Quick and easy Elf on the Shelf ideas for Christmas
While having an Elf visit during December can be a fun Christmas activity for your kids, coming up with new Elf on the Shelf ideas every night can quickly feel like another job on your Christmas to-do list.
The good news is that your Elf doesn’t need an elaborate setup every night. With a little planning and a few simple props, you can create fun scenes without spending a lot of time moving your Elf after your children have gone to bed.
In this post you’ll find some Elf on the Shelf ideas that are simple to set up, and that use everyday items you may already have at home.
You’ll also discover quick Elf on the Shelf ideas for evenings when you’re short on time, or have simply forgotten to move your Elf.
Along the way, you’ll find practical tips to make this activity easier, including how to choose dates, plan your ideas in advance, set reminders, and keep a few emergency ideas ready.
There’s also a selection for Elf props that can help you create some of these ideas if you want to add a little extra fun.
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How to make Elf on the Shelf easier
With a little preparation Elf on the Shelf can be a fun part of Christmas for the whole family, and can even make family organisation easier during this busy time.
Here are a few things you can do to make this Christmas activity easier.
Choose your start and end date
Traditionally the Elf arrives on December 1st and leaves on Christmas Eve, but you don’t have to follow this schedule.
Your Elf could arrive a few days later or leave a little earlier, maybe due to your Elf being delayed by a snowstorm, or needing to return to the North Pole to help Santa prepare for Christmas.
Choose the dates that work for your family, and most importantly dates that you know you can manage.
Create a calendar
One of the easiest ways to make your Elf routine less stressful is to plan your Elf on the Shelf ideas in advance.
To do this write down an idea for each night your Elf will be visiting, and keep the list somewhere easy to find.
You can then gather the props you need ahead of time, instead of trying to come up with something at 10pm.
You could also add your Elf plans to your Christmas planner or Christmas to-do list, alongside the rest of your Christmas preparations.
Set a reminder
Add a recurring reminder to your phone or Christmas planner to move your Elf each evening.
Have a few emergency ideas ready
There may be evenings when you forget to move your Elf, or you simply don’t have the time or energy to move it.
When this happens having a few quick Elf on the Shelf ideas up your sleeve really helps, and sometimes just moving the Elf to a new spot, putting it inside a cupboard, or placing it next to a book is enough.
You may also like to have a few excuses ready for when your Elf doesn’t move. For example, perhaps the Elf was too tired after its journey from the North Pole to move, or it had an important job to do overnight.
Elf on the shelf Ideas
Here are some easy Elf on the Shelf ideas that you can try.
Hide and seek Elf
Hide your Elf behind some toys, inside a drawer, or placed somewhere your children visit regularly.
Trapped Elf
Place your Elf between some blinds so it looks like it’s trapped.
Falling Elf
Place your Elf at the bottom of the stairs and add something near it to show what caused its fall, like a toy skateboard.
Climbing Elf
Position your Elf as though it is climbing a wall, cupboard, or piece of furniture.
Acrobatic Elf
Hang your Elf somewhere so it looks like it is practising its acrobatic skills.
Dancing Elf
Put your Elf in a dancing pose and surround it with a few toys as an audience.
Singing Elf
Place your Elf next to a radio or speaker.
Baker Elf
Put your Elf in a bowl with baking ingredients inside it or next to a few cupcakes, so it looks like it’s been busy baking.
Biscuit loving Elf
Break up a biscuit and place a few crumbs around your Elf to make it look like it’s been enjoying a late night snack.
Candy loving Elf
Place a few sweets around your Elf so it looks like it’s been helping itself to Christmas treats.
Breakfast Elf
Cut a small opening in an empty cereal box and position your Elf as though it has climbed inside.
Gamer Elf
Sit your Elf next to a games console or controller so it looks like it’s been playing games during the night.
Den building Elf
Make a small den from cushions or blankets and place your Elf inside.
Knitting Elf
Put your Elf next to some wool and knitting needles, or simply surround it with balls of wool.
Paper snowflake Elf
Give your Elf some paper and child-safe scissors and place a paper snowflake nearby.
Board game Elf
Set up a board or card game and put your Elf next to it so it looks like it’s waiting for someone to play with it.
Decorating Elf
Place your Elf next to your Christmas tree, or on top of a pile of Christmas baubles ready to help decorate your home for Christmas.
Gift wrapping Elf
Put your Elf next to some wrapping paper, ribbon, and a gift as though it has been helping with the Christmas wrapping.
Christmas card Elf
Give your Elf a pen and place it next to a Christmas card as though it has been writing Christmas messages. You may even like to start to write a message so it looks like your Elf can write.
Shopping Elf
Place your Elf inside an empty delivery box as though it has been doing some Christmas shopping.
Sleepy Elf
Tuck your Elf into your child’s bed, or in a small blanket so it looks like it’s sleeping.
Creative Elf
Surround your Elf with paper, pens and colouring supplies so it looks like it’s creating Christmas artwork.
Toilet roll Elf
Place your Elf amongst toilet rolls, or have it peeking out from behind them.
Accident prone Elf
Put a couple of plasters on your Elf so it looks like it’s had a little accident.
Chilled out Elf
Lay your Elf down on a small blanket or towel and place its hands behind its head like it’s relaxing.
Bath loving Elf
Place your Elf in a bathroom setting so it looks like it has been having a self care session.
Snowball fight Elf
Use white pom poms or cotton balls to create a pretend snowball fight between your Elf and another toy.
Present loving Elf
Place your Elf on top of a Christmas present, or peeking out of a gift bag.
Book loving Elf
Put your Elf next to an open book as though it has been reading.
Pilot Elf
Place your Elf in a toy plane or hot air balloon to create a flying scene.
Sack racing Elf
Put your Elf and a few toys into paper bags and line them up for a pretend sack race.
Secret message Elf
Use pasta, buttons or small pieces of paper to create a simple message for your children to discover.
Tea party Elf
Set up a small tea party with your Elf and some of your children’s favourite toys.
Soft play Elf
Fill a bowl or container with pom poms and place your Elf inside so it looks like it’s enjoying its own mini soft-play area.
Movie night Elf
Put your Elf on the sofa with some popcorn and a favourite Christmas film ready for a late night movie.
Tooth brushing Elf
Place your Elf in the bathroom with a toothbrush and toothpaste so it looks like it’s getting ready for bed.
Camping Elf
Create a tiny camping scene using a toy tent, small sleeping bag and campfire.
Car driving Elf
Put your Elf inside one of your children’s toy cars and position it as though it is off on an adventure.
Gardening Elf
Place your Elf next to some houseplants or flower pots.
Fishing Elf
Create a simple fishing scene using string and a small toy or piece of paper as the fish.
Tyre swinging Elf
If you have a toy swing or tyre, place your Elf inside it for a simple swinging scene.
Sledding Elf
Place your Elf on a toy sled or another suitable object and position it on a safe incline.
Elf props to make these ideas easier
Here are some Elf props that will help you create these Elf on the Shelf ideas.
Elf on the Shelf ideas – a recap
Elf on the Shelf can be a fun Christmas activity, but it doesn’t need to become another source of stress during an already busy December.
Choosing dates that work for your family, planning easy Elf on the Shelf ideas in advance, and setting a reminder so you don’t forget to move your Elf all make this activity easier.
Having a few quick Elf on the Shelf ideas ready for busy evenings can also take the pressure off.
You don’t need an elaborate setup every night, sometimes moving your Elf to a new spot, or placing it next to a book is more than enough.
The ideas in this post are designed to give you plenty of inspiration without requiring lots of time, money or preparation. Choose the ideas that suit your family, and ignore anything that feels like too much effort.
Most importantly, don’t worry about creating the perfect Elf scene every night. Your children are likely to remember the excitement of discovering their Elf far more than how elaborate each setup was.
So keep your Elf on the Shelf ideas simple, have a few favourites ready to go, and give yourself permission to skip a night when needed.
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What’s your go to Elf on the Shelf idea when you’re short on time?
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