Welcome to 50 Easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, a 24 day planner including FREE ELF PRINTABLES to download to make the Christmas elves as easy as possible. I have compiled a list of 50 easy Elf on the Shelf ideas that are super easy and simple to set up that don’t require lots props to purchase. I have also included a FREE Elf on the Shelf arrival poem to download and print, along with 24 fun message cards and an Elf goodbye letter and an elfie selfie frame. I hope you find these useful. I’ve also included lots of fun and unusual elf on the shelf ideas for 2023. Check out our Festive days out in Essex.
AD | I have been or could be compensated if you click on a link in this post via a cash payment, gift or something else of value for writing this post. See our full disclosure policy and privacy policy for more details.
What's in this post? Click Here...
Your ultimate guide to 50 Unusual and Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas for 2023 with 24 day elf on the shelf planner, FREE elf printables, arrival letter, elf message cards and elf good bye letter.
Please note this post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but at no extra cost to you.
We use a wipe clean elf messages board that are really useful to jot down little messages and worth investing in for a couple of pounds. I have also supplied a free download for our elf message cards. A great elf on the shelf prop to use that includes fun jokes and messages from the elves.
Day 1 Elf Arrival
Day 1 is Elf on the Shelf arrival day, you can go as elaborate as you wish, whether you choose a North Pole Breakfast or your elves arriving in a hot air balloon. I have made this easy for you, here is a free Elf on the Shelf poem for your elf arrival. Just download and print at home.
Day 2 Elf story time
Elves love to read, set up your elves reading among their toy friends.
Day 3 Spell out your child’s name in cereal
Why not spell out your child’s name or your elf’s name in cereal.
Day 4 Write funny messages on toilet roll
Write silly messages or Christmas song titles onto your toilet rolls with a coloured pen. Here are some ideas:
All I want for Xmas is POO!
Have yourself a POOPY little Xmas!
Rocking around the Xmas PEE!
Jingle bells, your POO smells!
Have yourself a merry PIDDLE Xmas!
Let it go! Let it go!
Day 5 Build a lego frame
Build a frame out of Lego or Duplo bricks and place your elves inside.
Day 6 Have an elf snowball fight
https://amzn.to/44OgD6LHave an elf snowball fight. Many shops do sell mini snowballs, or you could use white Pom poms, but if you are really stuck then you could always roll up toilet paper into balls. Maybe even add to it and draw some targets onto card.
Day 7 Draw an elfie or photocopy your elves
Draw an ‘Elfie’, just draw a rough sketch of your elf, it doesn’t have to be perfect, just as if he’s drawn it himself. For a fun alternative you can photocopy your elves if you have a printer at home.
Day 8 Decorate with Foil Bows
Use foil Christmas bows and have fun sticking them anywhere and everywhere.
Day 9 Elf Snow angels
Make snow angel shapes with your elves by sprinkling round the edge with flour or fake snow.
Day 10 Elf playing with your child’s toys
Set up your child’s favourite toys to play with the elves, whether its a train track, dolls, action figures or playing a board game.
Day 11 Candy Cane hunt
Hide candy canes for your children to find. If you download my free elf message cards you have one for this, so your child knows to look for the candy canes.
Day 12 Elf hot chocolate
Enjoy a nice hot chocolate, whether you set up your elves with a mug and some hot chocolate powder, hot chocolate stirrer, hot chocolate bomb or a full on Hot Chocolate station is up to you
Day 13 Hide the elves in children’s shoes or school bag
You could hide the elves in your children’s shoes or school bag, ready to stowaway to school.
Day 14 Wrap the tree in toilet paper
Wrap the Christmas tree in toilet roll.
Day 15 Elves bring a sweet treat
Leave out a sweet treat, maybe a ginger bread man, chocolate Yule log or christmas treat. I have included a card for this in my free Elf on the Shelf message card download.
Day 16 Make a christmas scrapbook
Set up a Christmas craft. We like to do a little Christmas scrapbook, so I print out some pics of the elves and supply some elf on the shelf stickers or washi tape and let the kids get creative, sticking onto paper or an album or notebook.
Day 17 Elves make paper snow flakes
Make paper chains or snowflakes to hang or stick to the windows. Here’s handy instructions for paper snowflakes.
Day 18 Watch an elf movie
Watch a Christmas movie. Elf is our family favourite movie. Grab some popcorn boxes and snacks and snuggle down to enjoy a movie with the kids.
Day 19 Elf Treasure hunt
Set up a fun treasure hunt. You can find tonnes of elf treasure hunts to download on pinterest.
Day 20 Wrap the elves in Christmas wrapping paper
Wrap up the elves in christmas wrapping paper.
Day 21 Hide the elves in the Christmas tree
Hide your cheeky elves in the tree.
Day 22 Elves eat Christmas chocolate
Eat some Christmas sweets or chocolates and leave out all the wrappers with the elves. You could always rub some melted chocolate on the elves faces to make them look even naughtier.
Day 23 Elves decorate with elf tape and make a mess
Make a mess, decorate your lounge with elf tape and banner.
Day 24 Elves bring a Christmas eve box
The elves final day before they have to leave. Our elves bring our Christmas Eve Box on this day. I also have a free elf farewell letter printable for you to download.
Below are tonnes of easy and unusual elf on the shelf ideas that you can swap out for any of the days above:
25 Do you want to build a snowman
Build a snowman kit and use toilet rolls with some card stuck on to create your own very simple snowman.
26 Elf Tea Party
Set up a super cute mini tea set with your elves and their friends.
27 Elf toasting marshmallows
We used mini marshmallows popped onto skewers toasted over a tealight. I created the tent just using a folded piece of card.
28 Post it note Christmas tree
Ah post it notes are a great idea to make any shape, I made ours into a tree shape!
29 Elves hiding in a Pringles tube
30 Elves throw a party with balloons
31 Egg magic trick
32 Elf theatre made from a box
33 Elves with Googly eyes
Googly eyes are a really simple and easy elf on the shelf idea… you can stick them all over to create funny faces, including fruit and household items!
34 Chocolate hunt
Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt rewarded with some chocolate?!
35 Elf sleepover
If you can get your hands on an elf sleeping bag… create a fun sleepover for your elves and friends.
36 Elf Bowling
Have some bowling fun with a mini ten pin bowling set.
37 Stuff pyjamas with cuddly toys
38 Elf Bath time
39 Decorate a gingerbread house
Decorate a gingerbread house together.
40 Write Santa a letter
Ask your child to write a letter to Santa, these mini post boxes are such a great idea.
41 Wrap a treat in wool
42 Elves hiding in Christmas coffee cups
We popped along to a local coffee shop and just asked for some of their christmas paper cups, so a great free and cheap elf on the shelf idea.
43 Hide Chocolate Coins
Hide lots of Chocolate coins to create a fun chocolate hunt.
44 Elves bring a gift
Kids will have lots of fun filling in an elf activity book.
45 Light up the elves like fireflies
Use a large glass jar or a vase filled with mini string lights and the elves.
46 Cracking Christmas Crackers
47 Squirt some ketchup in the kitchen, scatter some cereal or flour on the floor
48 Pipe Cleaner Christmas Tree or these Christmas tree kits are a great idea and mess free.
Packs of pipe cleaners can lead to endless craft possibilities for kids to use their imaginations.
49 Elves do a cat walk and strike a pose
Set up a cat walk with your elves using some toy accessories. We borrowed the LOL dolls fashion accessories.
50 Elves play dress up
I bought some elf costumes and then a rudolph light up nose and antlers set.
51 Elfie Selfie Station.
I made an elfie selfe station, there is a free printable included below and some christmas selfie photo props.
52 Spell out a name in toilet paper
Super quick and easy idea using sheets of toilet paper to spell out your child’s name or a silly word.
53 Turn your elves into Nutcrackers
Cut little moustaches and stick them on your elves to create a Nutcracker parade.
Free Elf on the Shelf printable downloads.
Please note that all these printable downloads are copyright of www.littlemissedenrose.com. Please do not offer for download or sell.
If you need a letter from Santa or a nice list certificate, The Little Big Design Co make these gorgeous luxury personalised versions with a gold foil seal.
Pin me for later:
Thank you for reading ‘Easy Elf on the Shelf ideas – 24 day plan with free printables.’
