Participating in Elf on the Shelf can be fun but also exhausting for parents. Fortunately, we’re not alone in that struggle, and a lot of other parents have shared their ideas online to help make the experience better for us all. We’ve rounded up some of the best Elf on the Shelf hacks from TikTok that will hopefully make this elf season smoother than ever before.
Elf on the Shelf typically starts either right after Thanksgiving or on December 1 — it’s up to each family how long they want to do it. It’s a time of year where kids look forward to having their little red elf friend spend the holiday season with them. Some parents say the elf monitors the children’s behavior and reports it to Santa while also pulling little pranks each night as the elf moves around the house.
Whether your family does it exactly that way or not, these hacks are sure to make the elf’s arrival this year a little more fun.
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Pose the elf.
You’ll be able to put your elf into more creative positions if you use TikToker @biehler’s floral wire hack. She cut small holes into the ends of the elf’s arms and legs and inserted floral wire to make the elf bendable. You can also use acrylic tape like TikToker @stefnay.are.you.okay to stick the elf’s hands to objects.
Shop the doll aisle.
TikToker @cheypaige discovered that most dollar store doll clothes fit the elf, so now we can use that hack to dress our elf up in different fun outfits. We can also look at the dollhouse miniatures (furniture, accessories, etc.) like @theonly_cassidy did to set up cute little scenes with our elves.
Change the elf's meaning.
Some parents don’t like the idea of telling their children that the elf is “spying” on them for Santa, but you can still do Elf on the Shelf with a different backstory. TikToker @myromehome explained in a video that she just uses the elf to make December more fun for her kids. In her case, the elf is a harbinger of Christmas spirit, not a spy.
Not all elves are naughty.
Not only does the elf not need to be a spy, it also doesn’t need to create messes. In fact, having a helpful elf can make December even easier on parents. TikToker @_ohcaroline had her elf give the kids instructions to help make breakfast, put stamps on Christmas cards, etc.
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Use the elf to encourage kindness.
Call the elf a kindness scout like teacher @ohheymissd does with her classroom elf. Every day, the elf brings a new kindness task for the students to complete. What a fun way to teach kids about being nice and giving back this holiday season.
Traveling with the elf.
Traditionally, children aren’t supposed to touch the elf or it hurts their magic. So if you’re traveling for the holidays and want to bring the elf, you can get a carrying container, as TikToker @ally_dore suggested. Try this one on Amazon.
Forgetting the elf.
Let’s say you did leave town and you forgot the elf or you couldn’t bring it with you. TikToker @marissaamichael has a hack for that as well. Simply write a letter (or an email) “from” your elf. Have it explain that it had to return to the North Pole briefly to help Santa. Marissa even photoshopped the elf into a reindeer selfie that she found online to really sell the story.
Record the elf 'moving.'
A fun way to surprise your kids is to capture video of their elf “moving.” TikToker @yessicaaa15 has a tutorial on how to make it look like your elf was caught rummaging through some cereal in the kitchen. You’ll need two people to stage the video.
Get a non-magic elf, too.
The second you tell a child that they can’t do something — like touch the elf — it usually becomes all they want to do. That’s why TikToker @emilyjeanne333 has a second, “non-magic” elf toy for the kids to use. Parents can have the real elf bring the double as a toy for the child.
Have the elf 'take' the stockings.
In the same TikTok video, @emilyjeanne333 also explained that she uses the elf to help her with tasks like getting stockings ready. A few days before Christmas, she has the elf “take” the stockings back to the North Pole. This just gives Emily some time to get the stockings filled prior to the actual day.
There’s so much to do on Christmas Eve, so checking this task off early can be helpful.
Get an elf kit.
Sometimes we just run out of ideas or we don’t have time to think of scenarios for our elf. That’s where buying an elf kit can come in handy, as TikToker @jenna.and.her.gents suggested. They sell these on sites like Amazon or Etsy. The kits come with all of the ideas, props, and signs needed to fulfill 24 days of Christmas elf magic.
It doesn't need to cost money.
Some parents choose to set up very elaborate elf scenes. But as @myromehome explained in a TikTok video, sometimes it’s just enough to move the elf around. She said she sometimes puts the elf in her kid’s shoe or in a cereal box to surprise the child. Shelling out a ton of money on elf supplies is not necessary.
Do activities instead of gifts.
Your elf also doesn’t need to bring the kids treats and toys every day. TikToker @celenakinsey has the elf set up different sensory activities for her kids to do. For example, scooping ornaments out of a tray filled with water, mixing coconut flakes with water for a snowy play setting, or having them unwrap different items.
These activities are cost effective and help to work on the children’s fine motor skills.
Answer tough questions.
Kids are inquisitive so they may have some questions that require creative answers. Thanks to TikTok videos from @brittanydepalma and @tara.and.evy (and the comments on those videos), here are some answers for likely questions.
- “Why doesn’t everybody have an elf?” — Some kids have very big windows that Santa can use to check on them, some parents have different contracts with Santa and don’t need an elf, etc.
- “Why didn’t the elf move last night?” — If you forget to move the elf, tell the child that the elf is saving up its magic for a bigger surprise later on or that maybe the ceiling fan was left on and the elf was afraid to fly around it. Or maybe the elf is tired or just got stuck for a little while.
- “Why are there elves in stores?” — If a kid sees an elf toy at a store, we can tell them that some parents adopt elves from stores. Or maybe they’re there to make sure you behave while shopping. Or it’s just a prototype you buy and mail to Santa, who then turns the elf magic.
They’re sure to have more questions, but we can think quickly to keep that magic alive.
How to say goodbye to the elf.
When the time comes to no longer participate in Elf on the Shelf, parents can help the child say goodbye to the elf by writing a letter from the elf, as TikToker @aimeerosedesigns did.
Some sample concepts to put in the letter: The children are older and are very good all year long now, so they don’t need the elf to watch them. Or maybe explaining that there were lots of children born that year and the elf needs to go to another family. Or maybe saying that the elf got a new assignment to help Santa at the North Pole.
It’s hard to end a tradition, but the letter offers some closure.
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