24 {MORE!} Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas

If you struggle for new ideas for your Christmas elf, do not miss these easy Elf on the Shelf ideas for you to use!

The question that comes up between parents every December: Do you Elf?

We introduced our elf, Mac, 2 years ago.

Personally I have found that he is a great motivator for good behavior for our two boys, ages 6 and 3.

BUT, I try to keep his antics simple to pull off so that I don’t dread the chore of moving him each night.

Each December I document via Instagram all the fun our elf has then the next year I share his activities here on the blog.

Today I’m sharing last year’s activities, but be sure to check out Elf on the Shelf Ideas, FUN Elf on the Shelf Ideas, and CUTE Elf on the Shelf Ideas for even more creative ideas.

If you do Elf on the Shelf in your house be sure to download my blank December calendar to keep up with your elf’s antics!

It makes planning and carrying out the nightly activities a breeze!

Don’t miss these easy Elf on the Shelf ideas I did last year.

Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas

1. Mac made his comeback appearance on December first by waiting for the boys inside of an apothecary jar. I figured it was a good way to prevent him from being touched before they could be reminded of this golden rule. Mac arrived with a letter addressed to the boys on “Official Elf Stationary” that reinstated the no touching rules, and that he would be flying back to the North Pole each night to report their behavior to Santa Claus.

2. Mac wanted to play with his Little People friends on the Christmas Train.

3. Uh oh! Mac got ahold of Mr. Potato Head’s Santa hat and beard (the boys found this hilarious!).

4. Mac found some glass markers and drew pictures for the boys on the back door.

5. Mac decided to try his hand at tree climbing today. He waited in these branches on the mantle for the boys to find him.

6. Mac brought special elf seeds (white Tic Tacs) for the boys to plant complete with instructions as to how to “grow” them overnight.

7. The elf seeds from the day before sprouted into Christmas Tree Cookies!

8. Today we discovered a rousing game of dominoes with Santa, Cookie Monster, Mac, and Rudolf.

9. This photo is a little blurry because… Mac replaced our Christmas stockings with our UNDERWEAR!

10. Mac tries to make up for stealing everyone’s underwear by playing Christmas tunes for us.

11. Mac takes the grocery cart for a ride and stocks up on produce and eggs. The boys left him extra shopping baskets of fruit after finding him in the morning in case he needed more.

12. Last year, Mac staged a snowball (cotton balls) fight with Santa and Rudolf. It was so fun he did a repeat performance this year with his Transformer friends!

13. Legos are THE big toy in our house, and you can bet Mac knows that. He put together the boys’ treehouse kit as a surprise!

14. Mac showed up in style today in a Little People safari jeep bearing gifts: a Dr. Seuss Christmas DVD and popcorn.

15. Hot chocolate for everyone! Mac hung out in the Christmas tree with a packet for each of us.

16. It’s karaoke night! Nothing like belting out Christmas songs together.

17. Today Mac decided to go fishing… in the middle of our dining room table! He even made his own fishing pole from a twig and string. He’s fishing in a bowl of s’mores-flavored Goldfish.

18. Mac made snowflake garlands for the boys and left them in their rooms to find.

19. We don’t usually put bows on our Christmas presents. Mac didn’t approve so we woke up to bows on all the gifts currently under the Christmas tree!

20. Mac made himself some snowmen friends out of marshmallows.

21. Mac surprised the boys with a new gingerbread house (foam kit from Walmart).

22. Mac made mini elf-sized muffins for breakfast!

23. It’s group selfie time! Mac gathered all of his Christmas friends for a fun photo opp and printed the photo out for the boys.

24. Mac wrote the boys a goodbye letter letting them know he would be returning to the North Pole with Santa tonight. He’ll be back next December! He also left a copy of The Night Before Christmas to read at bedtime, a Christmas Eve tradition in our house.

Be sure you’re following me on Instagram to see what Mac has up his sleeves this year!

We’ll be starting the fun activities on December 1st.

In the meantime, I hope these easy Elf on the Shelf ideas sparked some inspiration!

>> See where I party! <<