Yep, we are doing it, dedicating a whole piece to Elf on the Shelf ideas. Honestly, it's just as much for us as it is for you because coming up with something witty and amusing for our guys to do every day of December is already getting tricky and we are only on day four! So we have rounded up all our favourite, simple Elf on the Shelf ideas that will get you through at least the first week!
Keep scrolling for all the Elfish fun and for more grown up Christmas decoration ideas head over to our gallery.
1. Get your elves to build a chocolate tower
Seeee, cute and easy! Just pile up the Kit Kats (you can use any chocolate bars but we think Kit Kats are the most effective) and position your elves to look like they are playing Jenga, pulling chocolate out of the tower.
2. Cover the tree in loo roll
Very apt for 2020, this Elf on the Shelf idea takes just a few minutes but your kids are sure you find it hilarious. Take a roll of toilet paper and gently wrap it around your tree, then place the roll in the hands of the naughty elves!
3. Create a snowfairy with your elf
Realised at 1 am you don't have an Elf on the Shelf idea for the morning? This will be your saviour. Lay down a pile of mini marshmallows on your kitchen surface and have your elf create a snow fairy in them. No marshmallows? No problem we have seen people use rice, paper, icing sugar, flour, anything you have in the cupboards.
4. Have your elf scale the windows
Simple stick some gift bows on your windows and position the elf so he is climbing up them. You could do this on doors and walls too and give him something to be climbing too – like he's climbing up the kitchen side to reach the cookie jar.
5. Get fruit involved
Love this idea! Even we had a good giggle. Turn your elf into a conductor of their own fruit choir. Use a wipeable marker to drawer the faces on your fruit – it might even encourage your kids to eat a piece for breakfast or take a piece to school, just make sure you give it a wash first.
6. Turn your elf into a baker
Don't worry you don't have to go baking from scratch (unless you are up for that), simply lay out some shop-bought cookies and decorate them – it can be super messy if you like, blame it on the elves. You can take it even further and copy this Elf on the Shelf idea and add some googly eyes to your baking ingredients to make it look like they got involved too.
7. Write messages on the mirror from your elves
A classic, make it look like your elves drew on your bathroom mirror. You can do it with a wipeable marker for an easy clean up and give your elf a lipstick that they 'stole' from your bedroom. You could of course go with the very 2020 message of 'wash your hands' but you could make it more silly too.
8. Make it all easier with an Elf kit
Add for when you are too tired to be creative, an 'Elf kit' can save the say. This one from Target is only $10 and you get everything you need to send your Elf on his adventures – 50 pieces to be exact including tape, a ladder, trees, decorations and cute question cards.
9. Pick up an Elf games set
Along similar lines, you can make your life a whole lot easier with something as simple as printables. This adorable games pack is from Etsy but they have them over on the Elf on the Shelf site too and they are free!
10. Roll your elves down the stairs
Loo roll does seem to feature a lot with the elves this year, but we love this fun and easy idea. Pop your elves into the loo roll and roll them down the stairs – easy peasy, this is a good one for when you forget the night before and have to sneak up in the morning to position the elves.
If you are after more Elf of the Shelf ideas, the Elf on the Shelf site has loads of inspiration, there's even an under five minute section that we will be turning to A LOT this year. Plus there are loads of fun accessories you can buy to make your ideas even more fun (and actually a whole lot easier).
