he or she will be back next year, it’s important to give your Elf a proper send-off. You can start by thanking your Elf for all his or her hard work in making sure you had a good Christmas. Then, say goodbye and give him or her a hug.
You can also leave out a special note thanking your elf for all their hard work along with a treat for your Elf to enjoy on the long trip back to the North Pole. Whatever you do, make sure to say goodbye before he or she sneaks away in the night – you don’t want your Elf to get too homesick!
With a little planning and imagination, you’re sure to have a magical Christmas season with your very own Elf on the Shelf!
Complete list of Elf on the Shelf Ideas
- Scout Elf has just arrived! Use powdered sugar and tiny Elf footprints to lead the kids to a partially opened box filled with sweet Christmas treats and your Elf who also brought along an arrival letter!
- Scout Elf is caught enjoying chocolates in the pantry
- Scout Elf takes a sElfie and makes it a screensaver on all of your devices
- Scout Elf hosts a fun hot cocoa bar party
- Your Elf drew funny faces on your bananas
- Stick a “Ball Pit” sign on a jar and fill it with Christmas pom poms and your Scout Elf
- Scout Elf made a snow angle (using glitter and icing sugar)
- Your Scout Elf took a funny selfie and made it the screensaver on every phone and computer in the house
- Scout Elf whips up a batch of elf-sized mini pancakes for breakfast!
- Have Scout Elf help with doing the laundry
- Scout Elf has fun reading “Elf: The Classic Illustrated Storybook” with his toy friends
- Scout Elf leaves all the cupboards open and blames the kids!
- Watch the Elf movie with your Scout Elf. Don’t forget to to make treats to enjoy
- Stick Scout Elf inside of a toilet paper roll and roll it down the stairs
- Scout Elf installs the “Santa Cam” so Santa can see whether the kids are being naughty or nice
- Scout Elf has decorated all of the eggs in the fridge (draw and/or use Christmas stickers
- Scout Elf is ready to go sledding using his candy cane sled
- Scout Elf is tied on on the train tracks and needs help!
- Scout Elf makes a garland for the Christmas tree out of cereal hoops
- Scout Elf is hiking up the Christmas tree
- Scout Elf enjoys a bubble bath (using cotton balls) with your kids’ favorite toys
- Use Scout Elf as a Christmas tree bauble by stuffing him in a clear bauble
- Scout Elf attends a masked party with his friends. Can anyone spot him in the crowd?
- Scout Elf builds a snowman using toilet paper rolls while watching the movie Frozen
- Scout Elf hides a few sweet treats under cups for your kids to find
- Scout Elf enjoys a sack race with his friends
- Scout Elf is caught red handed eating cookies from the cookie jar!
- Scout Elf is engaged in a snow fight (using cubed sugar and mini marshmallows) with his toy friends
- Scout Elf goes fishing (using Goldfish crackers)…in the sink!
- Scout Elf hosts a fun scavenger hunt
- Scout Elf messes up all of the beds in the house while trying to find a comfortable place to sleep, only to end up taking a nap on his own elf bed
- Scout Elf makes everyone a bowl of Elf Cereal for breakfast, with green elf milk! (using food coloring
- Scout Elf got into the gingerbread house kit at night and wrote a special message using icing for the kids
- Scout Elf is feeling especially artsy so he decides to color festive elf coloring pages
- Scout Elf has an upset tummy from enjoying too many sweets! He goes #2 in the toilet (using chocolate chips or cocoa puffs)
- Scout Elf watches as the family bakes Christmas cookies
- It’s time for Scout Elf to head back to the North Pole. Use powdered sugar and tiny Elf footprints to lead the kids to a letter left by Scout Elf as well as a “Good Bye” message written using mini marshmallows
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