30 easy Christmas elf ideas for busy nights

The short answer

The easiest elf ideas use what you already have: the elf in the fridge, hanging from a light, fishing with a candy cane, or hiding in a cereal box. Each takes about two minutes. Keep a list on your phone and pick one before bed.

Two-minute ideas

  1. In the fridge. "It was too warm in here."
  2. Hanging from a ceiling light by one arm.
  3. Candy cane fishing in the sink or a bowl of water.
  4. Hiding in the cereal box, head out.
  5. Toilet paper snowball fight with another toy.
  6. Riding the dog's or cat's toy.
  7. Reading a Christmas book to the stuffed animals.
  8. Sitting in a mug with marshmallows.
  9. In a stocking, only its feet showing.
  10. On top of the TV with the remote.

Five-minute ideas

  1. Zip line on a string across the room.
  2. Marshmallow bath in a bowl.
  3. Drawing mustaches on a family photo, with washable marker on a sticky note.
  4. Building a tiny snowman from marshmallows.
  5. Wrapped up in toilet paper "like a mummy."
  6. Doing a puzzle with the pieces half done.
  7. Making snow angels in flour on the counter.
  8. Writing a note on the bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker.
  9. Playing hide-and-seek with a toy, both half-hidden.
  10. Camping in a tissue box with a paper fire.

Ideas that help the parent

  1. A sick day. The elf rests in a box with a note: "Too tired to move today."
  2. Breakfast helper. The elf sets out the cereal bowls.
  3. Bedtime helper. The elf holds a sign: "Lights out early tonight!"
  4. Kindness task. A note asks the kids to do one kind thing.
  5. Tidy up task. The elf sits on the toy box: "Help me find the floor."
  6. Story time. The elf picks tonight's book.
  7. Screen-free day. The elf sits on the tablet with a "Let's play outside" sign.
  8. Letter delivery. The elf brings a letter from Santa.
  9. Cookie test. The elf next to a cookie with one bite gone.
  10. Countdown helper. The elf holds today's link of the paper chain.

Make it easier on yourself

  • Set a phone reminder for 9 pm.
  • Keep a small "elf box" with string, marshmallows, a candy cane and sticky notes.
  • Reuse ideas. Kids are happy to see the fridge twice.

More ideas: 20 Christmas elf arrival ideas and what to do if someone touches the elf.

Questions

What if I forget to move the elf?

Say the elf liked the spot, or that it stayed to watch someone extra closely. Some families leave a note: "I had a long night at the North Pole."

Do you have to move the elf every night?

No rule says so. Many families move it most nights and skip some. A note covers the skipped night.

What are good elf ideas for toddlers?

Simple, gentle spots they can see from the floor: in a stocking, reading a book to their toys, or in a cereal box.

Do these ideas work with The Elf on the Shelf®?

Yes. They work with any elf toy, including The Elf on the Shelf®. The Elf on the Shelf® is a trademark of CCA and B, LLC. We are not connected with it.

Santa Stopped By. Coming this Christmas.