Elf on the Shelf Ideas

If you’re looking for fun and low-stress Elf on the Shelf ideas, I’ve got you covered with our family’s favorites from over 12 years of elf visits.

We have four elves (yes, four!), and even after my son stopped fully believing, he still wanted them to come back every December. It’s become part of our holiday rhythm, sometimes chaotic, often hilarious, always magical.

From simple antics that take less than 2 minutes to set up, to free printables that save the day when I’ve completely forgotten to move the elf (again), everything here has been tested in real life.

Whether you’re just starting out or running out of steam mid-December, I hope this list helps bring a little more fun and a little less stress to your elf tradition.

**This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.**

Halloween Elf on the Shelf

We like to get a little extra festive around here, so our Elf on the Shelf makes a surprise visit before Halloween too.

He doesn’t move nightly like he does in December, instead, he helps us decorate with a spooky twist. One year we even mummified him with torn-up towels and red food coloring. It was creepy, hilarious, and an instant favorite.

I’ve put together a list of our favorite Halloween Elf on the Shelf ideas, from witchy outfits to skeleton disguises. We also bring out the Switch Witch, who trades some of the Halloween candy for a small toy, great for kids who aren’t huge on sweets (like mine).

Elf on the Shelf Arrival Ideas

The first day your elf arrives is always one of the most exciting, especially if you’re just starting the tradition or trying something new. In our house, we’ve had years where the elf showed up with construction signs, others where breakfast magically appeared from the North Pole.

If you want to make that arrival feel extra special, these ideas are a fun place to start:

• Kick things off with an Elf door under construction sign to make it look like the elf is still getting settled.
• Leave a printable arrival letter to add a bit of North Pole magic to the morning.
• Set up a simple North Pole Breakfast with themed treats for a festive start to December.
• And if your elf arrives a little late (it happens!), the Elf on the Shelf sorry I’m late letter smooths it over with a wink.

Each one of these helps build the excitement without making things too complicated, which is exactly what I need during the holiday rush.

Elf on the Shelf Antics

Coming up with new Elf antics every night can be fun, but also a bit exhausting during a busy December. After doing this for nearly a decade, I’ve learned to prep a few things ahead of time so I’m not scrambling at bedtime.

These printables have saved me more than once, especially on nights when I completely forgot to move the elf:

• When I need a quick message from our elf, I use the Elf on the Shelf notes printable to leave silly reminders or encouragement.
• For days when behavior slips, the Bad Behavior Elf on strike printable adds a funny but effective twist.
• One of our favorite morning games is the Elf on the Shelf find the candy canes printable, which turns the house into a mini scavenger hunt.
• A quick costume change is easy with the Elf on the Shelf hat, which always makes my son laugh.
• The Elf on the Shelf printable games are great when I want the elf to leave something fun to do.
• We use the Elf on the Shelf printable props to set up scenes with zero effort and no extra supplies.
• I like to mix in this elf report card when we need a light-hearted behavior check.
• To help set expectations, we post the Elf on the Shelf rules at the start of December.
• And for a little educational twist, the phases of the moon Elf on the Shelf printable is a fun way to sneak in some science.

Having these ready before December starts makes it much easier to keep the elf tradition fun, and a lot less stressful for me.

Elf on the Shelf Games

Some of our favorite elf mornings have started with a simple game, no big setup, just a little fun that keeps the magic going without extra stress. These printable Elf on the Shelf games are quick to prep and always get the kids laughing.

• The Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt is perfect when you want to turn the morning into a search for surprises.
• We use the Elf memory game printable for a quiet afternoon activity (and yes, my son always beats me).
• The Christmas elf name generator is a fun way to pick a silly new name each year, or just get the giggles going.
• For something a little more challenging, the Christmas elf crossword printable makes a great literacy tie-in.
• And when we need a calm moment, the Elf on the Shelf I spy printable is just the thing to keep little hands and eyes busy.

These are easy to keep on hand and rotate through when December starts to feel a little hectic.

Elf on the Shelf Gift Ideas

Some mornings, our elf shows up with a little surprise, nothing fancy, just something fun to start the day with a smile. These simple gift ideas have become part of the tradition in our home, especially on weekends or closer to Christmas.

• When the elf brings a treat, we use the elf kisses bag topper free printable for a sweet, low-effort surprise that always gets a grin.
• For cozy mornings, we pull out a few favorites from this list of Christmas elf books that are perfect for read-aloud time.
• If you’re shopping for younger kids, the elf books for kindergarten round-up has some gentle, engaging titles little ones really enjoy.
• To make the whole experience feel a bit more magical, we’ve used several ideas from the Elf on the Shelf accessories, from mini props to themed pajamas.
• And when the elf wants to leave something special, this list of gifts for Elf on the Shelf to bring has ideas that work well without overcomplicating things.

These little touches help keep the magic going, and make those December mornings feel just a bit more special.

Elf on the Shelf Classroom Activities

If you’re bringing the Elf into your classroom this December, these activities are a fun way to add some holiday cheer without losing structure. They’re low-prep, engaging, and easy to tailor for different age groups.

• The Elf on the Shelf word search is a great quiet-time activity that still feels festive and fun.
• For writing practice with a creative twist, the if I were an elf worksheet encourages kids to imagine life at the North Pole.
• Add some wordplay with the Elf word scramble, which challenges students to unscramble holiday-themed terms.
• The Elf on the Shelf coloring pages make a perfect brain break or early finisher option.
• And if you want something silly that sneaks in grammar practice, the Elf on the Shelf Mad Libs are always a hit.

These are easy to mix into your December lesson plans and bring a little magic to the classroom without adding to your prep load.

Saying Goodbye to the Elf on the Shelf

The last day of Elf season is always bittersweet in our house. After weeks of silly antics and early morning excitement, it’s nice to wrap things up with a meaningful send-off, something that makes the goodbye feel just as magical as the arrival.

• These Elf on the Shelf last day ideas include simple setups and sweet gestures to help mark the occasion.
• We also like to leave a note, and the Elf goodbye letter free printable makes that part easy, just print, sign, and set it next to the elf before they return to the North Pole.

It’s a nice way to close out the tradition for the year, especially if your kids are starting to ask questions or just need a little help saying goodbye.

Last Updated on 29 July 2025 by Clare Brown