Here are 30+ Kid Friendly Elf on the Shelf Ideas to enjoy this holiday season!
We’ve been participating in the Elf on the Shelf for a while now!
Our elf started visiting our home in 2013 and my girls (and now son) remind me every year about our elf coming for a visit in December! We actually added a girl elf in 2019 to mix things up a bit!
Order Now: Elf on the Shelf Kits for 2021
Dollar Tree Elf on the Shelf Ideas
I have to say, hiding our elves and creating activities for the kids to enjoy is actually a lot of fun.
Finding new ways to display our elf does take a bit of time and creativity! This year, I’m planning ahead and getting things ready and in place before our elves arrive. It can be easy to forget to move the elves or come up with ideas when you are rushed or tired!
I have this printable checklist that goes with our ideas below to help you plan for your elf on the shelf this year.
>> CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST AND GET ACCESS TO THIS FREE PRINTABLE ELF ON THE SHELF LIST!
I wanted to compile a few of our favorite kid friendly Elf on the Shelf ideas for you that we have personally done, from 2013 to 2019.
If you need ideas for welcoming your elf back this year, check out these Elf on the Shelf I’m Back Ideas!
Not into planning this year? These Elf Kits below with 24 nights of activities, personalized letters, props, and more can help!
Elf on the Shelf Ideas
Here’s a great assortment of dolls to use for the tea party elf on the shelf idea.
Find KidKraft Dollhouse ideas at Amazon!
Check out Barbie cars on Amazon!
Find a variety of kids fishing poles for this idea!
Find the Fisher-Price Little People Musical Christmas Train at Amazon!
These deer figurines are similar to the ones pictured above.
Use these little learning book sets for this idea.
Shop the Crayon selection at Amazon!
These Disney Figurine Sets are perfect for this elf on the shelf idea!
The walking pet toys would be perfect to use for this Elf on the Shelf idea!
Check out these Elf on the Shelf Ornaments to add to your Christmas tree!
The horse toy options are great for this idea!
Use these foam blocks to recreate this idea above!
Shop Candyland games at Amazon and add this to your game closet!
Choose a paint set for kids!
Here are great Play-doh set ideas that you can use for this idea.
Check out this selection of Keurig coffee makers!
Here’s are ornaments to use for this idea.
You can use any bandages for this idea, but I recommend using bandages for kids! This bandage idea has been one of my kids favorite ideas of all!
Use these Christmas cookie sprinkles for baking this year!
Order Twister at Amazon!
Here are printable Twister boards for your elf, too!
Elf on the Shelf Printable Twister Prop
Create a shoe-shoe train with your elf!
Here are a few of my favorites from 2018 using a Spiderman toy:
Find 12 inch Spiderman action figure toys at Amazon!
Here are mini pool table toys for kids, too.
Elf on the Shelf 2019
My girls were begging for a girl elf to visit this year! She was a gift under the Christmas tree as a surprise on the first day back! See the letters below. They named her Crystal! Now Crystal and Clyde are busy creating fun activities, arts, crafts, and games for the kids all month.
“I’m back! I missed y’all so much and I couldn’t wait to see y’all again. I’m so proud of y’all for being good in school and doing your chores at home! GUESS WHAT?!?!? I have a COOL surprise for you – look under a tree. I think you’ll like it! Hint: DOUBLE THE FUN! Sincerely, Clyde P.S. Don’t open until parents are awake!”
Hide candy canes around the house.
Gather supplies to make an ornament.
Make a snowman craft!
Hide tiny gifts around the house for a game of hide and seek. Then, give a surprise when they find them all!
Have a movie night and watch your favorite Christmas movie
Create snowmen donuts with packages of powdered donuts.
Write a letter telling your kids they are smart! Use Smarties candy canes or candy.
Have fun in the kitchen! Help the kids bake cookies!
Jesus is the Reason for the Season! Paint crosses and display in your home.
Paint ornaments to hang on the tree.
Have your elves play hide and seek. If hints are needed, have a friend or family member text a hint “from the elves.” For this one, I had my mom text us that the elves were hungry and needed a snack.
Check back for more ideas from this year! I’ll try to update as often as possible! My kids LOVE coming downstairs to figure out what the elf did over night!
Elf on the Shelf 2020
For 2020, I put together several Dollar Tree Elf on the Shelf Ideas! Check them out, too! Keep scrolling for 2021 ideas.
Elf on the Shelf 2021
Our elves came down the fireplace on their first night back! They left a “We’re Back!” letter!
We’re Back Letter to Kids From Their Christmas Elves
Our elves brought candy to fill the Advent calendar for the month!
Find reusable Advent calendars here.
Find indoor snowballs for kids at Amazon!
My husband turned 40 this year! The elves had cake supplies and cards for the kids to make to celebrate!
This is a yearly tradition at my house. My 5 year old loves to put window clings on the windows in my house. Each child received their own set of Christmas window clings this year from the elves.
My kids always love finding things around the house, so this is becoming a yearly tradition where the elves hide candy canes around the house to find to add to our tree.
We took the kids to a concert to see our favorite band, For King & Country in Houston this month during their Little Drummer Boy Tour! Listen to their Christmas album here. It’s amazing!
When we came back to the house the elves set up mini gingerbread houses for the kids to decorate!
My kids love scavenger hunts! The elves set up two scavenger hunts this year so far!
Here are the scavenger hunts they used. These two scavenger hunts are FREE to print!
My kids love to paint! The elves left them three Christmas rock painting kits to work on for the weekend!
Pin to Pinterest:
This Tabletop Ceramic Lighted Green Christmas Tree could work for the idea above!
Do you have any Elf on the Shelf ideas to contribute? Leave a comment!
These are such cute ideas. We love our Elf on the Shelf.
I’m glad your little girl got over her fear of the Elf. Your ideas are cute!
Awesome!
I’ve done the light fixture but love the colouring idea. They all are great 🙂
I have never really gotten into elf on the shelf but this makes me want to! Thanks for the fun ideas!
What cute ideas. I am betting Elf was loving the attention of the girls during the party and car ride!
Ha, ha, ha… love these ideas. Thank you
What fun ideas!!
What adorable ideas. He looks like he’s having fun.
I love barbies and the tea party this is very fun!! You have some fun idea’s!
Cute ideas! We don’t do Elf on the Shelf but it’s a cute idea. Love the fishing for goldfish!
I am loving that tea party. So fun!
Thanks for the great ideas. We have an elf running around our house this year too!
I love that this little elf pops up in so many places. What a fun idea for my 3 year old.
These are such great ideas. I would have loved to have known about Elf on the Shelf when my kids were younger.
Very cute ideas! Everyone gets so creative with these elves!!!
Our Elf never hung out with Barbies….I almost want to get one again for that reason alone!
These are really cute! And I like that you said Kid-Friendly because MANY pics are not appropriate when searching out the Elf pics!
Awww these are super cute ideas! Elf on the Shelf must be so fun for the little ones! Wish I had known about it when my son was smaller. I will have to get one for my nieces and nephews 😉
WE do not have an Elf on the SHelf, we have an Elf Magic, but we have done several of these.
The elf seems to be popping up all over. Cute ideas!
Absolutely adorable! Love the ideas! The Elf on the Shelf is too cute. They didn’t have him around when my kids were little.
So many great ideas. I especially love the tea party.
our little elves also leave surprises sometimes — and they always bring us an advent calendar or 2!
Adorable~! I love the elf driving the car!
Fun ideas! I think my daughter would like the fishing for Goldfish Crackers one – I’m going to have to try it!
Those are all super cute ideas. I especially like the tea party one.
Those are very fun places for the elf. I like him riding the tiny train.
Love the traveling elf w a the gf. Did that last night great ideas.
the tea party is so cute !! what great idesas!
This is so cool can you do a 2019 one