If your family has a Christmas elf, you know the feeling: it’s 11 PM and the elf still hasn’t moved. Here are some of our favorite quick ideas from our own house, all made with everyday things.
Quick and easy elf ideas
- Breakfast surprise: the elf “cooks” chocolate eggs in a frying pan with a note: “I made you breakfast!”
- Donut shop: set up a mini bakery with a few donuts and sprinkles.
- Snowball fight: cotton balls or pom-poms in a basket make the perfect snowballs.
- Banana faces: the elf draws silly faces on the bananas with a marker.
- Stuck in bandages: the elf gets caught in bandages on the mirror and leaves a “HELP!” note.
- Candy cane fishing: the elf goes fishing for crackers with a candy cane rod.
- Art class: the elf sets up crayons or paints with a note asking your child to color together.
- Measuring up: the elf stands on wrapping-paper “legs” to measure how much your child has grown.
Tip: keep a little box of props (mini trees, a letter board, pom-poms, paper) so setups take two minutes.
Want every night planned for you?
Our printable Christmas Elf Kit includes 24 nights of easy ideas, a Welcome Back sign, an elf passport, a report card and excuse notes for the nights your elf “forgets” to move. Add your child’s and elf’s names in Canva and print at home.