16 Easy Elf On The Shelf Ideas For When You’re Feeling Lazy

Stick your elf in a sock that’s long enough to look like a makeshift sleeping bag (no ankle socks here), open one of the drawers of your kid’s dresser and lay them on top the folded clothes. And don’t stress if you don’t have an elf or even Christmas-themed option to tuck them into — really anything option from your drawer or your kid’s will do.

Tuck your elf’s arms and head in between the couch cushions, lift their butt up, and sprinkle around coins and any other small knick knacks that might be found in someone’s pocket around them. Actually, if you have a bowl of trinkets next to the washing machine where you dump anything you’ve fished out of any pocket, now’s the perfect time to raid that stash of bits and bobbles.

OK, this is the easiest Elf on the Shelf idea ever, so save it for a night when you’re really maxed out. Step 1: Stick doll in tree. Step 2: There is no Step 2. You’re done. (And you’re welcome.)

When you forgot to move the elf, you’ll need a super-fast setup. Wrap your elf in a holiday hand towel and then stick them in the fridge. Give your kid some cold case clues as to where their elf might be hiding. This one also ranks as one of the easiest Elf on the Shelf ideas, ever. Thank goodness.

Take two pieces of bread and make toast. Then place your elf in between the slices and tell your kids that their elf wanted to be all warm and (wait for it), “toasty”.

Your Elf on the Shelf wants to get in on the snow angel action, too in this super easy set-up. Let them have fun splashing around in sprinkles, then. Spill some sprinkles on your kitchen counter and form the image of a snow angel.

There’s no reason why you should let that beautiful manger scene go to waste. In a totally respectful way, place your elf alongside one of the wise men, or even at the seat of honor next to Joseph and Mary, because your elf wants to adore Baby Jesus, too.

Elves sure can dirty as they fly back and forth from the North Pole to your home. That’s why it shouldn’t be shocking to see your elf taking a bath in the morning. Find a toy tub that your elf can fit into and place some candy inside, such as peppermints, or even mini marshmallows or sprinkles. Heck, it just might encourage your kid to take a bath.

You’ve been telling your kids to stop leaving their grubby little handprints all over the mirror. But the elf is a total rule breaker. Have your Elf on the Shelf write a cute note to your kid, like on a bathroom mirror, for example. Keep it short and sweet, though, because you know who has to wipe it up afterwards.

If they’re anything like Buddy the Elf, your elf probably loves maple syrup. When you’re getting breakfast ready, set out a bottle of syrup, place a straw inside, and let your elf hang from the top of the bottle. They’ll look like they’re drinking the syrup, which will give your kids a laugh while they’re eating.

You bought all these candy canes under the assumption that your kids like candy canes, and shocker, they don’t. So you can put them to good use by hanging your elf from a candy cane. For a more festive feel, you can hang the candy cane from one of the strands of light on your tree.

Sure, you could just grab note paper and write a quick note to your kid. But why use a pen when you can spell it out with cereal? You can use any cereal to write something sweet, like, “Hi!” or “Be good.”

Ten seconds is all it takes to whip up this super easy Elf on the Shelf idea. Open some cookie packages and remove almost all the cookies, sans a couple for your elf to hold. When your kid cries and asks who ate all the cookies, simply point at the elf.

This setup looks complicated, but it’s not. Sprinkle some flour on your kitchen counter and sit your elf with their back against the flour and sugar canisters. Add a mixing bowl with a whisk and any other décor that might match for a sweet scene.

There are a bunch of free printables that you can find online for your child to fill out. But if you’re looking for something for your elf to do, too, your child can catch their elf trying to write a secret message, or color in a holiday scene.

Ack, your kids are already awake, and you didn’t move the elf yet. Stack two rolls of toilet paper together and place your elf inside. Stick the rolls on top of the toilet and you’ve got an easy breezy Elf on the Shelf scene that’ll take 15 seconds flat.