Once December 1st rolls around its time to bring out the Elf on the Shelf.
My kids absolutely love seeing what the cheeky elf gets up to every day.
However December is a busy month for us, with birthdays, events, plays and Christmas parties to get to. Some days I need a little extra help with remembering to move our Elf on the Shelf!
This is why having my handy Elf on the Shelf printable Cheat Sheet is so good!
It’s the entire month of Elf on the Shelf fun done for you. Plus every idea is super simple to put together.
What to do with the Elf on the Shelf
The idea of the Elf on the Shelf is that he moves while the kids are asleep every night.
Elf is a festive spy sent by Santa to watch the kids ahead of Christmas Day. Every evening the Elf then reports back to Santa to make sure the kids have been good.
When Elf returns to the house he changes to a different watching spot in the house.
Then when the kids wake up in the morning they need to see what the Elf has gotten up to.
Some parents put Elf in very elaborate situations, with impressive props, signs and outfits.
The children aren’t supposed to touch the Elf. He moves like magic while they sleep at night.
Easy Elf on the Shelf cheat sheet
If you, like me, often leave Elf on the Shelf to the last-minute then these easy to do ideas for December are perfect.
This cheat sheet contains ideas that can be done quickly, with stuff you already have in the house.
There are ideas for every day from December 1 to Christmas Day! Some people will disappear their Elf for Christmas Day, but I like to leave him out with the gifts as if he helped to deliver them.
If you do forget to move the Elf one day, do not panic!
I have done this before. If you tell the kids that it was too cold for the Elf to get back to the North Pole that night so the Elf sent a text to Santa using your phone then you’ll get away with it!
Easy Elf on the Shelf ideas
If you are stuck for Elf ideas, here are the 25 simple stunts to take you all the way through December:
- Elf on the Shelf arrives and is on the Christmas tree with a note saying hi! Grab my free Elf on the Shelf arrival letters here.
- Elf is making snow angels on the kitchen counter with spilled flour or sugar.
- Elf is stealing chocolate from the Christmas tree. Smear chocolate on his face.
- Elf has rolled down the stairs inside a toilet roll.
- Elf has kidnapped some toys. Tape them up with craft tape.
- Elf is hanging from the ceiling light.
- Elf is hiding between the cereal boxes.
- Elf has used a black marker to draw a smiley face on the bananas or oranges.
- Elf is covered in stickers.
- Elf is hiding in a house plant.
- Elf spells out a message using Christmas candy – something like “merry Christmas” or “hi”.
- Elf is munching on cheese in the fridge.
- Elf has written a message using lipstick on the bathroom mirror.
- Elf has created a trail of shoes to the Christmas tree.
- Elf is sliding down the stairs in one of your kid’s slippers.
- Elf is hanging upside down on the Christmas tree.
- Elf is having a bath in the sink – fill it with cotton wool balls to make it look like bubbles.
- Elf has emptied out the fruit bowl and is using it for a bed.
- Elf is on mama or daddy’s computer, shopping for some toys.
- Elf has stolen the family’s underwear and is using it to decorate the Christmas tree.
- Elf has wrapped himself in some Christmas paper.
- Elf is riding in one of the children’s toy cars.
- Elf has written a message on the bathroom sink using toothpaste.
- Elf has a message reading “just one day to go…”.
- Elf is surrounded by all the gifts on Christmas Day morning.
Get the free cheat sheet
Download and print off my simple Elf on the Shelf cheat sheet by clicking here:
I’ve got over 55 Elf on the Shelf ideas here if you need more inspiration.
If you need more ideas for how to welcome back your Elf on the Shelf then check out this post.
