The period during the holidays is very magical as families have traditions and exciting surprises. Elf on the Shelf has been one of the traditions that have caught up fast in most homes. This is the mischievous elf who comes to the homes every December and is relocated to a different place each night, where it serves as a night watch to monitor the behaviour of children and report to Santa. While the excitement of finding the elf each morning brings smiles to kids’ faces, it can sometimes be a challenge for parents to come up with new and easy elf on the shelf ideas every day. Life is busy, but in case you are feeling overwhelmed or you are short of time, there are many other ways to keep the magic lasting throughout the holiday season, which are easy but creative.
This is what you should keep in mind when you are planning the adventures around your elf:
- Simple arrangements can be as magical as those which are complex.
- Simple items in your home are wonderful props to your elf.
- The focus should be on forming happy moments, rather than to be perfect.
What Are Some Quick and Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas?
The ideal thing about this Elf on the Shelf traditional is that you do not have to spend time or money in order to make it exciting. Most of the simplest suggestions rely on objects available to you at home and can be established within minutes. An example is you can put your elf in a cup in the kitchen shelf or even place him in a box of tissues, which would take you little time, but it would be funny to kids.
Other quick ideas are:
- Marshmallow Bath: Store your elf in a bowl of mini marshmallows were they resemble that they are in a comfy bath.
- Toilet Paper Snowman: Roll a roll of toilet paper around your elf or compress stacked rolls together to make a snowman, and with markers, you can draw a face and buttons.
- Swinging on the Toilet Paper Roll: It is a fun scene where you hang your elf on a roll of toilet paper.
- Fridge Surprise: Hide your elf in the milk and juice box, then your kids get a cold shiver when they open the fridge.
- Rock Climbing with Bows: Put gift bows on a wall or on a door and place/stand your elf as though they are climbing.
These concepts are ideal on a hectic evening where you are in a hurry, yet you do not want to lose the magic. Don’t forget that it is the thrill of the kids to find the location of the elf every morning, not the complexity of the set.
Reminder: In case you forget to move the elf, just tell him he was too tired after his trip to the North Pole and was in need of a rest!
How To Make the Elf on the Shelf Fun Without the Added Stress?
| Creative Elf on the Shelf Ideas | Materials Needed | Setup Time | Difficulty (1-5) | Fun Level (1-5) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elf Chef | Toy kitchen tools, mini apron | 5 minutes | 3 | 5 | Elf baking or cooking with miniature kitchen props. |
| Ziplining Elf | Candy cane, string | 4 minutes | 3 | 5 | An elf ziplining across a room on a candy cane line. |
| Superhero Elf | Fabric for the cape | 5 minutes | 2 | 5 | The elf was dressed as a superhero with a cape. |
| Banana Minions | Bananas, markers | 3 minutes | 2 | 4 | An elf with bananas decorated as minions. |
| Story Time Elf | Small book, stuffed animals | 4 minutes | 2 | 4 | An elf is reading to stuffed animals in a cozy scene. |
The holiday season is already hectic with a list of things to be done; therefore, the elf should not be another task to be done. It is all about simplicity and the availability of what you have in hand. You also do not have to purchase expensive sets or spend a day creating setups. Instead, focus on easy elf on the shelf ideas that bring joy with minimal effort.
The following are stress-free hints:
- What You Have: Turn props and settings, and you have something new, without having to work extra.
- Just use Printables: There are free printables online of the elf-sized notes, games, or crafts.
- Adopt a Friend: get your kids to write letters to the elf or make small presents that he can discover.
- Plan in advance: Our suggestions are to compile a list of ideas in the beginning of the month of December so that you will not be surprised at the last minute.
Below is a comparison table of popular easy elf on the shelf ideas by materials, setup time, and fun level:
| Idea | Materials Needed | Setup Time | Fun Level (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshmallow Bath | Bowl, marshmallows | 2 min | 5 |
| Toilet Paper Snowman | TP roll, markers | 3 min | 4 |
| Hiding in a Cup | Cup/glass | 1 min | 3 |
| Swinging on TP Roll | TP roll, string | 2 min | 4 |
| Hiding in the Fridge | None | 1 min | 3 |
With such simple preparations, the tradition does not need to come to refusal, but on the contrary, it can be maintained energetically without overload. It will be a pleasant surprise every morning as your children wake up, and you will have time to at least enjoy the season.
Remember: At times, less is more! Enjoyment is in the moment and not in the effort.
Which are Some Funny Elf on the Shelf Ideas to Use?
Though easy ideas are nice, there are cases when you want to put a creative twist to this to surprise your kids. Creative setups are not always complicated; imagination is required, just a little. Case in point, you may dress your elf in other attires or use toys and household objects to provide hilarious scenes.
These are some of the artistic suggestions to make:
- Elf Chef: You can place your elf in a mini apron and toy cooking equipment, and surround him with cookie ingredients, making it look like he is baking something.
- Ziplining Elf: Take a candy cane and pretend it is a zipline and tie your elf to the candy cane so they hang across the room.
- Superhero Elf: glue a mini cape and take your elf as a superhero on a flying mission.
- Banana Minions: Paint bananas in the faces of minions and have your elf join the minion crew.
- Story Time: Put your elf with some stuffed animals and a small book as your elf is reading to them.
Now, here is a description and difficulty comparison chart of creative ideas about the elves:
| Idea | Description | Difficulty (1-5) |
|---|---|---|
| Elf Chef | Elf baking with toy tools and ingredients | 2 |
| Ziplining Elf | Elf ziplining on a candy cane | 3 |
| Superhero Elf | An elf in a cape, posed as a superhero | 2 |
| Banana Minions | An elf with bananas decorated as minion | 1 |
| Story Time | Elf reading to stuffed animals | 1 |
Children enjoy getting up in the morning to find their elf in silly or unexpected positions. These imaginative ideas generate an added fun into the tradition and create the enthusiasm towards the holiday.
What Can I do to have my kids join in the Elf on the Shelf phenomenon?
Involving your children in the Elf on the Shelf tradition does not only make it more of an engaging process but also contributes to the creation of long-lasting memories. Although the general rule is that the kids should not touch the elf (otherwise, he will lose his magic), there are always many ways to make kids a part of the play.
Some of them are:
- Letter Writing: Ask your children to write to the elf and query about the answers, or tell them what they want in the holidays. The morning after, the elf can reply by a note5.
- Handicrafts to the Elf: allow your children to create some little crafts or ornaments to enable the elf in his adventures.
- Elf Pet: It is time to see your children make a pet or a friend of the elf by the use of toys/ craft materials.
- Scavenger Hunts: Make a simple scavenger hunt that has comfort hints by the elf who would open to a small gift or surprise.
- Good Deeds of Elf: Teach the kid to do good using the help of the elf, such as leaving the note telling the kids to assist with the chores or create a card to the person they adore.
When you include your kids in the tradition, you will enhance the tradition and help your children bond with the family. It also relieves some of the responsibility when it comes to your shoulders to think of something new every night.
What in case I forget to move the Elf or just end up out of ideas?
Even the most disciplined parents forget to relocate the elf or run out of the innovative ideas. The positive thing is that you are not the only one, and there are enough means to live through these moments without damaging the magic.
Should you forget to move the elf, you may:
- Suppose the elf had just taken the excursion to the North Pole and needed to have some more rest.
- Tell them that the elf enjoyed his place so much that he wanted to spend an additional day there.
- Delay the elf on his/her way back, blaming it on bad weather at the North Pole.
If you run out of ideas, keep a list of easy elf on the shelf ideas handy or use a planning calendar to stay organized. It is good to know that numerous websites provide free printable checklists and calendars so you can plan in advance.
It is important to keep in mind that one should enjoy oneself and make pleasant memories. Perfection is not necessary, your children will think of the humor and fun, and not whether or not the setup of the elf was worthy of a magazine cover.
Conclusion
Elf on the Shelf tradition possesses good ideas to establish the Christmas holidays in the air of magic and fun. With a little creativity and some easy elf on the shelf ideas, you can keep the fun going without adding stress to your busy schedule. Remember that have fun and spend a good time with your family is the most important thing! It may be your elf swings on a toilet roll or you take a marshmallow bath, but the magic is in the smiles and laughs you can bring to every morning.
FAQ’s
1. Which are the simplest elf on the shelf activities that can fit busy parents?
The simplest ones are hiding the elf in a cup, a tissue box, or a marshmallow bath, which can be assembled in a couple of minutes.
2. What can I do to make the elf on the shelf enjoyable without spending anything?
Creative setups should be done using common household materials such as toilet paper, cups and toys. Free crafts and printable also make it even more fun without incurring added fees.
3. In the case I forget to move the elf, what should I do?
Explain to your children that the elf had to take additional rest, or there were poor weather conditions at the North Pole. Children will be able to appreciate the tradition and like it.
4. My children are too young to be part of the Elf on the Shelf. How do I make them involved?
They can write letters to the elf, craft, or assist in scene staging (nothing to do with the elf itself). This enhances the interactivity of the tradition.
5. Where can I find more easy elf on the shelf ideas?
Many parenting blogs and holiday websites offer lists, printable calendars, and daily inspiration for easy elf on the shelf ideas.
