The Elf on the Shelf is one of the most loved Christmas traditions going, and it doesn’t take long for the pressure of “what’s the elf doing tonight” to set in. Whether your elf is making its first appearance this year or coming back for another round of mischief, we’ve rounded up 50 ideas to keep the magic going all December, from thirty-second setups for exhausted parents through to full scenes worth photographing.
We’ve made sure plenty of these work for an Australian summer Christmas too, because nobody’s elf needs to be building snowmen when it’s 35 degrees outside.
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Quick & Easy Ideas | Aussie Summer Ideas | Funny & Mischief Ideas | Creative & Elaborate Scenes | Cosy & Classic Ideas | The Final Night
When Should Your Elf Arrive?
Most Aussie families bring their elf home on 1 December, timed with the advent calendar, though there’s no wrong answer here. Whatever night your elf arrives, it’s worth writing a short welcome letter from Santa explaining the elf’s job for the month.
Quick & Easy Ideas
For the nights you’re too tired to do anything elaborate, these all take two minutes or less.
- Elf in the Fridge. Your elf’s cooling off from the Aussie summer heat, perfect for a quick laugh on a hot December morning.
- Cereal Box Dive. Sit your elf head first in the cereal box with a sign that says “Found breakfast!”
- Peek-a-Boo Elf. Hide your elf inside a tissue box or the bread bin for a morning surprise.
- Elf in a Mug. Sit your elf inside a Christmas mug with a few marshmallows and a note that says “Waiting for hot chocolate!”
- Hanging Around. Hang your elf from a ceiling fan or curtain rod with string or ribbon.
- Toilet Paper Snowman. Stack a few toilet rolls, add a paper face and a carrot nose for an instant snowman.
- Dress Up Elf. Stick some cotton balls on as a beard and let your elf disguise itself as Santa for the day.
- Take an “Elfie”. Pose your elf mid selfie, extra points if you add tiny selfie props.
Aussie Summer Ideas
The best Elf on the Shelf ideas for a Christmas that actually feels like summer.
- Beach Day Elf. Lay your elf on a mini towel with sunglasses and a paper umbrella for pure Aussie Christmas vibes.
- Surf’s Up. Sit your elf on a toy surfboard riding a wave made from blue fabric or paper.
- Elf BBQ. Set your elf up at a toy barbecue with a few tiny food props.
- Elf in Thongs. Cut out a pair of tiny paper thongs and add a sign that reads “Too hot for the North Pole!”
- Pool Day Elf. Float your elf in a shallow bowl of water for a backyard swim.
- Beach Picnic. Set up a tiny picnic rug with snack packets and a juice box.
- Santa’s Helper on Strike. Prop up a sign next to your elf that says “It’s 35 degrees, I’m taking the day off!”
- Aussie Wildlife Ride. Sit your elf on top of a toy kangaroo, koala or wombat.
- Ice Cream Party. Surround your elf with a few empty ice cream tubs and wrappers.
- Fairy Bread Feast. There’s something about fairy bread that delights kids every time, and an elf-sized plate of it is no exception.
- Fishing Elf. Set your elf up with a toy rod by a bowl of water for an Aussie summer fishing trip.
Funny & Mischief Ideas
The elf’s whole job is to get up to a bit of trouble. These ones lean into it.
- Vegemite Prank. Have your elf holding a spoon of Vegemite, pretending it’s chocolate.
- Cookie Crumb Culprit. Scatter a few crumbs around a half-eaten biscuit, your elf couldn’t resist a midnight snack.
- Wrapped Up in Fun. Tangle your elf in wrapping paper and ribbon for a pre-Christmas giggle.
- Marshmallow Bubble Bath. Fill a small bowl with marshmallows and label it “Elf Spa Day.”
- Joking Elf. Have your elf hold up a card with a festive joke, like “What do you call an elf who sings? A wrapper!”
- Dishwasher Elf. Pretend your elf got stuck in the dishwasher, peeking out from inside.
- Caffeinated Elf. Reuse a coffee pod as a tiny mug and cut a straw in half for the world’s smallest coffee.
- Chocolate Jenga. Stack a few Kit Kats or Twix bars and get your elf mid game.
- Elf on a Roomba. Tape your elf to the Roomba and let it whirl around the room.
Creative & Elaborate Scenes
For the nights you’ve got a bit more time, or want something worth photographing.
- Elf Camping Trip. Build a mini tent from a tea towel with a torch or nightlight inside.
- Ziplining Elf. Rig up some string or dental floss for your elf to zipline across a room.
- Skiing Elf. Use candy canes or popsicle sticks as skis and pillows as a mountain.
- Sledding Elf. Sit your elf on a small Tupperware lid and scatter flour underneath for snow.
- Hot Air Balloon Ride. Use a balloon and a small basket to send your elf up, up and away.
- Snow Angel. Sprinkle flour or rice on a tray and press your elf in to leave a snow angel shape.
- Snowball Fight. Stage a battle between the elf and a few action figures using small cotton balls as snowballs.
- Hide and Seek Elf. Tuck your elf into the Christmas tree, and if you want to make it tricky, use whiteboard markers to add a camouflage pattern.
- Elf Snow Globe. Place your elf inside a small clear bowl with a bit of fake snow.
- Elf in a Hammock. Tie a handkerchief between two points for a mini hammock.
- Elf Bowling. Set up a few candy canes as pins and use a small ball to bowl them over.
- Weightlifting Elf. Build tiny dumbbells from toothpicks and gumdrops.
- Joy Riding Elf. Sit your elf in a toy car, racing against the other toys.
- Game Night Elf. Pose your elf with a travel-sized board game mid play.
- Chess Elf. If you’ve got a chess set, get your elf deep in a game.
- Tangled in Lights. Wrap your elf up in a string of Christmas lights.
Cosy & Classic Ideas
The traditional favourites that never go out of style.
- Elf Colouring In. Leave your elf next to a half-finished colouring sheet.
- Mini Marshmallow Snowman. Have your elf build a tiny snowman from marshmallows and toothpicks.
- Decorating Biscuits. Set your elf up with a few small biscuits and icing tubes for a morning decorating session.
- A Letter from Santa. Since the elf reports back to Santa each night, have it deliver a short letter one morning.
- Elf Reading Time. Prop your elf up reading its own storybook about how Scout Elves work.
The Final Night
- Farewell Elf. On the last night before Christmas, leave a note and a small treat explaining that the elf is heading home to the North Pole to spend Christmas with its own family, and that it’ll be back again next December.
Keep the Christmas Magic Going
If you’re after more ways to fill December with family traditions, our Christmas Bucket List has ideas for the whole season, our Christmas Craft guide has more hands-on activities for the kids, and Ultimate Guide to Christmas in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter has you covered for local events and activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most families bring their elf home on 1 December, though some start earlier or later depending on family tradition. There’s no official date, just whatever suits your household.
A short note from Santa explaining who the elf is, that it will report back each night, and reminding kids not to touch the elf so the magic keeps working. Keep it brief and playful.
Set an alarm on your phone scheduled in the evening after your kids go to bed
No. Plenty of families do a handful of big moments through December rather than a new scene every night. The quick and easy ideas above are perfect for the nights you need a break.
It happens to everyone. A simple line works well, something like the elf was too tired from its trip to the North Pole and back. Kids rarely question it.