88 Elf on the Shelf Ideas which are Festive and Fun

88 Elf on the Shelf Ideas which are Festive and Fun

Elf on the Shelf is a popular tradition during the holiday season. This tradition involves a special scout elf toy that parents hide around the house leading up to Christmas day.

Every night, the scout elves report back to Santa at the North Pole, and then find a new hiding spot in your home. This ongoing game of hide and seek with the elf creates fun and magic for the kids and family.

If you’re running out of shelf ideas, or if this is your new elf’s arrival and you need some fun ideas, here are a few easy elf shelf ideas to consider.

88 Elf on the Shelf Ideas:

Candy Cane Hunt: Hide a few candy canes around the room and have the elf leave a note for the kids challenging them to find all the candy canes. This is a super cute idea and it also gets the kids up and moving.

Snowball Fight: Set up a miniature snowball fight between the elf and some other toys. Use cotton wool balls as snowballs. This is a quick and easy elf idea that will surely make the kids laugh.

Elf Fishing: Set up a small bowl of water and have the elf hold a fishing rod made out of a stick and string. You can use goldfish crackers as the fish. This is another fun elf idea that is easy to set up.

Gingerbread House Construction: Have the elf start building a gingerbread house. Leave it incomplete so that the kids can finish building it when they wake up. This is a fun and interactive elf idea that will surely engage the kids.

Toilet Paper Snowman: Have the elf build a snowman out of toilet paper rolls. Use toilet roll and loo roll for the body, and household items like buttons and a scarf to decorate it. This is a funny elf idea that will surely amuse the kids.

Christmas Lights Entanglement: Have the elf get tangled up in Christmas lights. This elf idea is a funny way to showcase the elf’s mischievous side.

Christmas Card Making: Set up a station with coloured paper, markers, and stickers, and have the elf start making Christmas cards. This shelf idea encourages the kids to get creative and make their own Christmas cards.

Christmas Eve Box: Have the elf bring a special Christmas Eve box filled with Christmas pyjamas, a movie, popcorn, and hot chocolate. This is a great idea to build excitement for Christmas.

Cookie Baking: Set the elf up with some cookie dough and a rolling pin. This shelf idea will encourage the kids to join in on the baking fun for Christmas.

Toy Car Racing: Arrange a few toy cars and have the elf in one of them, ready for a race.

Drawing Faces on Eggs: Have the elf draw funny faces on eggs with a marker. This will surely give the kids a giggle at breakfast.

Cardboard Box Sleigh: Create a mini sleigh using a cardboard box and have the elf sit inside it.

Ball Pit: Create a mini ball pit using a bowl and small balls, and have the elf dive into it.

Reading Books: Set the elf up with an open book, as if it is reading a bedtime story to the other toys.

Maple Syrup Bath: Set the elf up in a small bowl as if it is taking a bath in maple syrup.

Playing Board Game: Set the elf and a few other toys up as if they are playing a board game.

Elf Magic Show: Set the elf up with a magic wand and a hat as if it is performing a magic show for the other toys.

Taco Tuesday: Set up a mini taco station and have the elf making tacos. This is a fun elf idea for Taco Tuesday.

Cutlery Drawer Nap: Have the elf take a nap in the cutlery drawer.

Candy Cane Forest: Create a small forest using candy canes and have the elf hiding among them.

Sleeping Bags: Set up mini sleeping bags for the elf and other toys as if they are having a sleepover.

Frozen Elf: Put the elf in the freezer as if it is a frozen elf enjoying the cold.

Hot Chocolate Party: Set up a mini hot chocolate station with mini marshmallows and have the elf making hot chocolate.

Naughty Elves Drawing: Have the elf draw funny pictures or write naughty messages on the bathroom mirror using a whiteboard marker.

Elf Hiding in a Shoe: Have the elf hiding inside one of the kids’ shoes.

Zip Line Adventure: Create a zip line using string and have the elf slide down it.

Painter’s Tape Web: Create a web using painter’s tape and have the elf stuck in it.

Chilly Elf Ice Skating: Fill a baking tray with water and freeze it. Set the elf on top as if it is ice skating.

Beautiful Mess: Have the elf make a beautiful mess by scattering Christmas decorations all over the living room.

Orange Juice Dive: Set the elf inside a jug of orange juice as if it is taking a dive.

Next Christmas Planning: Set the elf with a calendar and a pen as if it is planning for the next Christmas.

Gold Coins Treasure Hunt: Scatter some gold coins around the room and have the elf holding a map as if it is on a treasure hunt.

Great Listeners: Set up the elf with a toy phone as if it is talking to Santa about who has been naughty or nice. Elves are great listeners!

Super Cute Idea: Have the elf bring a super cute idea for the kids like a craft activity or a colouring book.

Elves Love Cookies: Set the elf up with a plate of cookies as if it is having a snack. Elves love cookies!

Christmas Card Delivery: Have the elf deliver some Christmas cards to the kids.

Chocolate Coins Snack: Set the elf up with some chocolate coins as if it is having a snack.

Family Portrait Drawing: Have the elf start drawing a family portrait. This will encourage the kids to finish the drawing.

Free Printable Activity: Have the elf bring a free printable activity for the kids.

Elf in the Fridge: Place the elf inside the fridge as if it is trying to stay cool.

Quick and Easy Elf Breakfast: Set up a mini breakfast station and have the elf making breakfast.

Shelf Accessories: Decorate the shelf with mini Christmas decorations and shelf accessories.

Best Elf Talent Show: Set up a mini stage and have the elf performing a talent show for the other toys.

Snowball Fight with Cotton Balls: Have a snowball fight between the elf and other toys using cotton balls as snowballs.

Toy Cars Parade: Arrange a parade with toy cars and have the elf leading the parade.

Loo Roll Tower: Have the elf build a tower using loo roll.

Christmas Eve Preparation: Have the elf set up Christmas Eve essentials like cookies and milk for Santa.

Cotton Wool Balls Snowman: Have the elf build a snowman using cotton wool balls.

Little Ones Art Gallery: Set up an art gallery with the kids’ artworks and have the elf as the curator.

Household Items Musical Instruments: Have the elf and other toys form a band using household items as musical instruments.

North Pole News: Have the elf bring a newsletter from the North Pole with updates on Santa and the reindeers.

Fun Elf Fitness: Set up a mini fitness station and have the elf doing exercises.

Christmas Lights Decoration: Have the elf help in decorating the Christmas tree with Christmas lights.

Bath Toys Boat Ride: Fill the bathtub with water and have the elf ride a boat with other bath toys.

Shelf Props Theatre: Set up a mini theatre with shelf props and have the elf perform a play for the other toys.

Chanda Bell Book Reading: Have the elf read a book written by Chanda Bell to the other toys.

Older Kids Prank: Have the elf play a harmless prank that is suitable for older kids.

Everyone’s Asleep: Set up the elf and other toys with a movie and popcorn as if they are having a movie night after everyone’s asleep.

Colouring Book Fun: Have the elf start colouring a picture in a colouring book. This will encourage the kids to finish the colouring.

Elf Rules Reminder: Have the elf hold a sign reminding the kids of the elf rules.

Magic Elf Seeds: Have the elf bring some magic elf seeds (raisins or dried beans) for the kids to plant.

Christmas Song Sing-a-long: Set the elf up with a microphone as if it is singing Christmas songs.

Chocolate Milk Dive: Set the elf inside a jug of chocolate milk as if it is taking a dive.

Magic Elf Dust: Have the elf bring some magic elf dust (glitter) for the kids to sprinkle on the Christmas tree.

Loo Roll Stacking Game: Have the elf start stacking loo roll and challenge the kids to see how high they can stack it.

Shelf Rules Classroom: Set up a mini classroom and have the elf as the teacher teaching the shelf rules.

Elf Arrival: Create a special welcome banner and balloons for the elf’s arrival.

Advent Calendar Countdown: Set the elf up with an advent calendar as if it is counting down the days until Christmas.

Santa’s List Checking: Have the elf checking Santa’s list.

Morning Routine: Set the elf up as if it is doing its morning routine, brushing its teeth, and getting dressed.

Cute Elf Letter Writing: Have the elf write a letter to the kids.

Gingerbread Cookies Decorating: Set the elf up with some gingerbread cookies and icing as if it is decorating cookies.

Playdough Fun: Set the elf up with some playdough as if it is making something fun.

Elf Shoe Race: Set up a race track and have the elf and other toys race in their shoes.

Quick and Easy Elf Hiding: Hide the elf in a different spot each day for a quick and easy elf idea.

Magic Elf Show and Tell: Have the elf bring something special from the North Pole for show and tell.

Christmas Craft: Set the elf up with some Christmas craft supplies as if it is making something special.

Candy Cane Heart: Have the elf make a heart shape out of candy canes.

Elf In the Oven: Place the elf in the oven (not turned on) as if it is warming up from the cold.

Hot Chocolate Mess: Have the elf make a mess with hot chocolate powder and marshmallows.

Snowflakes Cutting: Have the elf start cutting out snowflakes from white paper.

Christmas Movies List: Have the elf create a list of Christmas movies to watch.

Marshmallow Bath: Set the elf inside a bowl filled with marshmallows as if it is taking a bath.

Toy Repair: Set the elf up with a broken toy and some tools as if it is fixing the toy.

Breakfast Cereal Dive: Set the elf inside a box of breakfast cereal as if it is taking a dive.

Santa’s Workshop: Set up a mini Santa’s workshop and have the elf making toys.

Christmas Tree Decorating: Have the elf decorating a mini Christmas tree.

Kids’ Drawings Gallery: Set up a gallery of the kids’ drawings and have the elf admiring them.

Final Thoughts

Remember to have all the fun with these elf activities and to create magic for your family this holiday season. And if you have two elves, double the fun and magic!

Also, remember the elf tradition is based on the book written by Chanda Bell and is a fun way to create memories with your little ones.

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