Introduction
Holiday memories with your family are supposed to be cherished; however, for some, a modern holiday favorite, the elf on the shelf ideas, can cause stress. This playful little spy shows up in December at your house with Santa and keeps a close eye on your children’s activities. It can be really daunting to come up with a new, inventive, and creative display to pose him in for a full month! If you are trying to maintain the magic of Christmas without investing an hour or more of your time every night, then read this: These funny, easy, and a little bit sneaky elf on the shelf ideas should get the whole crew excited.
Elf on the Shelf Ideas: Easy Arrival Ideas (Day 1)
Day One: Making an Entrance.e On the first day, your elf makes its grand arrival and sets the tone for the whole month.
- The Official Letter: Position your elf beside a little welcome letter from the North Pole to encourage your kids to keep their behavior on the “nice list.”
- Balloon Arrival: Secure a cheery helium balloon to your elf’s hands and make it look like they’ve just parachuted in.
- Wrapped Present: Set a small Elf on the Shelf idea in the middle of a slightly opened gift bag at the base of the Christmas tree so your child finds this first.
Funny and Mischievous Ideas
Elves causing a little mayhem definitely tickle kids’ funny bones! These goofy elf pranks will always crack a morning laugh!
- Toilet Paper Roll: Roll your elf down the hallway inside a toilet paper tube, letting the trail of toilet paper unroll behind him.
- Guacamole or Snack Thief: Place your elf’s head in a bag of chips or jar of chocolate spread – add a little bit of the snack on the front of the face!
- The Photocopy Prank: Need a home copier? Then position the Elf on the Shelf Ideas on top of it and make out a dozen or so hilariously warped photocopies of their face around the table.
Elf on the Shelf Ideas: Creative and Artsy Setups
Want to showcase the Elf’s artistic flair? Bring out his more creative side with these visual, artistic ideas using things you have lying around the house.
- Washable marker creativity: Use a washable dry-erase marker to draw ridiculous mustaches, eyes, or clown noses on the front of your family photos. Put the Elf on the Shelf Ideas next to the photos with a dry-erase marker in their hand.
- Create Snow Angels: On the kitchen counter, pour some flour, sugar, or sprinkles on the counter. Then, have the Elf on the Shelf Ideas move its arms and legs around to create a tin, snow angel on the counter.
- Sticky Note Wall: Put your colorful sticky notes up to create an oversized “HELLO” or a big “HO HO HO.” Place the elf right in the middle.
Quick Ideas for Busy Nights (Under 5 Minutes)
We all get into a bind with moving the elf and forget until the absolute moment. These take virtually no work for quick tips to avoid getting in the house or to still move him and not stress over it.
- The Fruit Bowl Spy: Slip your elf in your fruit bowl, hiding behind or in between the bananas and oranges.
- Gaming Setup: Put a video game controller in the lap of the Elf on the Shelf Ideas, with them seated in front of the TV.
- Reading Elf: Your child can place a book down with an open book in front of them (a favorite with your child!), implying they sat up through the whole night reading to learn the elf thing!
The Grand Departure (Christmas Eve)
The day for the elf to go home and back up north to the North Pole with Santa arrives on December 24th. You want to make the day memorable in a special way for your kids so they want to do it again next year.
- The Goodbye Note: Write a little card telling the kids thanks for being so much fun, and remember to go to bed earlier than you see Santa!
- Packing Up: Place your Elf on the Shelf Ideas in the small gift bag or winter shoe with a small toy suitcase or candy as a goodbye treat.
Tips for Success
For a no-fuss adventure, get set for the traditions a few days before. Use the weekend to grab a few necessary odds and ends like marshmallows, string, markers, and tape. Keep your best ideas jotted down in a note on your phone so that when you’re out of ideas in the middle of the night, you’ve got just what you need. A blend of eashide-and-seeksns and a few gags will provide lasting holiday fun.
Conclusion
Keep your elf on the shelf ideas. Instead of spending hours every single night making his place in the morning, you can simplify some quick and silly arrangements. These will entertain the kids through the entire month while creating lasting memories with these easy Elf ideas.
