Elf on the shelf ideas for every day of December

An idea for every day of December

1. December 1

   The elf arrives

   The elf waits by the breakfast plates with a letter from Santa: it stays until Christmas Eve, and nobody may touch it.

   You need: the elf, a letter from Santa

2. December 2

   Toilet paper blizzard

   The elf wraps the Christmas tree in toilet paper and sits on the roll underneath.

   You need: a roll of toilet paper

3. December 3

   Gone fishing

   The elf fishes in the empty sink with a pencil rod and a string, paper fish all around it.

   You need: a pencil, string, paper, scissors

4. December 4

   Snow angel

   The elf makes a snow angel in a thin layer of flour on a baking tray, and the flour goes back in the jar afterwards.

   You need: flour, a baking tray

5. December 5

   Block castle

   Overnight the elf builds a castle of blocks and leaves a teddy bear to guard the gate.

   You need: building blocks, a teddy bear

6. December 6

   Good morning on the mirror

   Sticky notes on the bathroom mirror spell out “Good morning!”, and the elf hides behind the last one.

   You need: sticky notes, a pen

7. December 7

   Story time

   The elf reads a bedtime story to the soft toys sitting around it in a circle.

   You need: soft toys, a small book

8. December 8

   Zip line

   The elf rides a clothes hanger down a string tied between the backs of two chairs.

   You need: string, a clothes hanger, two chairs

9. December 9

   Sock sleeping bag

   The elf sleeps in a sock with a tissue for a pillow, worn out by all that mischief.

   You need: a sock, a tissue

10. December 10

    Snowball fight

    The elf and the soft toys throw cotton balls at each other all over the living room.

    You need: cotton balls, soft toys

11. December 11

    Paper snowflakes

    The elf cuts snowflakes out of paper and tapes them to the window, the scissors back in the drawer.

    You need: white paper, scissors, tape

12. December 12

    Secret Santa for the toys

    The elf draws names out of a mug so that each toy gives a present to another.

    You need: slips of paper, a pen, a mug, toys

13. December 13

    Car race

    The elf races toy cars on a track of tape across the floor, a paper flag at the finish.

    You need: masking tape, toy cars, paper

14. December 14

    Camping trip

    The elf camps under a napkin tent next to a campfire of red and yellow paper.

    You need: a napkin, two pencils, red and yellow paper

15. December 15

    Breakfast is served

    The elf sets the table for breakfast and waits with a spoon in its hand.

    You need: bowls, spoons, napkins

16. December 16

    Self-portrait

    The elf draws a picture of itself and sticks it on the fridge with a magnet.

    You need: paper, crayons, a magnet

17. December 17

    Tape web

    The elf is caught in a web of tape across a doorway, at the height of the children.

    You need: masking tape

18. December 18

    Sock snowman

    The elf builds a snowman out of rolled-up white socks and lends it a scarf.

    You need: white socks, a scarf

19. December 19

    Kitchen concert

    The elf drums on a pot with a wooden spoon for an audience of soft toys.

    You need: a pot, a wooden spoon, soft toys

20. December 20

    Paper chain

    The elf glues a paper chain long enough to cross the whole room.

    You need: strips of paper, glue or tape

21. December 21

    Treasure hunt

    The elf leaves a clue that leads to the next one, and the last one to a small treat.

    You need: paper, a pen, a small treat

22. December 22

    Wrapped remote

    The elf wraps the TV remote like a present, bow and all.

    You need: wrapping paper, tape, a ribbon

23. December 23

    Reindeer team

    The elf turns toilet roll tubes into a team of reindeer with drawn-on antlers.

    You need: toilet roll tubes, a marker

24. December 24

    Goodbye

    On Christmas Eve the elf leaves a letter: thank you for December, it is off back to Santa, see you next year.

    You need: a letter from the elf

How the elf on the shelf works

On the evening before December 1 the elf moves in with a letter from Santa. Each night, once the children are asleep, it gets up to some mischief, and in the morning they look for where it is now. Nobody touches the elf: it only watches.

The quick ideas take five minutes on a tired evening; the bigger ones are for the weekend. None of them needs fire, medicine or climbing, and food stays food.

Also useful

A new elf in the house? Name your elf.

• Elf arrival letter printable – goodbye letter and morning notes
• Letter from Santa – free printable you fill in
• Advent calendar: make one online, or fill one at home
• How many days until Christmas?

Drawing names for gifts too? Secret Santa on santa.haus.