95 NEW & Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Busy Parents in 2024

Discover 95 quick, funny and easy Elf on the Shelf ideas that busy parents can set up in under 5 minutes, guaranteed to bring holiday magic and laughter to your home. Hilarious, yet easy Elf on the Shelf ideas your kids will be talking about for days!

And don’t forget to snag your Kid’s 99-Page Holiday Activity Kit, complete with Elf on the Shelf Notes & Letter Boards, Letter to Santa, Activity Sheets, Countdown to Christmas, Christmas Scavenger Hunts & I Spy Games, and much more!

95 New & Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas Your Kids Will Absolutely Love

Elf on the Shelf is a fun Christmas tradition we do every year. My kids race to see who can get up first and find what naughty tricks our Elf on the Shelf, Peppermint, has been up to each morning.

Elf on the Shelf has become a beloved holiday tradition that kids eagerly look forward to each December. Each morning, children wake up with excitement, racing to discover the mischievous escapades their elf has been up to overnight.

However, for parents, coming up with fresh, unique, creative and not-too-complicated ideas nightly year-after-year, can become a challenge, especially as the holidays grow nearer and time becomes more scarce.

A few times, our Elf “forgot” to move for a couple days in a row, and that’s when I began looking for a handful of fun, yet easy ideas for our Elf on the Shelf to always have on hand.

Since we’ve gone through our tried and true list of 30 Easy & Quick Elf on the Shelf Ideas I knew this year, I needed to create a new list of quick and easy Elf ideas that are not only creative, but simple and easy to set-up and my kids will absolutely love and talk about at school with their friends.

Psst… if you haven’t already snagged your set of positive, “caught you being good,” Elf on the Shelf Notes to pair with your Elf, be sure to grab them too!

This list provides you with 95 new, quick, and easy Elf on the Shelf ideas designed for busy parents. These ideas are not only hilarious but can be staged in less than five minutes, using minimal supplies.

You won’t need to spend hours preparing or brainstorming new scenarios—just a little imagination and a dash of fun! Best of all, these ideas will have your kids talking about their elf’s adventures for days to come.

Why These Elf on the Shelf Ideas are Perfect for Busy Parents

Parents know how hectic the holiday season can be, and sometimes, setting up the perfect Elf on the Shelf scene can feel overwhelming.

How many nights have you just gotten comfortable in bed and half-awake, then jump up and out of bed because you just realized you forgot to set up your Elf on the Shelf?

Yep, me too!

That’s why these ideas are specifically curated to be quick, funny, and easy to execute. No elaborate setups or special materials are required—just things you likely already have around the house. This way, you can keep the holiday magic alive without spending too much time or effort.

We’ve also added bonus tips and creative twists to each idea, helping to inject more excitement into the traditional Elf on the Shelf experience. Plus, don’t forget to grab your kid’s 99-Page Holiday Activity Kit, which includes Elf on the Shelf notes, a letter to Santa, and more holiday-themed activities to keep the festive spirit going throughout the month of December.

95 New Elf on the Shelf Ideas Guaranteed to be Quick and Easy

Here are new ideas that won’t take all night to set up, and you can even whip together last-minute in the morning if you forgot to set up your Elf on the Shelf!

I highly recommend starting the Elf on the Shelf holiday tradition with your family–we all had so much fun with ours. There are so many fun Elf on a Shelf accessories, outfits, and more that you can include–it truly has become a phenomena and for good reason.

New Elf Ideas Kids Won’t Stop Raving About

I’ve tested most of these new Elf ideas and promise they can be staged in less than 5 minutes and there’s no repeats from previous years!

1. Jar Hiding Elf – Place the elf inside a glass jar, pretending to hide from a suspicious smell. (source)

2. Cup Game – Create a fun game where kids have to turn over cups to find treats hidden by the elf. (source unknown)

3. This is How You Do the “Floss” Elf – Pose the elf pretending to do the viral “floss” dance. (source)

4. Toilet Paper Elf Stack – Have the elf hiding in a stack of toilet paper. (source unknown)

5. Naught Elf! Wrapping the toilet in christmas wrapping paper! – Let your naughty elf cover the toilet with Christmas wrapping paper. (source)

6. Sticky Situation in the Bathroom – Swap the toilet paper roll with a roll of duct tape for a sticky morning surprise left by your naughty Elf. (source unknown)

Creative & Fun Elf on the Shelf Outfits & Accessories:

☑️ Elf on the Shelf Ugly Sweater (with detachable accessories)

☑️ Elf Training Kit (Hooks, Suctions, Rope, etc.)

☑️ Elf Popcorn Costume

☑️ Elf Nutcracker Sugar Plum Outfit

☑️ Elf Clothing 5-Pack Set

☑️ Elf Mini Door & Decorations

More Easy, Funny Ideas to Delight Your Kids

7. Rainbow Magic – Now this is a fun one for the kids. Line up Skittles in a circle and leave a note instructing the kids to pour warm water over them to create a rainbow. (source)

8. Car Mechanic Elf – Set the elf up as if it’s working on a toy car, using simple tools you have at home. (source)

9. Elf Bathtime – Taking a bath using a bowl or crock pot, with cotton balls and a rubber duck. You can also do this in the sink. (source)

10. Fridge Fun – Place the elf in the refrigerator, taking a “shower” in the water dispenser. (source)

11. Messing with Your Eggs – catch your Elf coloring the eggs in the fridge! (source)

12. What’s on the Counter? – Those naughty elf, always trying to get to places they shouldn’t be. Stack canned goods and catch the Elf breaking into the candy stash! (source)

13. Wrapping Ribbon Ladder – You likely have gift wrapping supplies on hand, right? This is a super easy Elf on the Shelf idea to pull together in two minutes or less! (source)

14. The Ultimat Snacker – Can your kids spot the Elf hiding in a pringles can? Use what you have around the house and see where you can hide your Elf for a morning giggle. (source)

15. Snowman Shredder – Oh, poor snowman! His nose has been stolen and is currently being shredding by your naught Elf on the grader. (source)

16. Give A Little To Get A Little – Before your children get more toys and gifts this Christmas, they have to give up some of their unused, broken, and outgrown toys. (source)

17. Magic Trick – With a little Elf Dust from the North Pole, Turn a Magic Trick into a fun Elf on the Shelf Idea your kids won’t soon forget. (source)

18. Marshmallow Battle – A few marshmallows and some Legos makes a fun snowball fight for your best action figure vs. Elf. (source)

19. All Wrapped Up – Cling wrapped shoes courtesy of your mischievous elf on the shelf. (source)

20. A Few Grocery List Adjustments – This is what happens when your Elf makes up the grocery shopping list – sugar, sugar, sugar! (source)

21. Popcorn Explosion – Elf on the Shelf made TOO much microwave popcorn! (source)

22. Balloon Bath – A ballon bath for some fun-loving elves is a nice surprise in the morning. (source)

23. Danger in the Water – Just a nervous Elf hanging with a bunch of hungry sharks trying to stay in one piece. (source)

24. Caught on Camera! – That sneaky and clever Elf of yours took a picture with the kiddos while they were sleeping on your phone. What a fun surprise to share in the morning! (source)

25. Sprinkle Angel Making – you should do this in a container that won’t make a huge mess in your kitchen, but cover the dish or pan in sprinkles and let your Elf make an angel inside. (source)

26. Dog Treats are Not Elf Food – Dog treats for Santa don’t taste very good when you’re an Elf sneaking around for a late-night treat. (source)

27. Hot Lava Challenge – The floor is hot lava so your Elf has to have some spiderman skills to stick to the wall. (source)

28. Bandaid to the Rescue – Elf got into the bandaids! (source)

29. Walking the Dogs (or Hatchimals, Dinosaurs, Farm Animals) – Your elf took the dogs on a walk while you were sleeping with animals found around the house and wire wrap. (source)

30. Get a Good Lift In! – Getting a little sweat in while you were sleeping, this Elf isn’t afraid to pump a little steel with a few mushroom and toothpick made barbells. (source)

Bonus Tips for Maximum Fun

To keep the Elf on the Shelf tradition exciting, consider adding fun accessories to the scenes. Items like mini Christmas trees, tiny clothes for the elf, and DIY props can easily elevate each idea. Consider leaving little notes from the elf that correspond with their shenanigans, like a playful apology for leaving toilet paper all over the bathroom or a challenge for your kids to join in on a fun activity.

Tips to Maximize Your Elf Experience:

Rotate Ideas: Use the fun ideas in a random order so kids never know what to expect.
Add a Storyline: Build an ongoing narrative for your elf’s adventures, making each night’s mischief part of a bigger tale.
Involve Your Kids: Get your children to help clean up after each elf encounter or even suggest what they think the elf might do next.

65 More Elf on the Shelf Ideas Below

The Elf on the Shelf tradition is a magical way to spread Christmas cheer and make lasting memories with your family. These 95 new, quick, funny, and easy Elf on the Shelf ideas are designed to help busy parents keep up with the holiday fun without stress. Whether you’re setting up your elf at the last minute or planning out weeks of creative fun, these ideas are sure to bring joy to your home.

Here are 30 Last-Minute Elf on the Shelf Ideas (click on the image below too) are 35 hilarious Elf on the Shelf ideas even the adults will get a kick out of.

More Holiday Resources:

Elf on the Shelf

Family Traditions:

Holiday Food:

Fun Holiday Activities:

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