If like us, you started the Elf on the Shelf tradition last year, or are thinking of starting this year, this blog might come in useful! *Warning* If you decide to start Elf on the Shelf this year once you have started there is no going back – you have 23 more days to complete! It is not for everyone but we found it a bit of light-hearted fun in the run-up to Christmas and helps keep the kids on best behaviour!
What is Elf on the Shelf?
The child-friendly answer – It’s your friendly scout elf who Santa sent from the North Pole to check whether children are being naughty or nice in the run-up to Christmas. When adopted – and named – by a family, it gets its special Christmas magic and can fly back to Santa each night to tell him about its day.
Every morning, the Elf returns home and finds a new spot in the house for the children to go ‘Elf hunting’.
The Elf arrives on the 1st December and returns to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
The Elf on the Shelf rules
According to the official website, www.elfontheshelf.com, there are two simple rules:
1. “A scout elf cannot be touched. Christmas magic is very fragile and if a scout elf is touched it may lose that magic and be unable to fly back to the North Pole.”
2. “A scout elf cannot speak or move while anyone in the house is awake! A scout elf’s job is to watch and listen.”
Introducing your Elf on the Shelf
There are lots of versions of Elf on the Shelf out there, ranging in price, we just got one from our local supermarket which didn’t cost the earth. For more details on the official scout Elf visit www.elfontheshelf.com.
The Elf normally arrives with a letter, there are lots of ideas for downloadable letters for new or returning Elves on Pinterest. You can combine the arrival of the Elf with the first opening of advent calendars, or why not go all out with a North Pole breakfast?
Once the Elf has arrived the children then give it a name.
Then you have the fun for the next 23 nights of finding something new for it to do each night. Elves are very cheeky and get up to all sorts while the children are sleeping…
Tried and Tested Elf on the Shelf Ideas
Thank you to Mumblers for their input into the many fun and creative ideas below!
* Pictures courtesy of Mumblers
- BRUSHING TEETH ELF- hold a toothbrush and squirt toothpaste around
- TV WATCHING ELF- the elf is sitting with the TV remote and some popcorn
- POORLY ELF- give him some calpol!
- DRAWING ELF- get the elf to hold a crayon/ pencil and do a quick picture that it looks like they’ve done
- TOILET ROLL ELF- endless mischief that your elf can get up to with toilet roll! Throw down the stairs, along the hall or even round the Christmas tree!
- BALLOON ELF- trap the Elf in a blown up balloon!
- SCAVENGER HUNT ELF- a good one for a weekend activity. Create a Christmas scavenger hunt around the house with the Elf providing the written clues!
- COVID ELF- make a mini mask and put the elf in a see-through container to isolate them!
- MARSHMALLOW ELF- write a message to the children (even just a ‘Hi!’) out of mini marshmallows
- FLOUR ELF- the Elf has emptied flour and is making snow angels in it!
- BREAKFAST ELF- have the elf helping themselves to cereal when your child comes down for breakfast
- ADVENT EATING ELF- let them steal one of the chocolates from the advent calendar
- READING ELF- sit in front of your child’s favourite book
- LIPSTICK ELF- the Elf writes a note to your children on your bathroom mirror in lipstick
- DOLL ELF- let the Elf play/ party with any toy dolls in the house
- DRIVING ELF- get the Elf in a driving position on a toy car. This can also be adapted to sit on a toy train going round a track.
- COUNTDOWN ELF- the Elf writes a countdown note- even better on a blackboard holding the chalk!
- CLING FILM ELF- cling film the toilet with Elf sitting on top (make sure it sticks or you could have a rather messy situation!)
- CHRISTMAS TREE ELF- hide him in the Christmas tree
- CHOCOLATE BOX ELF- your Elf has cracked into the chocolate box!
- ZIP LINE ELF- tie string across the room and get elf to zip-line down it
- CEILING ELF- hang Elf from a ceiling light
- MAKEOVER ELF- pop in front of a doll (eg Barbie) and smear them with lipstick as if they’ve been giving them a makeover
KINDNESS ELF– I love this suggestion of a great alternative to the mischievous elves (especially if this is not your first year of doing it and you’re running out of ideas). Every day set the children a challenge of a random act of kindness- from donating to a charity, sending someone alone a message, helping someone with a chore, giving a gift….
If you ever forget to move the Elf there are some great ideas for excuses as to why it hasn’t moved here !!
Don’t forget to join our North Leeds Mumbler chat group and share your Elf ideas with other local families.