Christmas is not too far away which means it’s time to get the decorations up, sort out presents, and also means the popular Christmas tradition of Elf on the Shelf is back! Whether it’s your first year or you’re a seasoned Elf on the Shelf-er, we’ve pulled together lots of wonderful things to do with Elf on the Shelf to give you some inspiration as to what yours could be getting up to.
What is Elf on the Shelf?
Before we get stuck into the ideas, we should probably explain what elf on the shelf actually is, just in case you’ve somehow never heard of this festive phenomenon!
To put it simply, a household will adopt a ‘scout elf’ to keep an eye on the children throughout the month of December – basically, they’re Santa’s eyes and ears. Each night, the scout elf will go back to the North Pole and let Santa know whether the children are behaving or not. Then the next morning they’ll be found in a new spot ready for the kids to find them.
There are some rules involved with Elf on the Shelf – mainly the fact that if someone touches the elf then they lose their magical powers. Now, if this does happen, there are ways to bring back their magic, including writing an apology note to Santa or your elf, getting the whole family to sing a Christmas carol, or sprinkling cinnamon next to your elf.
Elf on the shelf first day ideas
Once the 1st of December hits, or whatever date you feel the festive season really begins, be sure to mark the (re-)appearance of your family elf with one of these elf on the shelf first day ideas!
An introduction letter
If you’re new to this Christmas activity, a great first idea for elf on the shelf is an introductory letter where your elf can explain who they are, why they’re here, and their name. Of course, deciding on a name is important and if you’re stuck on this step, some fun festive options could include Buddy, Noel, Jolly, Merry, or Gingerbread.
If you want, you could also get the kids involved in the naming process by sending an introduction letter but having Elf explain that they need a name in order for their powers to be activated.
Alternatively, another quick and easy option for an introduction letter would be making it so that Elf is ‘delivered’ inside of an envelope addressed to your home.
A scavenger hunt to find Elf
Why not make it a scavenger hunt by leaving clues around your home for the kids to follow and find elf? Whilst this one may require a slight bit of preparation in pulling together some clues, it’ll be a great way to get the kids excited about elf!
Easy elf on the shelf ideas
If you’re in need of some quick and easy elf on the shelf ideas that don’t require lots of prep and can be sorted at the last minute, take a look below.
Helping to decorate the tree
As you’ll most likely already be putting up your Christmas, this should be a super straightforward idea! All you need to do is get your elf involved in the decoration process.
There are a few ways you could do this, including taping them to the top of the tree as a temporary tree topper or leaving them nearby with a bauble in hand ready to hang. As long as the tree is set up and in its spot, this should take all of a few seconds to do.
Enjoying some festive treats
Another idea using items you’ve probably already got includes Elf being discovered having their own feast of festive treats – we’re talking mince pies, gingerbread, or any other appropriately Christmassy savoury or sweet snack.
Another twist on this idea could be that on Christmas Eve (which is Elf’s final day until next year), the children find Elf sitting by a plate of food laid out ready for Santa and the reindeer.
Mischievous ideas for elf on the shelf
Some elves may be cheekier than others, so if yours is a bit of a troublemaker and likes to find themselves in naughty situations, here are a couple of mischievous ideas for elf on the shelf.
Frozen in an iceberg
Now, when it comes to shenanigans, surely getting frozen in an iceberg is up there as wild! As you might have guessed, this one will need some forward planning as there are a couple of steps involved:
- Place your elf into a zip-lock bag for protection
- Put this into a container and fill with water (just to note, your container needs to be big enough for elf to fit comfortably and for water to fully surround them)
- Position the container in the freezer so that water doesn’t leak
- Once fully frozen and near the time you’re ready, leave it out for a couple of minutes to slightly defrost
- Carefully remove your frozen elf ice block from the container and leave it out somewhere for the kids to find before it completely melts
Practicing their wrapping skills
Christmas means wrapped presents, but what if Elf has potentially taken things a bit further and decided to practice their wrapping skills on things such as the sofa, the TV, or even the entire Christmas tree? Well, that certainly sounds like one mischievous elf if you ask us!
If you couldn’t tell by now, the team here at thortful absolutely loves celebrating special occasions – which obviously includes the most wonderful time of the year – and you can find all sorts of other seasonal guides over on our blog.
And if you want to wish those around you a very merry Christmas, be sure to check out our joyful collection of Christmas cards, each featuring unique designs from our tree-mendous independent creators.
