When December rolls round there are more than enough things to think about, so you don’t want Elf on the Shelf ideas to be one of them.
Let me help you take this one off your plate with these 40+ funny Elf on the Shelf ideas for toddlers.
Many are simple and take only minutes to set up, but they have big impact! Your little ones will adore these fun Elf on the Shelf ideas for Christmas.
Don’t forget to check out my other Elf ideas, including these funniest Elf on the Shelf ideas and my free Elf on the Shelf printable fortune teller.
Funny toddler Elf on the Shelf ideas
Elf rides a reindeer
Elf is riding on a toilet roll reindeer. This is one of those golden ideas that is quick to do and you’ll already have everything in for, but has maximum impact. They’ll love it.
Just get black and red pens to draw on a face and either draw on antlers or add a headband if you have one.
Elf does a magic trick
Elf has one or more eggs (depending on how many kids you have) on the kitchen counter plus a little dish with glitter or sprinkles inside.
Leave a note that says your children must sprinkle the magical confetti on the eggs and tomorrow there will be a big surprise.
The next day put out two Kinder Eggs, or similar egg-shaped treat, instead of the real eggs. This one gives you two days of ideas!
Elf is riding on a sleigh
This works even better if you attach some of your child’s favourite action figures to the sleigh with wool or string as if they are pulling it! You could make it look like elf has crashed into the tree!
I got my sleigh for the elf from Amazon here.
Loo roll stunt
Elf has rolled down the stairs inside a toilet roll, leaving toilet paper trailing down the steps!
Elf is stuck inside stacked toilet rolls
Stack loo rolls and stick the Elf inside the middle of them.
You can make this even more fun by using pen to drawer lumps of coal on the toilet rolls, plus add a little cloth to make it look like a scarf, to make them look like a snowman!
Elf has Minions
Elf has drawn a smiley face on the bananas! This one is super low maintenance to do.
Alternatively if your child is a Minions fan, elf has drawn Minion faces on the bananas! I also wrote “Ba-na-na” on mine!
Elf has a choir
Write the lyrics to your toddler’s favourite song on a piece of paper and stick googly eyes to some empty cans.
This one is so much fun!
Elf has shined the shoes
All you need is a pair of shoes and some kitchen foil for this one. Wrap a pair of your child’s shoes in foil and leave a note saying “I shined your shoes”.
Elf is frying an egg
This is a brilliant last-minute idea that you can put together as long as you have some gummy eggs, like from Haribo, in the house.
Put the egg in a frying pan – or add a few eggs – and then have Elf sit next to the pan holding a spatula as if he is frying the egg for breakfast.
A toy kidnapped Elf
Your child’s favourite toy has kidnapped the Elf and used tape to stick him to a wall or door.
I used the Labubu here and some Christmas tape, but you can use your child’s favourite toy as an example. It takes just seconds to tape the Elf to whatever surface you choose.
Elf drew on the eggs
This is such a simple but really funny idea! Grab your box of eggs from the fridge and doodle faces on them.
You could stick with a theme – such as drawing only animal faces or Christmas elves – or just draw a range of emotions. I did a mixture for ours.
Elf gets creative with toilet paper
Elf has cut some shapes into toilet paper.
All you need to do is fold around 20 sheets of toilet paper back on themselves, keeping them attached to the role, then cut some triangles out of the sides. When you unravel, there’s a cool pattern.
Elf is drinking maple syrup
Grab a jar of maple syrup, open the lid and stick a straw into it. Then place Elf so he looks like he’s slurping up the syrup through the straw. Takes seconds to do, guaranteed to make them laugh.
If you don’t have syrup then try hot sauce or another condiment you can leave open overnight.
Elf is feeding the dinosaurs
Grab your child’s toy dinosaurs – or any kind of animal figures they own – and place a sign saying “do not feed the dinosaurs”.
Get out your child’s toy dinosaurs and make it look as if Elf is feeding them. I used mini marshmallows but you could use sweets or chocolate.
Writing with toothpaste
Elf has used toothpaste to write “2 days until Christmas”, or just a simple “Hi”, on tiles in the bathroom.
Elf is climbing
Use Christmas bows to create a ladder for your elf on a wall or kitchen cupboards, or maybe up the side of the fridge.
I stuck the bows to the wall using Blu-Tack and also used that to secure the Elf in place on the wall so he looks like he’s climbing up to reach the kitchen counter.
Elf is hanging out
Grab an empty toilet roll and thread some string or ribbon through it. You can then hang it from somewhere around your home and either thread Elf through the middle or sit him on top as if he’s using a swing.
Elf grated some M&Ms
You’ll need some crayons and a pack of M&Ms for this trick. Skittles work too!
Just get out a grater from your kitchen, gently grate the tops of some crayons and then place some M&Ms spilling out of the grater.
Elf is cuddling a teddy bear
This idea can be done at the last minute as long as you have some gummy bears in the house.
Place one in elf’s arms and he’s having a cuddle with his bear!
Chocolate at the end of the rainbow
Get some chocolate coins and leave a note saying elf found them at the end of the rainbow!
Elf steals the candy
Naughty elf has stolen all the candy canes and is holding them all hostage on the Christmas tree!
Elf is having spa day
This one looks cool but is simple to put together. Use tissues to wrap around the Elf’s body and head to make it look as if they are towels. Then take a small bowl – I used a dipping bowl – and fill with either mini marshmallows or cotton wool balls.
Put Elf’s feet in the bowl and it looks like Elf is enjoying a spa break! Get some paper circles and colour them in green then stick on his eyes to make it look like cucumber slices too.
Elf made the tap produce gummy bears
Elf on the Shelf idea the Elf has managed to cast a spell that causes gummy bears to spill out of the faucet in the bathroom.
I have a guide for how I do the candy out of the tap Elf trick here – you can use any type of candy you want.
Milk kidnapped the Elf
The milk has kidnapped the Elf! Draw a scary face on your milk carton and tie the Elf up with tape or string, then put some tape over his mouth.
Leave a note saying “Help! The milk’s gone bad!”
Elf on thin ice
The elf has fallen through the ice and cannot get out!
Use cling film (also known as saran wrap) to cover the sink and then create a small hole in the middle.
Add mini white marshmallows around the edges and some flour or sugar as the snow. A note saying “Danger! Thin Ice” completes the stunt. You can download blank Elf note templates here.
Elf is hiding
Elf is underneath an upturned glass and has left a note saying they’re hiding from someone’s fart. It could be “dad”, “mum” or their favourite toy.
Elf snowball fight
Elf is using mini mashmallows to have a snowball fight with your child’s favourite toy – I’ve used a Labubu here.
I hope your little one adores these Elf on the Shelf ideas. Check out these free Elf notes for more simple inspiration.
