These easy Elf on the Shelf ideas are sure to be BIG hits with your family this holiday season!
They require minimal effort but bring LOTS of Christmas magic, with most only requiring a simple note or prop that is probably already laying around your home.
Hopefully these ideas will help your Elf bring lots of holiday magic this December!
Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas for a Magical Christmas!
My boys are ages 11 and 8 and still believe in the magic of Christmas, which I love. They still look forward to receiving their letters from Santa every December, and I hope they stay innocent for as long as possible.
Because honestly, growing up sucks.
We’ve been doing the Elf on the Shelf thing for six years now, so this holiday season isn’t our first festive rodeo.
No, maam. Been there, done that, woke up in a panic at 2am realizing we forgot to move our elf and have to covertly maneuver through the silent house without waking up the children and thereby creating a traumatic core memory that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
So yeah, my husband and I are seasoned pros at this whole elf thing.
It’s definitely a love-hate relationship too, because while I adore the excitement and wonder my boys display every morning after searching for and then seeing what surprise Charley has in store, it can also be a bit of a pain in the ass.
I mean, as a mom, I’m already the Maker of the Magic and responsible for everything else, so this sometimes feels like just one more thing on my never-ending To Do list. #holidayfatigue
I know that probably sounds rather Scroogey, but I’m just keeping it real.
That’s why EASY is the name of the game in this house, with sporadic bursts of extra effort scattered around when my energy levels rebound.
We’ve gone from the bare minimum of having Charley play hide-and-seek around the house (ahhhh, what a simpler time), to creating semi-elaborate scenes or interactive activities for our kiddos to take part in.
Below I’m sharing some of our favorite easy Elf on the Shelf ideas that are simple but still bring the WOW factor and are sure to impress kids of all ages on any December morning.
Most only need things you probably already have in your home, or maybe a trip to the dollar store or Target.
Elf on the Shelf Add-Ons to Buy
Before we begin with the easy Elf on the Shelf ideas my family has loved over the years, I wanted to share this for anyone who may not know.
There are TONS of pre-made props that you can purchase to make the holiday season extra festive (and oh so simple) for your Elf’s daily appearances:
- 25 & 28 Day Elf on the Shelf Kits with an entire holiday season’s worth of props
- Elf on the Shelf Accessories
- Elf on the Shelf Clothes & Costumes
- Elf on the Shelf Pets with Spin-Off Books
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Drawing on Framed Photo
When does your elf return to your home each year? Are you Team Day After Thanksgiving or Team December 1st?
We always look forward to Charley’s return every first of December. Mainly because it’s easy to remember when his big reappearance will be, but also because it’s fewer days us parents have to mess with moving him.
An easy idea for Day 1 is to have your Elf’s big return start with a cheeky message.
All you need are a few dry erase markers and then your elf can leave a funny note on any picture in your home (mustaches and fae ears optional).
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Coffee is for Grownups
One of the biggest tips I can give for easy Elf on the Shelf ideas is to MAKE NOTES.
They allow for your elf to communicate without speaking and are the epitome of simple.
This coffee idea and note is sure to bring a smile to any Encanto fan’s face and can easily be done by using leftover brew from the day before.
Throw in a straw and maybe some googly eyes and you’re all set (and don’t worry, they didn’t pull off Charley’s eye paint when removing them… *phew*).
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Santa Says No Screens
Here’s an easy Elf on the Shelf idea for when screen time limits have been reached (or perhaps when the kiddos are teetering on venturing into Naughty List territory and need a gentle reminder to shape up).
Just make a note from the Big Man himself and wrap it up along with your elf using some plastic wrap and tada!
Those devices are now off limits for a day, by orders from the Big Man himself.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Introduce a New Book and/or Stuffie Gift
We used this idea after my youngest watched this book‘s show version (thanks Netflix) and fell in love with the adorable Saint Bernard.
Since our family also happened to have a couple new real life doggos join our family as pets that year, I ordered the book and stuffed dog gift set, and then we added a personalized note for our family that Charley delivered.
Needless to say, our son was amazed at Charley’s surprise and promptly named his new fuzzy friend Mistletoe, whom he still sleeps with every night.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Santa and his Traindeer
My boys might have outgrown playing with their toy trains regularly, but the youngest is still very attached and doesn’t want to donate them just yet.
Their personalized trains-turned-DIY-ornaments are some of our favorites to hang on our tree each holiday season, too.
For this idea, just have your elf sitting in an impromptu sleigh (even a shoe would work), then line up the trains as reindeer.
Add some twine reins, pipe cleaner antlers, and a red pompom nose for Rudolph if you’d like and you’re set.
No trains? No problem!
You can easily adjust this idea for toy cars, action figures, dinosaurs, whatever.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Candy “Ball Pit”
Colorful Candies + Bowl = Easy!
And self-explanatory.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Toilet Paper Snowman
All you need for this idea is a couple markers and a Santa hat, and your surplus toilet paper turns into a festive snowman.
Throw in a ribbon scarf if you’re feeling squirrely.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Card or Board Game with a Friend
Have your elf and another holiday decoration engage in a friendly competition.
Just pull out any card or board game from a closet and then set the scene.
At our house, Charley and Santa decided to play this quick, easy, and fun for the whole family card game (with the help of these handy card holders).
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: North Pole Candy Garden
Every spring and summer, we tend to a couple raised garden beds in our side yard (and enjoy creating our own DIY garden markers), so it only felt right to bring in a festive indoor version for the holidays.
This holiday magic-infused garden featured red and green peanut M&M candies as the soil and Tootsie Pops as the plants, with some faux leaves made out of scrapbook paper.
The boys loved Charley referencing one of our family’s hobbies, and especially eating the candy before breakfast…tis the season!
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: “Toasty” Bread Blanket
For this cheeky idea, simply cut out four openings in a slice of bread for your elf’s arms and legs, then pop it in the toaster.
Once it pops back up, you have yourself a toasty Snuggie-esque blanket to keep your elf warm on a cold December morning.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Melted Snowman Friend
Not every snowman is as lucky as Olaf and doesn’t have a frozen queen who can keep him from melting in warmer climates.
But you can use that to your advantage with this simple melted snowman idea for your elf.
Fill a bowl with some water and toss in a couple googly eyes, a pair of twig arms, and a carrot nose, and you have yourself a melted Frosty.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: LEGO Holiday Message
Raid your kiddo’s LEGO collection and whip up a festive holiday message!
Anything will do, whether Christmasy words or a holiday/winter LEGO scene or minifigs (even with a random Chewbacca because why not?).
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Christmas Tree {Cakes} for Sale
Sweet treats are always a hit, so turn the beloved Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes into a miniature baked good tree farm.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt
Hands down, Charley’s candy cane scavenger hunt is still the all-time favorite Elf activity of both of my boys.
Interactive ideas are just the best.
Simply hide a package of candy canes all around the house and send the kiddos off for a morning of excitement, friendly competition, and a sweet reward.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Hershey Kiss Costume
A little aluminum foil and a ‘KISSES’ tag turn any elf into a jumbo version of the beloved chocolate candies.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Science Experiment with Skittles
It’s not just about the fun and games (and candy) for elves!
Nope, sometimes they even get a little educational.
This Science with Skittles idea was really fun for the boys to first guess what they thought would happen, then watch as the colors started bleeding and mixing.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Sleepover with Friends
This elf sleepover idea was so dang simple.
Just grab a bunch of socks (preferably clean ones) and use them as mini sleeping bags for your elf and a gaggle of their friends.
Ours decided to sleep in the cats’ window bed because why not?
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Dog and Cat Treat “Cookies”
If you’ve got pets in the house, use a few of their treats for your cookie tester elf to try and rate before Santa’s big arrival on the 24th.
Be sure to break some apart and leave the plate extra crumby for maximum authenticity.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Gummy Bear Rock Climbing
Yes, I know, this idea and the one that follows aren’t as quick and easy as setting out some candy or shoving your elf in a sock.
However, I promise they’re both worth the extra effort.
This gummy bear rock climbing scene shows that your elf can be sporty too!
Easy Elf on the Shelf Idea: Elf Perler Bead Ornament
My youngest son takes after his momma and loves getting his craft on, especially with perler beads.
He helped me make a collection of perler bead Christmas ornament frames last year, so Charley decided to put in a little extra effort one night and made a perler bead ornament of himself for us.
Now we have another sweet keepsake ornament to add to our Christmas tree every holiday season, and it’s one that we’ll always remember our sweet elf by.
From our elf, Charley, to yours–Merry Christmas!
If You Enjoyed This…
Make sure you check out my other free printables and cut files, home improvement projects, and more holiday creations, like these fun Christmas ideas!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Merry Christmas!
