Elf on the Shelf: 24 Fun & Easy Ideas for the Whole Month
Elf on the Shelf is such a fun tradition! I’ll be honest—I wasn’t 100% on board at first. Then a friend said, “Wouldn’t you have loved this when you were little?” and instantly I thought, yes, yes, YES!
Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year—it’s already so magical—and this just adds another layer of fun. I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to commit to setting up something every single day. But you know what? It is 1,000% worth it to see the magic through my kids’ eyes!
If you’re worried about forgetting to move the elf or running out of ideas, don’t be. The secret is to plan ahead—make a list, gather supplies, and you’ll be stress-free all December. One of my favorite places to stock up on elf props is the dollar store. They have the best miniatures—think puzzles, costumes, tiny furniture, and more.
This year will be extra special because my daughter is getting her first elf—so now we’ll have three elves causing mischief in our house! I’m pretty relaxed with our elf rules. My kids know they have to ask before touching them, but I don’t take away “elf magic” or use them as a punishment. I want them to remember the fun, silly elves that visited each Christmas, not little spies watching their every move.
Now, let’s get into 24 Elf on the Shelf ideas you can use to bring extra magic to your holiday season!
Day 1 – A New Elf Arrives!
This year, “Goe” the elf joined “Red” for double the Christmas fun! As always, the elves kicked off the season by bringing the kids their advent calendars—our favorite way to count down to Christmas!
Day 2 – Spider-Man Strikes!
Looks like Spider-Man stopped by last night and caught our elves in his web! The kids found “Red” and “Goe” all tangled up in white string, hanging around like they were trapped mid-mission. A quick and easy setup that got big laughs in the morning!
Day 3 – Orange You Glad It’s Christmas?
Today we caught Goe and Red sipping on a Cutie through a straw—because even elves need their daily dose of vitamin C!
Day 4 – Oreo Mission
The elves stacked cans to climb up onto the counter and sneak a taste of the Oreos—cookie crumbs everywhere!
Day 5 – Potty Humor
I’m not usually a fan of the “poop” elf setups, but this one was too easy to pass up—and the kids thought it was hilarious! The elves were found perched on top of a toilet paper roll, looking quite pleased with themselves. I have a feeling more “potty humor” might be in our future.
Day 6 – Monster Jam Madness
The elves turned the playroom into a full-on Monster Jam arena! Using Magna-Tiles for the stands, one elf took the wheel of a monster truck and pulled off a daring stunt—jumping right over the other elf while the crowd of toys cheered them on.
Day 7 – Snow Day Showdown
One elf spent the morning sledding with the Paw Patrol crew, while the other stood ready, tossing snowballs at him mid-ride. A little friendly winter mischief!
Day 8 – Gone Fishin’
Today the elves grabbed their poles and went fishing—right on our shower floor! Their catch of the day? Our fish tiles.
Day 9 – Game Night!
The elves came ready for some holiday fun, leaving us two new games to play—Snowball Scoop Challenge and an Elf Scavenger Hunt. Let the games begin!
Day 10 – Elf Rescue Mission
Today the elves suited up as firefighters to rescue a cat stuck in a “tree,” with the Paw Patrol team on the scene to lend a helping paw.
Day 11 – TP Tree Trouble
The elves went wild and toilet papered our Christmas tree! To make things even sillier, one elf ended up stuck inside the roll.
Day 12 – Is It Cake?
Inspired by the kids’ favorite show, the elves brought out Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes—nostalgic for me and a tasty surprise for them!
Day 13 – Home Sweet Home
The elves brought a cardboard house for the kids to decorate in the morning, complete with paint and markers. They even set up a cozy spot to sleep with a lantern—perfect timing since we had a power outage that night!
Day 14 – Elf Movie Night
The elves set up their very own movie theater with all their friends. They were showing Moana and even brought candy for the kids to take with them to see it in the theater!
Day 15 – Spa Night (Elf Style)
The elves surprised the kids with bath confetti and colorful bath tablets
Day 16 – Laundry Room Mischief
The naughty elves took over the laundry room! One was caught hanging upside down inside the dryer, clearly up to no good.
Day 17 – Butterfly Hunt
Today the elves went exploring in a “forest,” catching colorful butterflies and enjoying a little outdoor adventure.
Day 18 – Marshmallow Mayhem
The elves teamed up with Bluey and a friend for an epic marshmallow fight—fluffy ammo flying everywhere!
Day 19 – Pickle Ornament Mission
The elves climbed up a firetruck ladder to hang the pickle ornament on the Christmas tree—holiday tradition complete!
Day 20 – Clowning Around
One sneaky elf gave our family photo a makeover—adding bright red clown noses to everyone in the picture!
Day 21 – Elfbucks is Open
The elves opened their own Starbucks stand—serving up cake pops for the kids to enjoy!
Day 22 – Hot Wheels Car Wash
The elves built a car wash over the kitchen sink, using a sponge and plenty of Hot Wheels cars for a sudsy good time!
Day 23 – Puzzle Partners
The elves started working on a puzzle and left it out so the kids could help finish it.
Day 24 – Sweet Goodbyes
On their last night, Goe and Red snuggled up next to the kids in bed and snapped a photo to say goodbye—until next Christmas!
And just like that, another magical Elf on the Shelf season comes to an end! From silly pranks to sweet surprises, these little elves bring so much laughter and joy to our home every December. Whether you go all out with elaborate setups or keep it quick and easy, the memories you make are truly what matter most.
Until next year, Red and Goe—thanks for the giggles, the mischief, and the Christmas magic. 🎄✨