This Elf on the Shelf Planning Guide is a MUST for keeping things simple & organized!
Here we go year #2 of our elf!
Last year was a success for our Elf! My boys have looked forward to his return most of the year. Now that we are days away I wanted to share my planning for this year! If you missed last years here it is for you!
I have broken the post down by week and walk through each day and outlining the set up for each day. At the bottom of the post I offer several digital downloads to include shopping lists, Elf Notes, and Special Printouts for signs.
Pictures of set ups will be added daily so make sure you check back! You can also google or search on Pinterest to find ideas and pictures.
Week One: The Arrival
Let’s go!
Day 1: For the arrival this year, Mr. Elf will arrive via special holiday mail package. I plan to cover a box in wrapping paper and add special postmark tags to the box. Then Mr. Elf will be sticking out of the top of the box.
Check out The Paper Heart Family for free shipping label print outs!
Day 2: Candy Cane Sleigh – For this I am just going to glue some candy canes together to create a sleigh. Then attach Mr. Elf onto the sleigh and set him up going down our stairway banister.
*Side panels are a Cricut cutout.
Day 3: Caught in a Poke Ball – If your kids have gotten into Pokemon then you probably have this on hand! I plan to just use a tin Poke Ball and stuff Mr. Elf into it with arms & head sticking out.
*Elf Printout Sign*
Day 4: Toilet Paper Snowman – Super easy one! Stack two rolls of toilet paper, then stick your elf into the tubes up to his arms. Then add eyes and a carrot nose to a third roll of toilet paper with cutouts from black and orange construction paper. Then set the third roll on top of the elf’s hat/head but still so you can see the head and arms. If you have the elf flex kit you can adjust/fix the arms as though it is lifting the top roll.
Day 5: Sunbathing Elf – Just as it sounds! Our elf will be set up with a towel (small cut off of scrap fabric), some swim trunks, and a sun cut out made from construction paper.
Here’s the elf prop bundle if you want to purchase the beach trip accessories.
*Elf note: “It’s so much warmer here than at the North Pole, so I thought I’d work on my tan a bit!”
Day 6: I decorated your windows! – this one may be a bit time consuming depending on how far you take it. But will be so worth it! Using chalk pens/markers draw different pictures and scenes on your windows.
Tip: print out some pictures and scenes then you can tape them to the backside of the window and trace the drawings!
Day 7: Elf Breakfast – Okay, this is on a Saturday for a reason! We are talking about Buddy the Elf Breakfast Pasta!
Tip: Plan for handing a spaghetti dinner the night before.
Here are the ingredients, simply mix them together to your liking and then set out in the morning for your kids to wake up to.
- spaghetti
- maple syrup
- chocolate syrup
- Handful of M&Ms
- Handful of mini marshmallows
- 1 chocolate Pop Tart
Week Two: We are on a roll!
Day 8: Glow Party – You’ve survived the windows and the Buddy Pasta Breakfast, so this is an easy one!
Set up in a dark room, think a room without windows. All you need a bunch of glow up items. Glow sticks, glow wands, glow glasses. etc. Crack a few glow sticks and set up your Elf in a corner of the room lit up with his glow items. Then have some items available for your kids to play with.
Elf Note: “Welcome to my Glow Party!”
Day 9: Spidey Elf – Print off a spiderman mask or use a toy’s removable mask (if you have). Paste the mask onto your elf and hang the elf upside down from the ceiling in the spidey pose.
Are you having fun yet!? Isn’t there something so special about seeing the magic of Christmas alive in a child’s eyes?
Day 10: Growing Candy Canes (Part 1) – I love these two part/two day activities such a good break(ish). To grow the candy canes we need to plant some special Elf Seeds. Our elf seeds are Tic Tacs.
You can plant the seed in whatever is easiest! Some stuffing (snow) or some Christmas sprinkles.
Elf Note: “Let’s grow some Candy Canes! I’ve brought you some special magic elf seeds. A few to plant and a few to eat!”
Day 11: Candy Canes Grew (Part 2) – Move your Elf to a new position and replace magic seed with full Candy Canes!
Day 12: Lets Build! – I try to include my kids’ interest in these and Legos are a huge part of their interest! So I thought it would be fund for Mr. Elf to bring them some Christmas Lego sets to build.
I plan to grab some Legos and build a Lego Chair for our Elf to sit in and then just have the set out for our boys.
*Elf Note: “Santa sent me with a small something for you both to build!”
Day 13: Let’s have a movie night! – This one may be a bit difficult because kids will likely have to head to school before fully enjoying it! But leave out an Elf Note that reminds them to have a good day and this is something to look forward to when they get home. Set the Elf up with some movie snacks such as popcorn, candy, and hot cocoa. Another fun touch are these Christmas themed movie trays!
*Elf Printout sign*
Day 14: The Floor is Lava! – This is going to be such a fun Saturday morning activity! Grab some red and orange plastic table clothes and use them to create the “lava” then use toys, construction paper, stools, etc. to create stepping stones through the “lava”!
*Elf Note: “The floor is lava! Watch your step! Can you make it through without falling?!”
*Elf Printout sign*
Week Three: The countdown is on for me too!
Day 15: Elf Balloon Ride – Using a solo cup and some festive balloons build a small hot air balloon style ride for your elf. Using string tie the balloons to the solo cup. Then tape the top of the balloons to the ceiling to give the appearance your elf is floating.
*Elf Note: “I’ll be watching you from up here today!”
Make sure you secure the balloon WELL! Our elf fell and while we were out some helper elves came to fix him up!
Day 16: North Pole Wrestling – Again, feeding into my own kids’ interest. Both our boys wrestle, so I plan to set up a wrestling mat (cut out of black foam board) with our Elf and his Elf wrestling partner.
I am DIYing some wrestling singlets but this is not necessary and can be done just by setting up a mat and setting the elves in a wrestling position.
*Elf Note: “Meet my wrestling buddy! We practice together all year long!”
Day 17: Playing Games – Set up your Elf with one of your kid’s favorite character figures. Have them playing a favorite game.
*Elf Note – “We played games all night! You should have a game night after school today!”
Day 18: Elf Sleepover #1 – This could be risky! But you’ve got it! After your little one falls asleep, sneak Mr. Elf into their bedroom. Set him up in a sleeping bag or cover and pillow on your child’s dresser.
*Elf Note: “I had a quick trip to the North Pole last night so thought we could have a sleep over! Don’t worry, I will make tomorrow a quick trip to so I can have a sleep over with ________ too!”
Day 19: Elf Sleepover #2 – As the note said for Day 18, here we go with round two of being extra sneaky! I have two boys and knew Mr. Elf couldn’t just sleepover in one of the boys’ rooms and not the other!
Day 20: Let’s Build a Puzzle – I wanted to make Fridays more a fun Family activity, so that was exactly my thought with a Puzzle night. Our Elf will bring a festive puzzle that we will be able to do together as a family after school.
*Elf Note: “I brought you a fun puzzle to do together tonight!”
Day 21: Mentos Explosion! – You’ve got it! We are doing the Mentos into Diet Coke experiment. For this, you will need a 2 liter bottle of Diet Coke and a roll of Mentos.
Take the Diet Coke and Mentos outside, drop the Mentos into the soda bottle, run backwards, and watch it explode!
*Elf Note: “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?! Take this outside and lets see what happens! This is a fun one, but you MUST ask Mom & Dad for some help!”
Week Four: Only 3 days left!
Day 22: Elf Rock Climbing – Using gift bows, stick them in a various patterns on a wall. Set up the elf as if he is rock climbing between the bows.
*Tip: Use command strips cut to size to attach the bows and the Elf. The command strips will make sure this set up isn’t falling down!
Day 23: Find the Treat – We are almost done! Set up a bunch (as many or as little as you want!) solo cups upside down. Tuck a few treats under some of the cups. Treats could be small toys, or some holiday candy!
*Elf Printout Sign*
Day 24: Heading Home Tonight – On Christmas Eve I just leave an Elf Note for our boys reminding them that Mr. Elf head home tonight and won’t be back in the morning. Mr. Elf brings a small gift for them. Christmas pajamas or a Christmas stuffy make a great farewell gift.
*Elf Note: “We’ve had so much fun! Tonight, when Santa comes I’ll jump in his sleigh and be on my way! I’ll miss you but be good and I’ll see you next year!”
Day 25: It’s Christmas! – Optional – Leave one last Elf Note, wishing your kid(s) Merry Christmas and to say goodbye and I’ll see you next year!
Elf on the Shelf Planning Guide Links
Elf Files
To compliment the 2024 Elf on the Shelf Planning Guide, I have created a few printable files to make your life easier! One is the Elf Notes, which can be used throughout the month. One is the Elf Special Printouts which compliment certain activities’ throughout the month. Lastly, you’ll find a shopping list!
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