If your family was recently gifted an Elf on the Shelf, or you have one from last year, congratulations—you are now obligated to move this stuffed elf around your house for the next 25 nights. Hooray! But, you’ve also unlocked a new level in parenting where your creativity gets to shine—because trust us, your kids won’t let you forget it if the elf moves to the same spot two times in a row. So, how do you even begin to plan different ways to keep things unique and exciting for the whole month of December? Don’t worry, we’ll take it from here! All you have to do is remember to move the elf! Here are 10 things to try with your Elf on the Shelf this holiday season if you start to run out of fresh ideas.

Toilet Paper Tumble

Place your elf inside of an extra roll of toilet paper and set it at the bottom of the stairs. Next, unroll a few feet worth of toilet paper and run it down your stairs or around your banister. Boom—you’re done!

A Fresh Shave

Place your elf on your bathroom counter and lay a razor in its lap—don’t forget to dab a few dots of shaving cream on its face for the finishing touch!

On Dasher, On Dancer…

If you have something that resembles a sleigh, place your elf inside sitting up. If not, a small bowl will work just fine for this. Next, use an assortment of toy cars, figurines, or even Hershey Kisses in a 2×4 formation to resemble Santa’s eight reindeer, and place the ninth one in front to mimic Rudolph. Yes, Santa is real. Bonus points if you have a red pom pom to put on the “nose” of the toy at the top of the line!

Five Hidden Ornaments

For this one, grab five ornaments off your Christmas tree and hide them around the home. Then, attach a note to your elf that says “I’ve hid 5 ornaments around the house. Can you find them all?” Now, your kids have a fun morning scavenger hunt to complete!

Chilling Out

Wrap your elf in a washcloth or small towel and place it inside of your refrigerator or freezer. Then, you can attach a small note that says “I’m chilling out today!”. This one is perfect for lazy nights when you just don’t have it in you for some extravagant elf shenanigans. Bonus points if you wrap the red hat in a paper towel to mimic a spa turbee towel!

The Melted Snowman

Take a ramaken or small bowl and fill it with the remnants of a melted snowman. For eyes, you can use two chocolate chips or small rocks. For a nose, you can use a piece of a small carrot or the top of an orange crayon. Don’t forget to include two little twigs for arms and three small buttons if you have some on hand. Then, have your eld hold a note that says “Tried to bring you back a snowman… but he melted”!

A Picasso Painting 

This idea will work best if you have a vertical paper towel holder. If not, place your roll of paper towels standing up on your countertop with your elf sitting beside it. Take some colorful markers and scatter them around and write a note on the paper towels that says “X days of Christmas!”. 

A Toasty Day Inside 

Take an extra piece of toast and poke two holes in it using a straw. Place the elf’s arms inside of the two holes and write a note that says “It has been so cold outside but now I’m nice and toasty”—get it?

Funny Face Mirror

This is another bathroom one, perfect for nights when you don’t have a lot of time. Use lipstick or a dry erase marker to draw a mustache and fake beard on your mirror where it will line up with your kiddo’s face. You then can prop your elf up on your bathroom counter holding whatever you used to draw the face so that your kids will catch them red handed!

Q-tip Snowflakes

Take 3 Q-tips and place them in a snowflake formation—one vertical and two forming an “X” over top of it. Make a few of these and lay them across your bathroom or kitchen counter. Bonus points if you tie it together with dental floss and hang a few snowflakes on a towel rack or tie them to the doorknobs of your bathroom cabinets!

Regardless of how you choose to tackle this holiday season with your Elf on the Shelf, just know that you are making core memories for your kiddos that they will remember forever! Give yourself grace and be mindful that not every day requires an extravagant display. All of our Elf on the Shelf ideas use household supplies that you already have at home. You have enough on your plate this season, so remember to keep things light and easy for yourself! Happy Shelfing!