Christmas Elf Ideas
Need a new hiding place before the children wake up? Whether you have five minutes before bed or want to plan something more elaborate for the weekend, this collection of Christmas elf ideas should keep you going through December.
Your elf can be cheeky, helpful, silly or surprisingly creative. Some nights can involve a full scene, while others only need the elf moved into a funny position with a quick handwritten note. If your family is meeting an elf for the first time, our Elf in Your Tree can add an extra surprise to an eligible Christmas tree delivery.
Five-Minute Elf Ideas for Busy Evenings
Not every night needs miniature props and half an hour of preparation. These ideas can usually be put together with things already around the house.
Biscuit Thief
Leave your elf beside the biscuit tin with a few crumbs nearby. A note saying “I only had one...” makes the evidence rather less convincing.
Storytime Elf
Sit the elf with an open Christmas book and line up a few toys as the audience.
Shoe Surprise
Hide the elf inside a trainer, welly or slipper with just the head poking out.
Fridge Explorer
Place the elf safely on a fridge shelf beside the milk or yoghurt with a note asking why it is so cold in there.
Remote Control Takeover
Put the elf on top of the television remote with a tiny sign saying “My turn to choose”.
Teddy Bear Meeting
Sit the elf in a circle with teddy bears and dolls as though they are holding a very important midnight meeting.
Emergency elf idea: If you have forgotten until the morning, put the elf somewhere unexpected and leave a note saying, “I nearly got caught moving last night, so I had to hide quickly.” Problem solved.
Funny Elf Ideas with Very Little Mess
- Toilet roll slide: Roll a length of toilet paper down the stairs and sit the elf at the top ready for another go.
- Banana messages: Write a simple festive message on a banana skin and leave the elf holding the pen.
- Family photo takeover: Place the elf beside framed photographs with small paper moustaches or hats positioned over the glass.
- Building-block throne: Use bricks or building blocks to make the elf an extravagant little chair.
- Kitchen roll hammock: Make a tiny hammock between two safe objects and tuck the elf inside.
- Toothbrush inspection: Sit the elf beside the family toothbrushes with a homemade hygiene-inspector badge.
- Peek-a-boo cupboard: Leave the elf peering out of a kitchen cupboard among the cereal boxes.
- Christmas card helper: Surround the elf with cards and envelopes as though they have been helping with the Christmas post.
Christmas Tree Elf Ideas
The tree gives you dozens of easy hiding places, particularly if your elf originally arrived with your Elf in Your Tree order.
Bauble Bandit
Position the elf among the branches clutching a bauble as though they have been caught redecorating the tree.
Tinsel Tangle
Wrap a little tinsel loosely around the elf and sit them beneath the tree looking thoroughly stuck.
Topper Inspection
Place the elf high enough to appear as though they are checking whether the star or angel has been fitted correctly. Keep the setup secure and away from anything unstable.
Present Guard
Sit the elf beneath the tree beside the presents with a handwritten “Night Watch” sign.
Tree-Climbing Expedition
Move the elf part-way up the branches with a piece of string as a pretend climbing rope.
Elf Ideas for the Kitchen
The kitchen provides plenty of props without needing to buy anything specially.
- Marshmallow bath: Sit your elf in a bowl or mug filled with marshmallows as a pretend bubble bath.
- Cereal breakfast: Place the elf beside a tiny bowl of cereal and spoon before everyone else gets up.
- Chef for the night: Give your elf a paper chef's hat and surround them with a wooden spoon and mixing bowl.
- Fruit face: Arrange pieces of fruit into a smiley face and place the elf beside their artwork.
- Hot chocolate station: Sit the elf beside mugs, marshmallows and hot chocolate supplies ready for an evening treat.
- Lunchbox helper: Put the elf beside the children's lunchboxes with a short note wishing them a good day.
Creative Weekend Elf Ideas
If you have a little more time, weekends are useful for the bigger setups that children can enjoy for longer.
Elf Zipline
Run a securely attached length of string between two suitable points and use a candy cane or loop of ribbon to make it look as though the elf is travelling along a zipline. Keep the setup well away from stairs, lights, heat sources and anything breakable.
Living Room Campsite
Build a tiny tent from a tea towel, napkin or piece of fabric. Add a battery-operated tea light nearby as a pretend campfire and sit a few toy animals around it.
Mini Cinema
Position the elf and several toys facing a tablet-sized cardboard television. Add a little bowl of popcorn and a handwritten ticket for the morning's audience.
Balloon Room
Blow up a handful of balloons and surround the elf with them. A sign saying “I decorated!” gives the elf full credit for the transformation.
Treasure Hunt
Leave the first clue beside the elf and create a short trail around the house. The final clue could lead to a Christmas book, an activity to do together or simply the elf's next hiding spot.
North Pole Obstacle Course
Use building blocks, cardboard tubes and safe household objects to create a miniature course. Position the elf halfway through as though they have been practising overnight.
Low-Mess Elf Ideas
If flour footprints and scattered cereal are not your idea of festive fun, there are plenty of setups that leave almost nothing to clean.
- Elf inside an empty tissue box.
- Elf hanging safely from a door handle by ribbon.
- Elf sitting in the fruit bowl.
- Elf playing a board game with toys.
- Elf wearing a paper crown.
- Elf hiding inside the Christmas stockings.
- Elf sitting beside the alarm clock with a “Wake up!” sign.
- Elf riding in a toy car.
- Elf holding a tiny paper umbrella.
- Elf tucked into a doll's bed for a lazy morning.
Classic Messy Elf Mischief
For the nights when a little clean-up is worth it, these classics tend to get a good reaction.
- Snow angels: Make a small patch of flour or icing sugar and position the elf in the middle of an angel shape.
- Marshmallow snowball fight: Place the elf and a few toys opposite one another with marshmallows scattered between them.
- Wrapping-paper prank: Wrap a harmless household item such as a pair of shoes, a cereal box or the television remote.
- Paper chain explosion: Surround the elf with strips of coloured paper and a half-finished Christmas chain.
- Cotton-wool snow: Create an indoor snow scene with cotton-wool balls instead of anything powdery.
Kind Elf Ideas
Your elf does not have to cause trouble every night. Mixing in a few kind or helpful ideas can make the tradition feel less repetitive.
Kindness Challenge
Leave a note suggesting one simple task, such as helping someone, tidying toys or giving somebody a compliment.
Christmas Card Reminder
Set the elf beside pens and cards with a note suggesting the children make a card for somebody special.
Toy Tidy-Up
Arrange a few toys neatly around the elf and leave a message saying they started tidying but need some help finishing.
Thank-You Morning
Ask the children to think of three people they would like to thank before Christmas.
Elf Notes, Messages and Riddles
A tiny note can turn even a very basic hiding place into a new setup. You could leave messages such as:
- “Can you find where I'm hiding today?”
- “I heard somebody has been very helpful this week.”
- “Today's challenge: do one kind thing without being asked.”
- “Count the Christmas decorations in this room. How many can you find?”
- “I'm somewhere cold today. Can you guess where?”
- “I borrowed something from the kitchen. Follow the clues!”
- “Christmas is getting closer. How many sleeps are left?”
- “Tonight I tried to decorate. I may have got a little carried away.”
Give Your Elf a Name
If this is the first year with an elf, choosing a name can become part of the arrival. Children could write suggestions on scraps of paper and pick one from a hat, vote for their favourite or invent a Christmas-themed name together.
You could also create a small welcome certificate with the elf's name, arrival date and an important job title such as “Chief Christmas Tree Inspector” or “Official Biscuit Quality Controller”.
Introducing an Elf with Your Christmas Tree
Our Elf in Your Tree provides a different way to begin the tradition. On eligible orders, the elf can be hidden among the branches before the tree arrives, giving children an extra surprise when the Christmas tree is un-netted.
After the first appearance, you can move the elf to a different location each day and use any of the ideas on this page throughout December.
Some of Our Favourite Elf Setups
A simple elf setup can be just as much fun as an elaborate scene.
Use everyday household items to create a completely new scene each morning.
Unexpected hiding places are ideal when you need a quick evening setup.
Mix mischievous ideas with games, notes and kind challenges.
Keep a list of favourite ideas so you are never stuck for the next morning.
Share Your Elf Ideas with The Christmas Tree Firm
Have you created a particularly funny hiding place or an elf setup your children loved? We enjoy seeing what families come up with and may feature suitable customer photos and ideas.
Christmas Elf Ideas FAQs
What can I do with my Christmas elf when I have forgotten to move it?
Keep it simple. Move the elf into a shoe, cupboard, fruit bowl or Christmas tree and add a quick note. Children usually enjoy the surprise more than the complexity of the setup.
What are some elf ideas that do not make a mess?
Try a teddy bear meeting, toy-car ride, reading corner, Christmas tree hiding place, board game or paper crown. These take only a few minutes and require virtually no clearing up.
How can I make elf ideas interactive?
Leave riddles, treasure-hunt clues, kindness challenges, colouring activities or simple Christmas questions for the children to complete during the day.
Do elf ideas need to involve a prank every day?
No. Mixing silly setups with kind messages, games, stories and helpful activities gives you much more variety and means you do not have to invent a new prank every evening.
Can the elf hide in the Christmas tree?
Yes. Christmas tree branches provide plenty of hiding places. Make sure the elf is positioned securely and kept away from lights, candles and other heat sources.
How does Elf in Your Tree work?
Our Elf in Your Tree can be added to eligible Christmas tree deliveries, with the elf hidden among the branches before arrival. Check the product page for current availability and ordering details.
Start Your Own Elf Adventure
If you would like an extra surprise with your real Christmas tree this year, take a look at Elf in Your Tree. You can also browse All Christmas Trees and our Tree Decorations for more Christmas ideas from The Christmas Tree Firm.