Where are you with your commitment to your Elf on the Shelf? Does your scout appear the day after Thanksgiving? The first day of December? Or as a 12 days of Christmas countdown?
One thing about the scout elf is that there’s really no right way to celebrate or incorporate your elf into the season.
Unfortunately…or maybe fortunately…we’ve been in elf land so long I can’t remember the exact year our scout “Elf” joined the family, but I do know she arrived sometime between 2019 and 2021. What exactly possessed us to join the elf shenanigans, I do not know.
Maybe it’s the daily excitement of knowing our daughter would wake up in anticipation of “the magic.”
Maybe it was the slight peer pressure of “all the other parents who have children this age are doing it.”
Maybe it was being convinced by the gentle reminder that these childhood moments are short lived.
Whatever it was, we signed our name on the dotted line and now each year my husband and I find ourselves in the hustle to find new ideas for “Elf” placement and magic.
“Elf,” not so uniquely named, is what my daughter decided to call our scout upon arrival. This year she jokingly asked, “what is our elf’s name?”
“Elf,” we call her Elf. That’s what you named her.
We both laughed out loud.
In true fashion, there are a host of Facebook groups created to share all the creative ways to show your elf’s magic…and if you’re anything like me you’re in all the groups saving ideas that may work for your family.
As we prepare for the return of our scout elf, Elf, I have a folder of possibilities for December 1st – 24th and a 10:00pm alarm titled, “Elf Reminder,” which is my attempt to proactively avoid having to just toss Elf into our Christmas tree as a last minute placement.
Here’s a list of some of my favorites:
- Write something fun like “I’m back!” on a letter board and leave a little gift to get the month started.
- Add your elf to a mixing bowl. Include a note that reads, “Ooops, how did I get in here?!”
- Write a letter that starts, “Do Not Read Out Loud,” this letter is written in special ink that only kids can see.
- Attach your elf to a tape measurer that hangs from the mantle. Include a note, “Just measuring the room for Santa.”
- “Sunday is for sundaes” The elf brings supplies for a sundae bar {ice cream, chocolate topping, mini marshmallows, etc.}
- Set up supplies for a quick and easy rain cloud science experiment. Invite the kiddos to “watch it rain.”
- Shoe parade – line up a bunch of shoes parade style around the house – the more shoes, the longer the line, the better! Throw a couple of dolls or actions figures in a few of the shoes to really make it feel like a parade.
- Throw a roll of toilet paper down the stairs and he’s inside the tube!
- Stick your elf in the couch as if searching for couch treasure. Leave a few of the discovered treasures on the couch (e.g. coins, in pens, etc)
- The elf reading a bedtime story to child’s other toys/stuffies/dolls, etc.
- Build a structure for the elf to be in/on/around out of Magnatiles or Legos. Bonus – if you have both things this can be two separate days!
- Deliver a gingerbread house for the kids to build together.
- Set up “Season’s Greetings” using spices from your spice cabinet. Each spice says hello in a different way (e.g hello, hi, howdy, what’s up, hola, etc)
- Bring movie popcorn and hot cocoa supplies so the kids can have a movie and cocoa party that night.
- Give your elf a whisk to hold. Include a note that reads, “I want to whisk you a Merry Christmas.”
- Set elf up (safely out of reach) with a pair of scissors, a rock, and a balled up piece of paper. Include a note: “Let’s play, rock, paper, scissors!”
- Tape your elf to daddy or mommy’s back. Include a funny note (also taped to the back) that reads, “Shhh, don’t tell dad/mom.
- Leave a small “stocking stuffer” sized gift or book as a gift
- Sprinkle assorted sprinkles on a sponge. Include a note from elf that reads, “I made you a sponge cake!”
- Wrap your elf in toilet tissue like a mummy. Include a joke that reads, Q: Why does Santa like mummies? A: Because they are good wrappers!
- Play board games with your child’s other dolls/toys.
- Sit elf next to a box of cupcake mix and frosting. Include a note, “Let’s make cupcakes after school.”
- Hang from a chandelier or ceiling fan.
- Sneak into the kids’ rooms and took selfies with them while they were sleeping, then texted them to Mom or Dad.
- Typically the Elf on the Shelf goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, and he leaves a little note and a small gift behind.
What is your Elf on the Shelf up to this month? Share your ideas with us!
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