Elf on the Shelf doesn’t have to mean late-night panic. With just a few household supplies and less than 5 minutes a night, you can set up fun, unique elf scenes that keep the magic alive all December long.
This day-by-day guide gives you 25 easy Elf on the Shelf ideas. There is one for each day from arrival to farewell. These easy Elf on the Shelf ideas are simple, fresh, and use things you already have around the house.
Pro tip: Set a nightly elf phone reminder! It’s the single easiest way to avoid forgetting.
25 Easy Elf On The Shelf Ideas For Busy Parents (One For Every Day!)
Day 1 – Special Delivery Arrival
Supplies: Reused shipping box, crumpled paper/bubble wrap, marker
Place your elf inside a box labeled “Special Delivery from the North Pole.” Kids will love the idea that Santa shipped them straight in!
Find a free printable arrival note to use from your elf here! >>
Day 2 – Sweet Tooth Elf
Supplies: Syrup bottle, straw
Pop a straw into the syrup bottle and set your elf up like they’re sipping breakfast straight from the source.
Day 3 – Sticky Note Explosion
Supplies: Sticky notes, pen
Cover the bathroom mirror with notes like “Brush with magic!” or “Santa’s watching!” Put the elf nearby holding the pen.
Day 4 – Naptime
Supplies: Tissue box, tissue, cotton balls
Tuck your elf into an empty tissue box or any cozy little spot, using a tissue as a blanket and cotton balls as a pillow. Instant nap spot.
Day 5 – Campfire Elf
Supplies: Toothpick, mini marshmallow, candle (unlit)
Prop your elf with a marshmallow on a toothpick beside an unlit candle for a cute indoor campfire scene.
Day 6 – Pizza Time
Supplies: Pizza pan, dominoes, paper note
Arrange dominoes on a pizza pan and leave a note from your elf saying, ‘I ordered you a Domino’s pizza!’
Day 7 – Piggyback Ride
Supplies: Stuffed animal, ribbon/rubber band
Strap the elf onto a stuffed animal’s back with a ribbon or rubber band.
Day 8 – Candy Cane Fishing
Supplies: Candy cane, bowl, goldfish crackers/marshmallows
Set up your elf fishing with a candy cane “rod” in a bowl of snacks.
Day 9 – Taco Tuesday
Supplies: Flour tortilla, toothpick, note
Wrap your elf in a flour tortilla. Make it Taco Tuesday!
Day 10 – Toilet Paper Mischief
Supplies: Toilet paper, marker
Wrap your elf in a few rounds of toilet paper, covering their hands over their face. On the roll, write a silly note like, ‘Jingle bells, your poop smells!’ or “Oops! Got caught in the rolls!” and place it on the back of the toilet for laughs.
Related: What’s Your Funny Elf Name?
Day 11 – Storytime Setup
Supplies: Christmas picture books, stuffed animals
Open books and prop the elf up as if they’re reading to a small circle of stuffed animals.
For a full set of done-for-you elf notes, see my shop here>> *And use the code ELF for 20% off!
Day 12 – Kitchen Whisk Trap (Or Ride!)
Supplies: Whisk
Tuck the elf inside a whisk with just their face peeking out. Looks like they got caught in the kitchen tools!
Day 13 – Hide & Seek
*A fun choice on a day when your kids aren’t rushing out the door.
Supplies: Printable Elf on the Shelf scavenger cards
Tuck your elf in a sneaky spot and leave clue cards for the kids to find them.
Day 14 – Shoe Train
Supplies: Shoes
Line up sneakers or boots into a “train” and have the elf riding in the front shoe.
Day 15 – Cookie Thief
Supplies: Plate of cookies, crumbs
Set your elf next to a plate of cookies with a crumb on their face and one cookie missing a bite.
Day 16 – Marshmallow Bubble Bath
Supplies: Bowl, mini marshmallows
Fill a mixing bowl with mini marshmallows and set the elf inside like it’s a bubble bath.
Day 17 – Elf Kiss
Supplies: Aluminum foil, paper strip, Hershey’s Kisses (optional)
Wrap your elf in aluminum foil so they look like a giant Hershey’s Kiss, and add a little paper “Kisses” flag sticking out the top. Scatter a few Hershey’s Kisses around for the kids to find as a sweet surprise.
Day 18 – Sunny Day Elf
Supplies: Small towel, lamp, sunglasses, sunscreen (optional)
Lay your elf on a small towel under a lamp, add sunglasses if you have them, and place a bottle of sunscreen nearby. He’s all set for a cozy indoor beach day!
Day 19 – Elf Toy Drive
Supplies: Basket, sign
Hang your elf from the Christmas tree with a big basket below. Add a sign that says: “You have to give to get! Fill this basket with toys you no longer play with, and I’ll deliver them to the North Pole for other kids.”
Day 20 – Tic Tac Toe
Supplies: Painter’s tape, bows (or small items)
Use painter’s tape and bows to play a friendly game of tic-tac-toe with your elf! Masking tape and marshmallows on a table work well, too.
Day 21 – Egg-cellent Joke
Supplies: Plate, cracked egg, paper note
What did one snowman say to the other snowman?
Do you smell carrots?
Sit your elf in the fridge next to a broken egg on a plate. Add a little note from the elf that says, “I told this egg a joke… and it cracked up!”
Use reindeer jokes, or funny Christmas knock knock jokes.
Day 22 – Board Game Bandit
Supplies: Any board game
Set up a board game (like Connect 4, Jenga, or Candy Land) mid-play and have the elf “competing” against another toy.
Day 23 – Stocking Surprise
Supplies: Christmas stocking
Slip the elf halfway into a Christmas stocking like they were sneaking a peek at gifts.
Day 24 – Wrapping Paper Mayhem
Supplies: Wrapping paper, tape, scissors
Roll out a bit of wrapping paper on the floor, tape it to the elf’s hands, and surround with scissors and tape.
Day 25 – Magical Farewell
Supplies: Cotton balls/tissue paper, paper note
Place the elf near a window or on the tree with a note saying, “I’m flying back to the North Pole! See you next year!” Add cotton balls or tissue paper around as “snow” to make it look magical.
Bonus Day- Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Activity Props
Enter your email below to grab this free Elf on the Shelf photo booth props printable to use for more free and fun easy elf on the shelf ideas!
To grab all of the printable props and ideas, see the digital shop here>>>
Have a holiday family game night! Set your elf next to a …
What’s Next?
Have fun making memories with your kids this holiday season!
Don’t forget to save these easy Elf on the Shelf ideas on Pinterest for later!
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