Trying to come up with a month’s worth of ideas for Elf on the Shelf can be quite a task. After all, we’re also busy shopping for Christmas, planning holiday meals, wrapping presents, and filling stockings. Not to mention we’re balancing our usual workload and chores. The elf is just one more thing on top of everything else. But kids really do love it, and it doesn’t have to be super stressful. Other parents have made our lives easier by posting some of their best Elf on the Shelf ideas on TikTok to use as inspiration.
Whether we want to DIY some elf things or we just want to buy kits and props to make everything super easy, here are 15 foolproof ways to entertain the kids with their elf — without doing a ton of the creative work ourselves.
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Personalized Envelope
For a personalized touch, parents can get an embroidered fabric envelope from Etsy to put the elf in. TikToker @kirstenmicco_ bought one to have the elf arrive in a cute “special delivery” package addressed to her daughter. The one Etsy sells also comes with a return envelope to “send” the elf back to the North Pole at the end of the season.
Pajama Arrival
Another cute way to have the elf arrive is in a box with a special gift like Christmas pajamas, which is what TikToker @mamamercedes_ did. She decorated the box with a bunch of holiday balloons to make it seem like it had floated over from the North Pole.
Scavenger Hunt
Make finding the elf a fun game like TikToker @virginiahlane did. She put a bunch of green, red, and gold plastic cups all over her living room floor, and under one of them was the elf. It turns the day into a scavenger hunt, which kids always love.
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Elf Pets
$26.95
from
There are three official Elf on the Shelf pets that parents can get for their kiddos. There’s a St. Bernard dog, a reindeer, and an arctic fox. TikToker @kaylafuhr bought the St. Bernard to go along with her elf. “They are a cute little extra to hide in the morning with your elf. The kids love it,” Kayla said in a TikTok video.
Grow Candy Canes
Want to knock two elf days out with one idea? Use @toribreen93‘s TikTok hack. On one day, have the kids plant magic “seeds” (aka sprinkles) in a cup of brown sugar. Then, the next day, stick some colorful candy canes in the jar so the kids can see that the sprinkles grew overnight.
Sticky Boots
Starting at
$16
from
North Pole Hiking Co.
The North Pole Hiking Co. sells elf-sized boots with sticky tape on the bottom so the elf can hang upside down from the ceiling, walk on walls, etc. The sticky tape is reusable for a few times and is designed not to damage paint. Check out one of the company’s TikTok videos to see the boots in action.
Candy Cane Zip Line
Tape a strip of ribbon from the ceiling to the wall and have your elf hanging from it on a candy cane, like @vallontiktok did on TikTok. It’ll look like the elf is zip lining, but the whole thing is out of the way enough that kids won’t be tempted to try to touch it.
Shrinking Machine
You can either DIY a “shrinking machine” using an old shipping box or buy the kit on Amazon. But either way, kids will love seeing the big cookies going in one side and getting smaller on the way out. If you want to DIY it, check out @mandapandaprojects‘ TikTok video for inspo.
Stuck in the TV
Need a break from coming up with new Elf on the Shelf ideas? When she needs a day off, TikToker @kristengailward hides the elf out of sight for a day and plays this YouTube video on the TV. It’s nine hours of an error message featuring the elf saying it got stuck inside the television.
Tree House Ornament
Melted Snowman
This idea from @itsashley013 on TikTok takes just seconds to set up, but it’s so cute. Pose the elf next to a melted glass of water that contains a carrot as well as two googly eyes. Write a little note that says the elf tried to bring a snowman back from the North Pole. Oops!
Holiday Spirit Sprinkles
All you need for this elf idea is a jar of sprinkles, such as this one from Target, and some tape. As @kristinnicolemiller_ showed on TikTok, cover a long piece of tape with sprinkles and tape it to your sink faucet. Have one end going toward the drain like it’s a stream of water, but it’s sprinkles. Then tape over the drain (to keep it clear) and dump a bunch more sprinkles on top. Lastly, write a note from the elf that reads they “sprinkled” too much holiday spirit!
Hug the Elf
Because kids aren’t supposed to touch the elf, making an exception for one day can be so thrilling! TikToker @kaylafilecaldwell had her elves write the kids a letter that said they could sprinkle some magic snow to hug their elves on that day. For the snow, you can use something like flour.
Saying Goodbye
When it’s time for the elves to leave at the end of the season, you can try @kristinnicolemiller_‘s hack. She dusted a powder (likely flour or powdered sugar) over the elves to leave a snowy silhouette next to a “See you next year!” sign. It’s never fun for the kids to say goodbye to their elves, but at least this is a memorable way for them to leave.
Elf Props
For extra inspo, Target is selling an Elf on the Shelf ideas set that comes with a bunch of props. Using the kit you can go bowling, sew a scarf, make coffee, or so much more. Also, as @couponjeana pointed out on TikTok, some Targets are also selling elf activity buckets in the Bullseye dollar section.
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