75+ Best Elf on the Shelf Ideas of 2023 - I Heart Naptime (2024)

75 fun easy Elf on the Shelf ideas for a memorable Christmas, including last-minute clever ideas the kids will love.

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What is Elf on the Shelf?

In 2005, Carol Aebersold published a book titled, The Elf on the Shelf, and so the tradition began! Scout Elf usually arrives at the house on December 1st (some families choose to have theirs arrive the day after Thanksgiving).

This mischievous little elf serves as Santa’s eyes and ears, reporting back to the North Pole each night about who’s been naughty or nice. When the elf comes back in the morning he will move to a new spot, waiting for the children to find him.

If you’ve never done Elf on the Shelf, you can order your own kit on Amazon (affiliate link).

Once you get your elf, the first thing you’ll want to do is name him or her. Here’s a printable with 50 Elf Names and a certificate you can download.

Planning Calendar and Checklist

Download this free planning checklist and calendar HERE to help keep you organized with all your ideas for the month. I like to plan it all at once and then keep the supplies hidden in a box, so it’s all ready to go each night.

Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Arrival

Elf Pancakes

These Elf on The Shelf pancakes are a fun way to welcome the Elf on the first day he arrives. The perfect way to add a little sparkle to their mornings during the holiday season. These reindeer pancakes would also be a fun surprise.

Healthy Breakfast Idea

If you’re looking for a healthier option, I love this idea to decorate hard boiled eggs. You could serve it with some fresh fruit.

Arrival Party

If you are feeling extra creative you here’s another idea for the arrival breakfast. This will definitely start the holidays off with a bang!

Hot cocoa party

He’s traveled quite a long way to spend the holiday season with you, so have the kids help you plan a welcome hot cocoa party. You could make crockpot hot chocolate or white hot chocolate and a hot chocolate charcuterie board if you want to get fancy.

Elf notes

These free printable elf notes are so fun and easy! Your kids will love waking up to find a special note just for them from their Elf.

Official Elf Name Poem

Wondering how to introduce (and name!) your elf? Let your kids help with this cute free printable poem.

Marshmallow Snowman

Have your Elf build a snowman out of marshmallows or have him set up a snowball fight using the mini marshmallows. This always make a fun welcome!

More Elf Ideas

Once you’ve welcomed your Elf to the family and given him a name, it’s time to create some magic during the Christmas season. Here are some of our favorite elf ideas.

Train Ride

Hiding the elf on a train is a great place and so much fun for the kids! Your little elf will fit so nicely inside of your toy train.

Making Snowflakes

Who doesn’t like snowflakes? Here’s a great idea that will lead to a fun family activity with your favorite elf!

Broken Leg

If you want your Elf to stay put for a few days so he can get a better, this kit from Amazon is a great way to take a pause and let him heal.

Animal Sleigh

Drape some string over some toy animals to create this fun animal sleigh.

Snowy Package

This is a great way to start off your elf on the shelf season! I love the snow.

Baking Cookies

Craving some sweets? Place your elf next to some cookie ingredients to create a fun and yummy activity with your little ones! Your family would love these , Christmas sugar cookies and molasses cookies.

Play a Card Game

Your kiddo will love waking up to find their favorite elf playing Uno. They will want to play too!

Peppermint Dropping

Here’s a funny one! This can even be a great way to promote potty training.

Crockpot Hot Tub

How fun is this?! Just fill a crockpot with marshmallows and you’ve created an elf hot tub!

Christmas count down

We all get a little impatient waiting for Christmas to arrive, so give your little ones a visual of when the big day is with this mini countdown paper chain.

Elf Kisses Printable

Turn regular Hershey’s Kisses into something magical with this fun free printable.

Zip lining

A twine string, some clothespins and a bit of creativity is all you need to recreate this fun zip lining elves scene.

Rolling down the stairs

This little guy is known to get himself into some hilarious hijinks, like rolling down the stairs in a toilet paper roll.

Toilet paper snow man

Here’s another brilliant toilet paper idea! If your children are Frozen fans, they’ll love the elf asking “do you wanna build a snowman?”

Getting a drink of water

This is one of the easiest ideas! Imagine the delight your child will feel when they find the Elf getting a glass of water to drink.

Swinging from a toilet paper roll

Your child is practically guaranteed to have a great start to their day once they see this swing made from a toilet paper roll.

More Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas

It doesn’t have to be complicated. One of my kids favorite placed they found elf was hiding in a blender. Love some of these more creative plans to create a little bit of magic.

Hiding in a Cup

One of the easiest ideas is to put the elf in a glass cup up on the kitchen shelf. Requires zero effort.

Elf taking a shower

If you need a way to convince your kids to bathe, let them see their new friend enjoying the shower. Simply wrap a small piece of fabric on the elf for the towel.

Sneaking a Hershey kiss

Don’t forget to set aside a few treats so your new friend can be found eating some chocolate.

Super elf

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…super elf! Make a little super hero cape for this fun idea.

Mini Pancakes

Pancake breakfasts just got even more fun thanks to these elf-sized mini pancakes!

Banana minions

Here’s another Elf on the Shelf idea. Simply have him color minions onto bananas with a black sharpie. Idea from California Unpublished.

Elf on the Shelf in Bed

A box of tissues makes a perfect sized bed—don’t forget to give him something to cuddle too.

In a bath of marshmallows

Fair warning…your children might be jealous of this awesome marshmallow bath!

Fishing for gold fish

Most parents have an abundance of goldfish crackers lying around. Put them to good use with this Elf on the Shelf fishing idea!

Magic elf seeds

The magic of the season will show when you plant “magic elf seeds” and watch them grow into cookies.

Taking a drink of syrup

Your kids will love watching him enjoy drinking his favorite drink – syrup! Don’t forget, it’s one of the four major elf food groups after all.

Roasting marshmallows

Roasting snowman marshmallows by the fireplace and enjoying a ride on a tire swing are both brilliant ideas to add to your list.

Playing connect four

I love this cute idea of playing a game like Connect Four, especially when you involve another beloved doll or stuffed animal.

Wrapped up in the fridge

Here’s a fun idea–hide the elf inside your fridge with a dish towel.

Playing with walkie talkies

Operation Elf on the Shelf is a GO this year. If you don’t already have a walkie talkie, grab an inexpensive one to serve as a bonus Christmas gift.

Swinging from candy canes

It’s likely that you’ll have an abundance of candy canes around – use one of them to put on a fun circus elf performance.

Kissing booth

This Elf “kissing booth” is too cute, especially with this free printable.

Brushing teeth

Most of us could use all the help we can get with encouraging good dental hygiene. Let the elf help encourage brushing for you!

Scavenger hunt

Do a Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt…it’s practically guaranteed to entertain the kids!

Fruit loop chain

Fruit Loops are the perfect size for the elf to make a garland for the Christmas tree.

Elf on the shelf doing laundry

We could all use a bit of encouragement when it comes to doing laundry—the elf makes it look almost effortless.

Sunbathing

This is such a cute idea – I love the little Elf Illustrated magazine he’s enjoying while sunbathing.

Snowball fight

Put those LEGOS to good use with a fun middle-of-the-night snowball fight.

Spelling with cereal

Spell out your child’s name in alphabet cereal and let the elf blame the mess on your kids!

Searching through catalogs

Your children won’t be the only ones pouring over the catalogs and newspaper inserts this year with this cute idea.

Sending a letter to Santa

Grab a tablet and set it out so an email can be sent to Santa with updates.

Funny Elf on the Shelf Ideas

If you’re looking for some funny elf ideas, we’ve got you covered. These are a little more mischievous. Sometimes my husband likes to have him do pranks throughout the house. The kids get a real kick out of it!

Wrapped Toilet in Bathroom

This night the elves wrapped the bathroom toilet in wrapping paper. You could also do this on the sink. It may not be the best for when your family is in a hurry, but surely a fun prank.

Snowball Fight

Stack up some marshmallows and create a snowball fight with a toy friend.

Sledding on the staircase

Need another use for all those tupperware lids? Why not let the elf take a sledding ride.

Elf wrapped in lights

If you need to rope your kids into helping string lights, let the elf show you how it’s done.

Frozen by Queen Elsa

This cute idea from Staci Mcneil shows another fun way to get Elsa from Frozen involved. Stick him in a cup or jar with water and set him out early in the morning.

Toilet papering the tree

Oops! Your Christmas tree just got TP-ed by that naughty elf!

Angry bird game

Everyone loves a good game of angry birds…even Christmas elves!

Snow angels with flour

If you’re looking for an inexpensive activity for the elf to participate in, try making snow angels in flour on the countertop.

Morning shave

Elves need to shave too—set this up for your kids to find in the morning!

Trapped elf

A good rescue mission might be in order here. Set the scene with some army figurines and blue painting tape.

Mischievous tricks

Drawing on this family photo with dry erase marker is certainly one of the elf’s more mischievous tricks.

Eating spaghetti

Buddy was right…this IS a fantastic way to eat spaghetti. :)

Dipping cookies in milk

Milk and cookies can be a fun (and messy treat) for the elf to enjoy while everyone is asleep.

Movie time

Everyone loves watching Christmas movies, especially the elf on a shelf!

Sick elf on the shelf

If your little one catches a cold, help him or her to take their medication easier by sharing with their sick elf friend.

Rudolph noses

Here’s another fun way to dress up a family photo…with Rudolph-style noses!

Eating m&m’s

Ooops! Your new friend just got caught eating a bag of m&m’s.

Elf on the shelf ideas for service

Help Elf promote good deeds around your home and to help your kids remember the reason for the season.

Kindness elf

I love this idea where the Elf brings 30 days of kindness for your family to do for one another.

Baby in a manger

This is one of my favorite ideas—I love how the elf is joining in with the adoration of baby Jesus in the manger.

Good deed cards

Help your kids do good deeds around the house with these little cards.

Letter from Santa

I love the way she explains the relationship between Jesus, Santa, and the elf in this letter.

Heading back to the North Pole

Whenever it’s time for the elf to head back to the north pole make sure he has packed all his gear appropriately.

More Christmas Ideas

• Elf on the shelf coloring pages
• 101 handmade Christmas ideas
• 20 BEST Christmas cookies
• All my favorite Christmas Recipes

So let’s hear it… does an Elf come to your home? What’s his/her name?