IllustrationFree · no sign-up · 24 two-minute ideas
Easy Elf on the Shelf ideas for tired parents
It's 11 pm and the elf hasn't moved. Tell us how much time you've got and we'll hand you tonight's idea — most take two minutes and use what's already in your kitchen. Plus letters for arrival, goodbye and the nights it goes wrong.
Tonight's idea
How much time have you got?
About 2 minutes · a little mess · You need: Flour, a tray
Snow angel in flour
Sprinkle a little flour on a dark plate or tray and lay the elf in it with arms and legs spread. Brush the flour around the limbs so the angel shape shows.
All 52 ideas
2 min · a little mess
Snow angel in flour
Sprinkle a little flour on a dark plate or tray and lay the elf in it with arms and legs spread. Brush the flour around the limbs so the angel shape shows.
You need: Flour, a tray
2 min · no mess
Zip line across the room
Tie a string between two chairs or door handles and hook the elf's hands over it — ideally halfway, as if he got stuck.
You need: String
2 min · no mess
Hide-and-seek
Put the elf somewhere odd but findable — in a boot, behind the curtain, in the fruit bowl — and leave a note: "Bet you can't find me before breakfast!"
You need: Nothing
2 min · no mess
Bedtime story
Open a picture book on the sofa and prop the elf against it with a tiny flashlight or a phone torch pointing at the page.
You need: A book
2 min · no mess
Stuck in the fridge
Put the elf on a fridge shelf wrapped in a tea towel like a blanket, with a note: "It's too warm in your house. I'm from the North Pole!"
You need: A tea towel
2 min · no mess
Meeting with the toys
Arrange stuffed animals in a circle around the elf, like he's giving a speech. A sticky note says "AGENDA: Be good until Christmas."
You need: Soft toys, a sticky note
2 min · no mess
Family photo bomb
Tuck the elf into the corner of a framed family photo, as if he's always been part of the family.
You need: Nothing
2 min · no mess
Sock sledding
Put the elf in a slipper or a sock at the top of the stairs or on a cushion slope, arms in the air.
You need: A slipper
2 min · no mess
Cereal diving
Leave the elf headfirst in the cereal box so only his legs stick out. Breakfast is sorted and so is the laugh.
You need: A cereal box
2 min · no mess
The new tree topper
Swap the star for the elf for a night. A note: "I wanted to see the view."
You need: Nothing
2 min · no mess
Marshmallow bath
Fill a mug or a bowl with mini marshmallows and sit the elf in it like a bubble bath.
You need: Mini marshmallows
2 min · no mess
Caught brushing
Sit the elf by the sink holding a toothbrush — no toothpaste needed, unless you're feeling brave.
You need: A toothbrush
2 min · no mess
Driving lessons
Put the elf in a toy car or on the steering wheel of the real car (for the school run surprise).
You need: A toy car
10 min · no mess
LEGO jail
Build a tiny cell out of blocks around the elf, with a toy standing guard. A note: "Sorry, I snacked on the cookies."
You need: Building blocks
2 min · no mess
Hello on the mirror
Write "Good morning!" or draw a smiley on the bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker or soap, elf holding the pen.
You need: Dry-erase marker
10 min · no mess
Gone fishing
Tie string to a pencil for a rod and dangle it into a bowl of goldfish crackers or a sink with toy fish.
You need: Pencil, string, crackers
2 min · no mess
Calling Santa
Hold a banana to the elf's ear like a phone. Note: "Reporting to Santa: everything's great here."
You need: A banana
10 min · no mess
Caught in tape
Criss-cross painter's tape across a doorway like a laser maze, with the elf halfway through doing the splits.
You need: Painter's tape
10 min · no mess
Paper plane pilot
Fold a paper plane and tape the elf on top, hanging from a light or balanced on a lamp.
You need: Paper, tape
2 min · no mess
Hammock nap
Hang a napkin or a small tea towel between two cups or chair backs and lay the elf in it with sunglasses.
You need: A napkin
2 min · no mess
Moved into the dollhouse
The elf is in bed in the dollhouse, or at the toy kitchen making breakfast.
You need: A dollhouse or toy kitchen
2 min · no mess
The elf has a cold
Tuck him in with a tissue and a cotton-ball ice pack. "Too much snow last night. Sniff."
You need: Tissues
10 min · a little mess
It snowed indoors
Scatter a handful of paper snowflakes, cotton balls or torn tissue around the elf, who's building a mini snowman.
You need: Cotton balls or paper
10 min · no mess
Donut workout
Stack mini donuts or cereal rings on a pencil like weights; the elf is lifting them. Leave enough for breakfast.
You need: Mini donuts or cereal rings
10 min · no mess
Hot cocoa bar
Set out mugs with a packet of cocoa and marshmallows for each child, the elf pretending to be the barista.
You need: Cocoa, mugs
10 min · no mess
Elf-made breakfast
Put green food coloring in the milk (a drop in the jug) or arrange the cereal bowls with a note: "Elf breakfast special!"
You need: Food coloring
10 min · no mess
Coloring contest
Leave two coloring pages and crayons, one colored by the elf (badly, on purpose). Note: "Can you do better?"
You need: Printed coloring pages
10 min · no mess
Bingo night
The elf leaves printed Christmas bingo cards and a note inviting the family to play after dinner.
You need: Printed bingo cards
2 min · no mess
A kindness mission
A note from the elf: "Today's secret mission: do something kind for someone without being asked."
You need: Paper
10 min · no mess
Toy-drive helper
The elf sits in an empty box labeled "For kids who need a present" with a note asking for one toy to give away.
You need: A box
2 min · no mess
Writing to Santa
The elf sits at a desk with paper and a pencil and a note: "I'm writing my report. Want to add a letter?"
You need: Paper, pencil
10 min · no mess
Mustache makeover
Draw mustaches on family photos with a dry-erase marker (on the glass, not the photo!) — the elf holds the marker.
You need: Dry-erase marker
10 min · no mess
Toilet paper snowman
Stack toilet paper rolls into a snowman with a scarf, the elf proudly standing beside it.
You need: Toilet paper rolls
10 min · no mess
Tangled in the lights
Wrap a spare string of lights loosely around the elf as if he tried to decorate and lost.
You need: A spare string of lights
10 min · no mess
Movie night invitation
Popcorn bowl, a Christmas movie picked out and handmade tickets from the elf.
You need: Popcorn
2 min · no mess
Shadow puppet show
Leave a flashlight and a note: "Tonight after bath: shadow puppets on the ceiling!"
You need: A flashlight
10 min · no mess
Scavenger hunt
A trail of clue cards around the house ends at a small treat.
You need: Printed clue cards
10 min · a little mess
Tiny footprints
Dust a few tiny footprints in powdered sugar or flour across the counter using a fingertip, leading to the elf.
You need: Powdered sugar
2 min · no mess
Cookie chef
The elf sits on the flour canister with cookie cutters around him and a note: "Let's bake today!"
You need: Cookie cutters
2 min · no mess
Tic-tac-toe challenge
Draw a tic-tac-toe grid on paper with one X already played by the elf.
You need: Paper, pen
10 min · no mess
Window art
Draw snowflakes or a tree on the window with window markers, the elf dangling from the curtain holding one.
You need: Window markers
10 min · no mess
Craft supply surprise
Pipe cleaners, paper and glue laid out with a note: "Let's make ornaments today!"
You need: Craft supplies
2 min · no mess
Hugging a gingerbread man
The elf holds a gingerbread cookie in a bear hug. Note: "Don't worry, I didn't eat him. Yet."
You need: A cookie
10 min · no mess
Paper chain countdown
The elf leaves strips of paper and tape — and one finished link — so the kids can make a countdown chain.
You need: Paper strips, tape
Weekend · no mess
An elf-sized party
Mini cups, a candle (LED), crackers and toys as guests around a shoebox table. Great for a weekend morning.
You need: Toy cups, a shoebox
Weekend · a little mess
Marshmallow snowball fight
Two teams of toys behind cushion forts, marshmallows mid-throw everywhere, the elf leading one side.
You need: Marshmallows, toys
Weekend · a little mess
Elf village
Boxes as houses, cotton for snow, a toy train — the elf's hometown on the coffee table.
You need: Boxes, cotton wool
10 min · no mess
Arrival breakfast
The elf arrives with a North Pole breakfast: a plate of sprinkles-topped toast or donuts and the arrival letter.
You need: The arrival letter (below)
10 min · no mess
Special delivery
The elf arrives in a small box addressed from the North Pole, with the arrival letter on top.
You need: A small box
10 min · no mess
Balloon landing
The elf sits on a cushion under a few balloons, as if he floated down the chimney.
You need: Balloons
10 min · no mess
Goodbye hugs
On Christmas Eve, the elf sits by the door in a tiny scarf with the goodbye letter and a bell as a keepsake.
You need: The goodbye letter (below)
10 min · no mess
Farewell selfie
The elf leaves a printed photo of himself with the family — a keepsake until next year.
You need: A printed photo
Printable notes from your elf
Arrival and goodbye letters, plus the notes for the nights that go wrong. Add your child's and your elf's names — free, no sign-up.
NORTH POLE · SCOUT ELF MAIL
I'm back!
Dear friend, It's me, your elf! Santa sent me all the way from the North Pole to spend Christmas with you. Every night I'll fly back to tell him how your day went — and every morning you'll find me somewhere new. Just one rule: please don't touch me, or my magic might wear off. You can talk to me as much as you like — I'm a very good listener! I've missed you. Let's make this the best December ever!
Love, your elf
Forgot to move the elf? Say this
It happens in every house. Keep one of these ready.
- You forgot to move the elf
- “Elves only fly back to the North Pole when they're sure everyone is asleep. Someone must have been awake very late!”
- The elf hasn't moved for two nights
- “Santa asked him to stay and watch something really important in this room.”
- It's snowing or stormy
- “No flying in a snowstorm — Santa's rule. He'll report twice tomorrow.”
- The kids touched the elf
- “Sprinkle a little cinnamon (or "elf magic") next to him and write Santa a sorry note together. By morning his magic is back.”
- The elf is in the same place as last year
- “He loved that spot so much he asked Santa if he could come back to it.”
- You want a night off
- “Elf day off! He's watching the family from the North Pole webcam tonight.”
Questions parents ask
- What are the three rules of Elf on the Shelf?
- The ones most families use: don't touch the elf or it may lose its magic; the elf can't talk or move while anyone is watching; and every night it flies to the North Pole to report to Santa, landing somewhere new by morning.
- When does the elf arrive and leave?
- Most families welcome the elf around Thanksgiving or on December 1 and say goodbye on Christmas Eve — it flies home with Santa. Some keep it until Christmas morning.
- What if I forget to move the elf?
- Everyone does. A ready excuse — "he only flies when everyone's asleep, and someone was up late" — works every time. See the excuses above.
- What if my child touches the elf?
- Tell them the magic can be restored: sprinkle a little cinnamon beside the elf ("elf vitamins"), write Santa a sorry note together, and by morning he's moved again.
- Do we have to do Elf on the Shelf?
- No. Plenty of families skip it — Christmas magic doesn't need a nightly chore. An advent activity calendar gives the same daily surprise with much less pressure.
The Elf on the Shelf® is a trademark of The Lumistella Company. MerryHoHo is not affiliated with it; these are our own ideas for families who use a scout elf of any kind.