If you’re wanting to start a new Elf on the Shelf® Christmas tradition, or you’re looking for new inspiration, we’ve found 10 great ideas that the kids will love.
The Elf on the Shelf tradition is based on a special Scout Elf being sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists. Once you adopt and name your Elf it gets magic powers that enables it to travel to the North Pole each night to update Santa on the days events. Upon return to your home your Elf finds a fun new place to spend the day.
It’s up to you how you want to use your Elf – you can use it to monitor naughty and nice behaviour or simply add some fun to the run up to Christmas.
Elf on the Shelf inspiration
December is a busy month for us here in New Zealand with the end of the school year and all the events associated with that, plus Christmas and summer holiday planning, and hopefully some social catch ups thrown into the mix.
So while the Elf on the Shelf tradition is fun, it can also be tricky coming up with a new idea each day. That’s why we have come up with 10 Elf of the Shelf set ups – they are simple, practical, and quick to create, but super fun and effective.
You can check out the official Elf on the Shelf website here.
1. Swinging Elf
Some string or ribbon along with a candy cane can quickly be turned into an elf swing.
2. Climbing Elf
If you have some self- adhesive gift bows, or buttons and double sided tape, you can create a climbing wall for your cheeky elf.
Photo credit: elfontheshelf.com.au
3. Toilet paper Elf
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What kid doesn’t love a bit of toilet (paper) humour! Make a loo roll snowman and decorate if you have the energy! Unroll the toilet paper when you are using the pens as they can soak right into the roll.
4. More toilet humour
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Take toilet humour to the next level with some peas!
5. Candy Cane Hunt
Hide three (or however many you are happy with) candy canes for each child – download and print this note and leave it somewhere with your Elf.
You might like to name each candy cane so you can hide at different levels of difficulty, depending on the child’s hunting skills.
6. Santa Stop Here
Print out this Santa Stop Here poster, roll up and tie with a ribbon and tuck it under your Elf’s arm then help the children put it on the front door, letter box or fence.
7. Tall Elf
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Stand your Elf with each leg in a roll of Christmas wrapping paper. Gosh he grew a lot overnight!
8. Sticker elf
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Raid the kids art supplies and cover your Elf in stickers – oops!
9. Toilet paper tree
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Kids just can’t get enough of toilet jokes! This time your cheeky Elf has wrapped the tree with it. If you are short of time you could replace the tree topper with a toilet roll and pop the Elf in the tree next to it.
10. Elf snow angel
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Quick and easy. Pop some flour, icing sugar, or cornflour on the bench and make a snow angel with the Elf’s arms and legs.
9. Toilet paper tree elf
View this post on Instagram
Kids just can’t get enough of toilet jokes! This time your cheeky Elf has wrapped the tree with it. If you are short of time you could replace the tree topper with a toilet roll and pop the Elf in the tree next to it.
10. Elf snow angel
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Quick and easy. Pop some flour, icing sugar, or cornflour on the bench and made a snow angel with the Elf’s arms and legs.
Written by Robyn
Robyn creates content on Kidspot NZ. Her hobbies include buying cleaning products and wondering why things don’t then clean themselves, eating cheese scones with her friends, and taking her kids to appointments.
Favourite motto to live by: “This too will pass”
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