The Elf on the Shelf has become a beloved Christmas tradition in many households.
For those not familiar, the elf is a scout sent from the North Pole to watch over children in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Each night, the elf flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa if the kids have been naughty or nice.
In the morning, the elf returns and appears in a different spot in the house, creating excitement and fun for the whole family.
Parents love moving the elf to a new location each night and seeing the joy on their children’s faces each morning searching for where the scout elf is hiding next.
But coming up with new ideas every day for where to place the elf can become challenging.
That’s why I’ve put together this list of 13 awesome Elf on the Shelf ideas to delight your kids this holiday season.
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Elf Bath Time
The first Elf on the Shelf idea on our list is elf bath time!
This playful scenario will make your kids laugh and wonder what exactly their sneaky scout elf was up to during the night.
To set up this idea, place your elf in a shallow container like a bathroom sink, kitchen sink, plastic container, or even a Barbie doll bath.
Fill the container with shredded paper, cotton balls, or fake snow to resemble bubbles in a bath.
Go the extra mile by adding toy bath accessories like rubber duckies, bath squirties, or soaps.
For added fun, use props to make it look like the elf had a bubbly bath adventure.
Put a shower cap on the elf or wrap them in a toy towel.
You can even dampen the ends of the elf’s hat with just a bit of water so it appears wet.
Setting up this amusing bathtime scene will spark smiles and giggles from your kids.
The silliness of seeing their proper scout elf in a makeshift bubble bath will get their day started on a joyful note.
This playful idea also allows you to get creative with whatever bath-themed accessories or containers you have on hand.
Camping Elf
What better way for an elf to experience the human world than by going camping?
This fun scenario will transport your scout elf from the North Pole to the great outdoors.
Start by setting up a small toy camping tent.
Place your elf inside along with tiny toy camping gear like a sleeping bag, lantern, and cooking supplies.
For added realism, surround the tent with a “campfire” made from red and orange tissue paper.
You can also have the elf roasting a marshmallow over the fire.
To make a marshmallow stick, cut a twig from outside and poke a large marshmallow onto the tip.
Place the stick in the elf’s hand.
Top it off by putting a miniature graham cracker and piece of chocolate in his other hand to look like the perfect s’more ingredients!
For more outdoor adventure, have the elf fishing in a blue stream.
Use aluminum foil to shape a river and put a paper clip hook baited with a small scrap of paper on the end of the elf’s fishing pole.
Get creative with the camping props to tell a fun story of your elf’s outdoor explorations.
When your kids wake up to see the elf camping, it will spark their imagination about the places their magical friend visited overnight.
The toy camping gear and outdoor details will provide plenty for them to explore and talk about all morning.
Exercise Elf
Get your Elf on the Shelf in shape for the holiday season with this active exercise idea!
Use sports equipment and gym accessories to create a funny scene of your elf breaking a sweat.
Start by having the elf wear exercise clothes, like a tiny tracksuit or shirt with athletic shorts.
Then place the elf on a treadmill made from a rectangular scrapbook paper ramp elevated at an angle.
To make it look like the elf is walking on the treadmill, adhere small footstep stickers along the belt area.
For strength training, use rubber bands to strap tiny dumbbells made from beads or earrings into the elf’s hands.
You can even have him lifting cotton ball barbells!
Set up a makeshift bench press with pencils for the bar and mini marshmallow weights on each end.
Don’t forget hydration!
Place water bottle cap “water bottles” and a hand towel near the elf for your mini gym.
Write motivational phrases like “You got this!” on index cards for a fun, encouraging workout scene.
Seeing the elf breaking a sweat and getting pumped up for the holidays will give your kids a good laugh.
All the creative exercise props will keep them entertained as they inspect how you brought the idea to life.
The elf may even inspire your little ones to do their own workouts!
North Pole Post Office
Bring the magic of the North Pole right into your home by turning your elf into a postal worker!
Use a small cardboard box to create a post office for your little scout.
Start by transforming the box into a mini post office using craft supplies.
Paint or decorate the box like a festive building.
Add details like windows, a mail slot, and signage for the “North Pole Post Office.” You can even decorate the inside of the box to look like a workshop.
Then place your elf inside dressed up as a postal worker.
Make a mini mail carrier uniform by cutting down a paper lunch bag to fit the elf.
Use fabric scraps, construction paper, or felt to make a shirt, postal vest, hat, and mail bag.
Fill the mail bag with small scrolls made from paper to look like letters to Santa.
Have some scrolls sticking out of the mail slot as if they are letters just dropped off.
Place a stack of empty scrolls beside the elf to represent letters ready for delivery.
For extra fun, attach a string to gift boxes placed around your home so it looks like the elf is delivering presents by zip line!
This playful postal service scene will capture your children’s imaginations and highlight the importance of writing letters to Santa this season.
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Snow Day
What do scout elves do when snow falls at the North Pole?
They play of course!
Set up a fun snow day scene to spark smiles from your kids.
Use white pom poms, fake snowflakes, or shredded paper to create mounds of “snow” on a table or under your Christmas tree.
Place your elf and mini toy sleds, snowboards, and skis in the winter wonderland you built.
Get creative with the snow gear and activities.
Have the elf wearing goggles and an icy blue scarf while sledding down a hill of “snow.”
Or put mittens on the elf and place a snowball in its hand ready for a snowball fight.
Your elf can even be catching snowflakes on their tongue or building a tiny snowman.
Add in more seasonal details like evergreen trees made from clippings off your Christmas tree.
Accessorize with pine cones, sticks, and red winter berries.
The wintery ambience will complement the elf’s magical frosty adventures.
When your child comes downstairs to see the elf playing in fresh snow, it will pique their senses and curiosity.
They’ll eagerly inspect all the handmade details you crafted to envision the elf’s chilly escapades.
This picturesque idea captures childhood wonder and the playfulness of the season.
Gingerbread House
For a sweet twist, have your elf get in the holiday spirit by building their very own gingerbread house!
All you need is a classic cardboard gingerbread house kit and mini candy decorations.
Construct the basic gingerbread house, then place your elf inside decorating away.
Use dots of icing made with Elmer’s glue to adhere candy decor like gumdrops, m&ms, jelly beans, and peppermints along the roof and walls.
You can accessorize the scene in all sorts of creative ways.
Have the elf wear a baker’s hat and apron while they work.
Set out mini utensils like a spatula, spoon, and piping bag.
Position the elf on a ladder reaching to decorate a high spot on the roof.
For an extra playful touch, decorate the yard too!
Use crushed graham crackers or cookies to make a mini walkway.
Sprinkle powdered sugar or coconut flakes in the surrounding area for snow.
Your kids will have so much fun looking at all the sweet details.
Seeing your scout elf hard at work frosting and decorating their own gingerbread cottage will fill your children with glee.
They’ll love studying all the tiny candy decorations and accessories that bring the sugar-filled scene to life.
This delectable idea is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth!
Movie Night
Get those reinsdeer popcorn buckets ready, because its movie night for your Elf on the Shelf!
Set up an at-home cinema scene that will have your kids eager to snuggle in and watch a flick with your scout elf.
Start by creating a cozy movie watching area for the elf.
Use books or boxes to build a mini couch and side tables.
Make a TV stand from lego blocks or cardboard and top with a phone or tablet displaying a holiday movie.
Place a tiny string of twinkle lights overhead for ambience.
Have your elf lounging on the couch in pajamas and fuzzy slippers to get comfy.
Give them a micro-sized bowl of popcorn and box of candy to enjoy their movie night snack.
You can even pose the elf holding a mini DVD case of their favorite holiday film.
To take it up a notch, make signs that list movie showtimes to post around the elf’s cinema scene.
Print mini “movie tickets” and place them near the elf.
Your children will love exploring all the imaginative movie details.
The scene provides the perfect opportunity for a fun movie night with the whole family!
Playing in the Tree
Bring the excitement up close by having your scout elf play in the branches of your family Christmas tree!
Use clear thread or lightweight string to suspend your elf ornament-style within the tree.
Make it look like he’s swinging, sliding, climbing, and playing among the pine needles just like kids love to do.
You can have the elf peeking playfully through branches or dangling legs akimbo down a bough.
For added tree play, set up fun scenes on branches near the elf.
Use a paper cone to make a tiny tinseled tree slide.
Have the elf swinging on a star decoration or climbing pine cones and beads garlands.
Surround the base of the tree with toy gifts, ornament balls, and mini candy canes to give the illusion of the elf frolicking and playing tricks among the trimmings.
Your kids will be eager to check every ornament, branch, and decoration for traces of the silly elf’s antics.
Seeing the elf suspended life-like on a branch and playing gleefully in the tree will captivate your little ones.
It brings the magic front and center to your family’s holiday focal point in a new way.
This up close and personal setup is sure to provide many smiles and laughs.
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Climbing the Cabinets
Bring some spirited mischief to your kitchen by having your elf scale the kitchen cabinets!
Use clear sticky tack to attach the elf at various climbing points on your cabinet doors.
Make it look as if he’s rappelling up the cabinets Mission Impossible style.
You can have the elf hanging by one hand halfway up or perched triumphantly at the top by the ceiling.
For an added touch of silliness, attach a thread harness and grappling hook to your daredevil elf.
Leave small footstep stickers trailing up the cabinet doors marking the elf’s path.
For extra giggles, place an open box of cereal or snacks by the elf so it appears he was caught raiding the cupboards red handed!
After discovering the sneaky elf’s climbing antics, your kids will eagerly inspect the kitchen for more traces of mischief.
This fun idea adds an element of surprise and adventure to an ordinary room.
Let the clever elf creativity begin!
Arts and Crafts
Get creative with an arts and crafts scene starring your very own Scout Elf Rembrandt Picasso!
Set up a miniature art studio using everyday supplies and let your elf get to work making masterpieces.
Use a paper plate, cardboard cutout, or milk carton lid as an easel.
Place a small canvas made from folded paper or cardboard atop the easel.
Position your elf in front artist smock in front of the canvas holding a Q-tip dipped in paint to serve as a paintbrush.
Scatter art supplies around your elf’s studio like cotton ball paint blobs, toothpick paint brushes, sequins, beads, and scraps of fabric.
Place mini paintings made with watercolor paper around the room to reflect the elf’s artistic talents.
For more creativity, have mini art tools sticking out of the elf’s smock pockets.
Add an artsy beret on their head and splatters of paint on their clothing.
Your little Matisse or Monet will love awakening to this artsy display!
North Olympian
This year, have your scout elf bring home the gold after competing in the North Olympic Games!
Set up a vignette with your elf in athletic mode participating in winter sports.
Outfit your elf in winter Olympics apparel like ice skates, earmuffs, and a knit hat embellished with the Olympic rings.
Place them atop a platform podium made from stacked coins or cardboard boxes.
Make gold, silver and bronze medals out of paper and foil to hang around their neck.
Surround your all star elf athlete with Olympics themed props.
Include objects like cones to outline an ice rink, a toy hockey stick and hockey puck, plastic rings to resemble an Olympic oval track, and fuzzy cotton balls for snow mounds.
You can even create medallions for the elf using bottle caps and ribbon.
Write “North Pole Games” on a piece of paper attached to a toy flag for an official look.
Your young athlete will be motivated to go for the gold after seeing your elf’s stellar performance!
On the Christmas Cookies
‘Tis the season for Christmas cookies, so have your Elf on the Shelf get in on the tasty tradition!
Set up a scenario where your elf has been caught red handed nibbling on Santa’s treats.
Place a small gingerbread man or sugar cookie atop a napkin on a plate.
Use a dab of chocolate or icing to make it appear the elf took a bite of the cookie.
For added humor, have chocolate frosting or sprinkles around the laughing elf’s mouth.
You can even put a tiny glass of milk beside them to show the elf was enjoying the cookies!
For extra giggles, add a mini Christmas cookie recipe book beside the plate with a sticky note that says “Santa’s Cookies” on it.
Or leave a tiny rolling pin and sprinkle of flour on the table to show evidence of late night baking shenanigans.
Discoveries of the elf’s sweet snacking adventure will add playful holiday spirit.
The cookie crumbs and baking props will inspire your kids to have their own cookie creating and eating fun as they get excited for Santa’s arrival!
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Playing Card House
If you have a deck of cards, you can create this fun idea of an elf building a giant house of cards!
Start by stacking cards in crisscross patterns into houses, arches, and creative structures.
Place your elf cheerfully adding new cards to the card construction.
Make it appear they are carefully balancing new levels while trying not to make the structure collapse.
You can even connect string to lightly attached cards so they can hang suspended and add whimsy.
For more playful details, build small dollhouse furniture out of additional playing cards for inside the elf’s quirky new dwelling.
Use plastic dolls or lego figures to look like inhabitants of the distinct home.
Having the elf constantly expanding and decorating their wacky card creation will make an amusing holiday scene.
The moment your child discovers the elf and the incredible card house, their curiosity will ignite.
They’ll be fascinated investigating the card engineering and unique furniture inside.
This idea sparks creativity, handmade holiday magic, and all sorts of fun!
The holiday season will surely be more magical than ever with these 13 creative Elf on the Shelf ideas!
Choose a few favorites from this list or rotate through new scenarios each day.
So grab your scout elf, craft supplies, and dose of holiday creativity to delight your kids in new ways this Christmas!
The season for making memories and spreading joy is here.
