The Best Easy Elf On The Shelf Ideas For Busy Families

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Super easy Elf on the Shelf ideas that the kids will be guaranteed to love. Includes a free printable arrival and goodbye letter for added excitement.

These awesome ideas won’t take up much time and won’t make any mess. These are the perfect ideas for busy families.

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Last year we had a new friend join us for the lead up to Christmas.

He was a little cheeky fella in a red suit called Cookie. He was one of Santa’s Elf’s who took it upon himself to come into the home and have a bit of a fun.

What Is Elf On The Shelf?

If you really have no idea what this Elf on the Shelf business is all about, it really is quite simple.

Elf on the Shelf is still a relatively new concept, but it has hit the world by storm. It is basically a little Elf that visits your home from the North Pole until Christmas.

He watches over the kids, reports back to Santa and generally has a good old time. It sounds a little creepy at first, but the kids absolutely LOVE it.

The Elf moves around to different locations each night and the kids have a blast in the morning checking out what has been getting up to.

All you need to get started is a little Elf, and it is easy to purchase an Elf on the shelf kit containing your little trouble maker.

Where Should You Hide The Elf On The Shelf?

Now I had heard about the Elf on the Shelf for a few years, but I had been very reluctant to join in the trend. I mean really, Christmas is busy enough as it is without creating more things to do.

If I am honest, one of the biggest reasons I didn’t want to do it was because I had no idea where I would hide the elf on the shelf every night.

The thought of having to think of somewhere to put this little Elf every night and actually remember to change his location was all too much.

Last year however I succumbed, and I invited the little Elf to join our home. I’m so glad that I did because the kids absolutely loved it and in reality it really wasn’t that much work!

Granted, I was a little bit late to the party and I didn’t invite the elf until a few days into December, but this year I am more organised and I will be ready to go for the first of December.

SO where should you hide the Elf on the shelf?

Seriously ANYWHERE!

It really doesn’t matter. Anywhere and everywhere is a great location. What you may think is a silly place to hide him is actually perfect.

Still not convinced? Read on to try these easy Elf on the Shelf ideas.

Elf On The Shelf Ideas Don’t Have To Be Messy!

I have to admit that one of the reasons I was not keen on the little Elf was because I really didn’t want to be bothered with the whole mess that the Elf creates.

Then I felt rather silly as the Elf isn’t actually real (shock horror) and the Elf only does what you actually make him do!

So, if you want your Elf to be a cheeky little so and so that causes havoc and chaos for the whole of December then that’s great.

(Disclaimer: you probably won’t like these Elf on the shelf ideas as none of them are really that naughty or messy!).

However if you like me just want to have a little bit of fun with the little man and are happy for some cheeky little interactions, then read on because these Elf on the Shelf ideas are just that.

So once I accepted that my little elf would only be as cheeky, messy or naughty as I allowed him to be, I decided he could stay.

I would keep all of my make up intact. My tube of toothpaste would be where it should be every morning, and I wouldn’t have to go out and buy a whole new pack of toilet paper because the Elf had run around the house with it all night.

This would be all good. My Elf would be controlled by me, and would be a fun, cheeky but well behaved elf.

Sorted.

The Elf on the Shelf could stay!

Elf On The Shelf Ideas Can Be Totally EASY!

Another thing holding me back from inviting the little elf into my home was that I thought that it would take up too much time.

Another light bulb moment. The Elf only needs to take up as much time as you want it too. It sounds silly when I write it down, but I really did think this elf was going to eat up my evenings every night.

Well, with a total of one minute taken up every night, this little elf really didn’t ruin my evening.

So with that all out of the way, are you ready for some super easy and quick Elf on the Shelf ideas?

Let me invite you into my home and share what my little Elf Cookie got up to last year.

Remember, I didn’t start him until a few days into December so there are not a full 24 ideas here. However, I’m sure you will find that these are enough to give you some great easy inspiration and you will be able to be just as creative coming up with new ideas that your home caters for.

Elf on the Shelf arrival letter:

Make a grand entrance with your elf with a welcome letter.

If this is the first time that an elf will have entered your home, you will need to be able to explain what is going on to the kids. You can’t explain it as you are not an elf, so let the little man do it for you!

You will see that most of the advent calendar doors are open here. That’s because I forgot to take a photo on day one, so re-created this when the kids wern’t looking!

Not sure how you will create your own welcome letter? I have it all sorted for you, and it’s ready and waiting for you to download from the free printable library.

Elf on the shelf plays with fruit:

This one is very easy to do, and the kids think it’s great to take a smiley banana to school the next day. You can do this on any fruit that has skin.

Elf plays with Christmas decorations:

This can be done with any Christmas ornaments that you have. The kids thought this one was hilarious.

Then he jumped and played on Santa’s rope too.

And even jumped into a couple of the stockings.

elf on the shelf playing with a stocking

Elf on the Shelf watches television:

How easy is this one to re-create. As soon we finished watching TV we simply placed the remote control into the Elf’s lap and went to bed. Super simple.

On another night, we left him hanging on the side of the TV.

Elf on the shelf hangs on the side of the tv

Elf on the Shelf sits in the Christmas tree:

It took ages for the kids to find the Elf here, which did cause an initial panic, but then a lot of laughter.

Elf on the Shelf likes to eat:

The little Elf jumped into the fridge for a midnight snack and grabbed one of the dolls blankets to keep warm. He’s a pretty smart Elf after all!

Another time, he simply helped himself to the bowl of cherries.

Elf plays with the kids toys:

This is super simple to recreate and can be done with any toys you like. The Elf set up the entire train set by himself overnight.

elf on the shelf plays with the train set

He enjoyed a candlelight dinner.

Plus, he took it upon himself to do some coloring in.

Elf on the shelf plays around with house furniture:

The Elf was caught hanging from one of the light shades.

Elf on the shelf hangs from a light shade

He even tried attempting hand stands on the fireplace.

Another time he was simply found reading a Christmas card.

Say goodbye to Elf on the Shelf with a free printable:

Before I knew it, Christmas eve arrived and it was time to say goodbye to our little Elf. I survived, the house remained intact and it really wasn’t as much of an effort as I had previously thought it would be.

On Christmas eve the little Elf was sitting good as gold with a farewell note in hand and a Santa chocolate bar for each of the kids.

My daughter then wrote him a farewell note back and placed it in his lap before heading off to bed.

Download The Elf on The Shelf FREE Printable Letters

Are you ready to give an Elf a go in your home this year?

Hopefully these super easy Elf on the Shelf ideas have helped to alleviate any concerns you had about how time consuming it might be.

To help with his arrival and departure you can use the letters that I have available for you in the free printable library.

See more printables: 10 Free Elf On The Shelf Printables You Won’t Want To Miss

So after putting off getting an Elf on the Shelf for a couple of years, I finally succumbed and I’m glad I did. The kids loved having him around and he barely imposed on my busy schedule at all. In fact, we actually found it quite fun putting him in his new location each night.

Besides, the excitement of the kids every single morning leading up to Christmas was well worth the little bit of time spent moving his position each night.

So what do you think. Are you going to invite the Elf on the Shelf into your home this year?

Need some more Christmas ideas? Check out these easy magical Christmas ideas the whole family can enjoy. You will find printables, simple recipes, decorations and more.

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