‘Tis the time of year when those mischievous little ‘Elf on the Shelf‘ Elves come out to play! It’s such a fun time seeing our kids laugh, while their heads fill with wonder whenever they see their silly Elf hiding or doing something crazy.
So, how do we make sure to keep the spirit of the Elf alive during this season? Well I have some silly ideas that your child’s Elf can try out this year!
1. Come home with treats!
My daughter’s Elf comes home December 1st and leaves Christmas night with Santa. So it’s understandable that whenever her elf comes back from being away for so long, she comes with little treats! It doesn’t have to be a desert spread, but just a little treat that your kid won’t normally get on a regular day.
2. Let’s hang.
It’s so amusing to kids when they see things out of the norm, and what better way to spark their curiosity than with a hanging Elf! Let them hang from a chandelier, coat hanger or curtain rod- it’s so easy and the kids love it!
3. Let them eat… pie!
Elves get hungry too right? Of course! After going back and forth to the North Pole every night, they can work up an appetite. Find anything in the fridge that you can smear across the Elf’s face and leave the hungry Elf at the scene of the crime.
4. Scavenger Hunt.
This is a good way to keep those kids busy! Attach a little note to the Elf with 2-3 items for the kids to find. We used our pre-made scavenger hunt sign from an Elf on the Shelf Kit we bought on Amazon.
5. Bring some magic in the home.
I love it when I see the sparkle in my kid’s eyes when she sees something magical. Here’s how you can get this sparkle in your kid’s eyes too!
- Crush candy cane (or you can use uncrushed tick-tacks) and place in a clear wrap
- Write instructions for your child. Here’s what I wrote: “Plant these magical seeds in sugar and wait overnight to see they bring. But they only work if you believe.” (I just gave my child a cup to put the seeds and sugar in)
- The night they ‘plant the seeds’.. you plant candy canes! They’ll wake up to a cup full of candy cane stems- and they’ll love it I promise!
I hope these helpful tips ignite your creativity during this Elf on the shelf season! Have fun making those childhood memories and don’t forget to take lots of pictures during these special times.
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Cute ideas! We have an elf on the shelf, too, who moves around the house. I love the “Let them eat pie” idea. My kids recently started asking to leave our elf cookies when I bake them. They figure she’s hungry, too, and needs a snack!
The kids would love seeing the Elf eating cookies! Especially since it was their idea and you know how kids love when things go their way 😉