14 Easy Elf On The Shelf Antics When You Have No Time!
We have had our Elf on the Shelf visiting us now since 2013. We all really look forward to his arrival as we know it must be nearly Christmas. Check out our all-time favorite FREE easy elf on the shelf antics.
These hardly take any planning and are great for busy moms!
This isn’t the first time we have a visit we actually have a Halloween Elf on the Shelf too!!
Our elf is a good elf, and after he has reported back to Santa every night he comes back in a different position in the house. Our son loves going to find him, and often he is doing something fun or bringing him something to do.
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Elf on the Shelf Printables
If you are in a rush and are tired of searching for Elf on the Shelf printables you can purchase all of my printables for a small fee here. There are 39 pages to print out!
41 pages are included in this download including:
- North Pole Breakfast Menu (2 pages)
- Elf construction zone (2 pages)
- Snowman soup (2 pages)
- Elf Kisses (2 pages)
- Elf notes (3 pages)
- Elf scavenger hunt (3 pages)
- Elf memory game
- Elf games
- Elf hats
- Elf on the Shelf word scramble (3 pages)
- Elf names word search (2 pages)
- Elf story coloring pages (7 pages)
- Elf arrival letters (5 pages)
- Elf goodbye letters (2 pages)
- If I were an elf writing activity (1 page)
- Elf on the Shelf yearbook (2 pages)
Easy Elf On The Shelf Ideas
Coming up with creative and fun ideas for your Elf on the Shelf can be a challenge.
That’s why we have compiled a list of easy Elf on the Shelf ideas to help you keep the tradition alive without adding any unnecessary stress to your holiday season.
With these simple ideas, your Elf on the Shelf will be sure to bring joy and laughter to your family this holiday season.
Elf on the Shelf Arrival Ideas
Towards the middle of November, the Elf construction site appears!
The characters are normally Lego figures that we have. Ok, this takes a bit of time!! But I promise everything else is quick and easy! Just grab our free printables above. We have also created an Elf on the Shelf arrival letter to explain what is happening.
This year the elves have left a little letter telling Freddie that the elves are soon to be arriving!
If you are looking for even more Elf on the Shelf printables I highly recommend these too. The set includes a printable elf cam, an official elf report, an elf warning notice, and some more printable games.
Elf on the Shelf Bedding
On the first of December, we have our North Pole breakfast if you want to see what we have check out my post on the North Pole Breakfast. But that evening the Elf will change all of our bedding to Christmas themed bedding!
This is fairly difficult to pull off, but clearly, the elf has magical powers!
Elf on the Shelf Clothes
I don’t know about you but my son absolutely loves the Fortnite dances, so this year we will be dressing one of the elves in this brilliant Fortnite Elf hoodie!!
Check out my latest post on the best elf on the shelf accessories.
Elf Hats
For funny Elf on the Shelf ideas, you are going to love these Elf on the Shelf hat printables and add them to all of your family photos!
Santa Wish List
Towards the beginning of December, the elves bring along Santa wish lists. This is for my son to fill out so they can take it to Santa that evening.
We put it in a special Santa envelope that we made with some felt. if you don’t have time Etsy has loads.
Spray Painting the Windows!
This is a fun one, and isn’t as messy as we thought it would be! It is my birthday on the 5th of December so the elves leave me a big happy b’day message on the window! Freddie thinks it’s hilarious! Get some fake snow here.
Elves playing in a band
This is a quick and easy elf antic. Set up some teddies and place musical instruments in front of them!
Elves feeling at home
We use the leftovers from the gingerbread houses we have made for the North Pole Breakfast and add some fake snow. A couple of years ago I made the elf a suitcase out of an old ring box and add some sparkly pipe cleaner for the handle!
Elf Race
I love this one, we lined all of the Christmas teddies as spectators while the elves had a race! We are a bit mad about having so many elves, but it is great fun!!!
Elves Stuck in a Traffic Jam
Another easy one, we just lined up all of the cars we had on the window sill with the Elf on the Shelf stuck in the middle!
Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Kids -Helping Decorate!
We were painting our hall a couple of years ago, so we thought we could get the elf to help out too!!!
Elf on the Shelf Note Cards
This one was the Elf on the Shelf telling Freddie to watch a Christmas movie that day. We don’t always do notes from the Elf but one year we did. You can find some awesome ones on Etsy or you can print out our new 27 free Elf on the Shelf Notes to use.
Elf on the Shelf Antics – Doing DIY
This, of course, was a couple of years ago when Freddie did play with toolsets like this. But this was another really easy one!
Elf on the Shelf Bringing Christmas Jumpers
On Christmas Jumper Day the elf will leave a Christmas jumper for us all, including our dog!
Christmas Eve Box
On the last day, Christmas Eve, the elf will leave a Christmas Eve Box. Included is generally the following:
- Christmas PJ’s
- Christmas Film that we all watch as a family just before bedtime.
- Snowman Soup (hot chocolate and marshmallows – we make our own. Have a look on Pinterest for some great ideas)
- Reindeer Food (we make a bag of this to sprinkle in the garden before bed)
- Christmas Book that Freddie will now read to us
- Slipper Socks
- A Christmas themed bath bomb
- Christmas Chocolates / Popcorn
For more Elf on the Shelf leaving ideas check out our favorites.
What is your favorite Elf on the Shelf ideas for kids? Please let me know in the comments below. I think you are also going to love 20 of the best free Elf on the Shelf printables.
If you are looking for Christmas Eve box ideas for adults check out our recent post.
Last Updated on 7 May 2023 by homeschoolof1