32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (2024)

It’s that time of year again!

On the lookout for some hilarious Elf on the Shelf ideas?

Maybe your kids are getting older and the run-of-the-mill Elf on the Shelf ideas don’t get the same response that they used to.

Or maybe you’re just the super fun mom who has tons of Christmas cheer and you want to watch your kids crack up with laughter each morning.

Whatever the reason, I hope you find some inspiration in this post.

I kind of fall in this category, I guess.

But I also don’t want to be spending 30 minutes each night setting up an elaborate scene with my buddy from the North Pole, Pony the Elf.

I need something quick this holiday season, but one of my favorite things to do is to make my kids laugh, so funny AND easy ideas are my Christmas jam.

Last year, my kid’s thought that the Elf on the Shelf in their winter boots was the funniest, but they’re getting older, and I bet this year it won’t be as easy to get those giggling fits out of them.

These are the ideas that I’m going to be trying out this year.

Well, some of them.

Because i know that there are going to be some nights when I’m just tired and overwhelmed with Christmas to-dos and need a little help.

These are the days that I will need to use one of my simple Elf on the Shelf ideas.

Be sure to check out my printable Elf on the Shelf Calendar, which includes a funny poses calendar, along with lots of other things to make your Elf on the Shelf experience so much fun this year.

I hope these ideas make for a month of December full of laughter and fun!

I also hope these creative ideas get you to Christmas Eve or Christmas day with your sanity in tact!

This post contains affiliate links.

1. Stuck In The Fireplace

It would be a really cute idea if you just cut out a little thought bubble to go with it with the Elf saying “help!” (I don’t have a picture of this yet because I embarrassingly don’t know how to open up our gas fireplace and my husband wasn’t home)

2. Selling Balloons

I used wooden skewers, water balloons and a cute little wooden chalkboard easel.32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (1)

3. Decorating your child’s room with balloons and/or streamers

So fun to wake up to!

4. Making your child’s school lunch with weird foods

Just open up the pantry and see what you can find (remember that elves love sweets!)

5. Blowing a bubble with gum

It stuck forever, believe me, I tested it.

I KNOW my gum obsessed kids will love this one.32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (2)

6. Drinking syrup from a straw

This one scares me a little bit because I could totally see my kids doing this!

7. Brushing a doll’s hair

8. Pooping chocolate into the potty

If you have kids that are potty training, you might want to steer clear of this one.

My mother-in-law did it at her house for my daughter and she was completely freaked out.

She wouldn’t use her training potty there for a whole week.

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9. Eating your kid’s gingerbread house

Pssst- You can sneak a bite too.

10. Teaching toys how to be an elf

Use your creativity- the elf can teach whatever you want on your child’s easel!

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11. Locked out of the house and stuck to the window

12. Surrounded by money from your child’s piggy bank

Your kids will either love this one or will legitimately think that the elf is trying to steal from them.

Either way, it’s funny!

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (5)

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (6)32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (7) 32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (8)32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (9)

13. Eating breakfast inspired by Buddy the Elf

Spaghetti, sprinkles, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, m&ms and chocolate frosted pop tarts.

Get creative!

14. Putting makeup on just like mommy does32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (10)

15. Playing Twister

You can use dot markers to make a quick twister board.

16. Adding a drawn self portrait to a family photo

He’ll make a cute addition to any family!

Your elf can also draw funny faces onto the picture frame glass with a dry-erase marker.

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (11)

17. In a waffle ice cream cone with sprinkles

18. Tangled in Christmas lights

Just make sure to use the cool-to-the-touch lights.

19. Playing ghost with a tissue

Just hole punch a couple holes in a tissue and you’re good to go.

Yes it’s the Christmas season, but we can through a little Halloween into the mix, too.

20. Laying on a towel wearing sunglasses

Don’t you love these glittery star sunglasses that I got for my daughter’s Sing themed birthday party?

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (12)

21. Walking on the ceiling

Also, did you know it’s super easy to make your elf bendable? Click here: making your elf bendable!

22. Dressing up like Santa with a marshmallow beard

SO EASY!

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (13)

23. Taking an Orbee bubble bath

Are you brave enough to do this one?

You can do just a small bath or go all out and fill the entire bathtub.

Your kids could go IN it.

How fun would that be?

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (14)

24. Home Alone and on the lookout

Kevin, AKA your elf, had lots of adventure last night trying to protect the house from Harry and Marv!

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (15)

25. Brushing his teeth with Nutella

If you have a Nutella-obsessed child, this is a must do!

Target has little mini-Nutellas, too.

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (16)

26. Grating Up Some Carrots

I mean come on, this is such a fun idea!

Wait until you see your kids’ faces the next day!

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27. Leading a choir of singing soda cans

This is a great idea if you have a musical child in your home.

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (18)

28. Eating dog treats

That naughty elf! At least everyone in the house will get a good laugh at his expense!

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (19)

29. Caught by Spiderman

Looks like your elf made a new friend! Actually, maybe not.

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (20)

30. Ziplining from the light fixture to the Christmas tree

Ziplining ideas NEVER get old.

You could have the elves hanging from candy canes to if you’d like.

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (21)

31. Sick Elf

Surround your elf with an empty tissue box and a bunch of crumpled up tissues.

Get some green slime if you have it and put some slime into each tissue.

It’s so gross and so fun!

32. Wrapping the toilet

If you’re feeling ambitious, why not use wrapping paper in order to wrap something up.

The toilet, perhaps?

Santa Claus isn’t bringing Christmas presents this year, kids.

He’s bringing a toilet!

Which of these funny elf ideas are your favorite? Do you love the Elf on the Shelf tradition?

Related Posts:

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  • 2 Elf on the Shelf Ideas

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (22)

What hilarious Elf on the Shelf ideas will you be doing this year?

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (23) 32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (24)

32 Hilariously Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What does the bad Elf on the Shelf do? ›

One philosophy argues that Elf on a Shelf is a lie, threatens the trustworthiness of parents, and encourages gullibility in children rather than critical thinking.

What does Elf on the Shelf do for bad behavior? ›

After all, all we want for Christmas is the magic of well-behaved kids. Many of us enlist help from an Elf on the Shelf to remind our kids that he's keeping tabs and monitoring their place on the infamous naughty or nice list. We explain he'll report back to Santa every night regarding their behavior.

Why I'm against elf on a Shelf? ›

“Elf on the Shelf” undermines a child's natural motivation to try hard and do her best. For example, if a child cleans up her room in the hope of getting more presents at Christmas, she'll be less likely to clean up her room at other times of the year, because there's no incentive.

What is the number 1 rule for Elf on the Shelf? ›

The Elf Must Not Be Touched

Considered the most important rule, the Scout Elf must never be touched (of course, apart from when the parents move them around) as that will cause them to lose their magical powers. In some cases, they could also disappear when touched, such as when a dog might get a hold of them.

Can 14 year olds touch an Elf on the Shelf? ›

Santa advises that no family member touch their Elf on the Shelf, but he does describe a few rare instances when an adult may use tongs or potholders to help an elf in an urgent situation. Parents: read on to learn about special, few and far between cases where emergency help will be required.

Do your parents hide your elves? ›

Each morning, the elf chooses a new vantage point from which to keep an eye on the kids. The night before Christmas, the elf flies off one last time to spend the year with Santa until reappearing next season. Every night, a parent hides the elf in a new place.

Do my parents move the Elf on the Shelf? ›

The rule in the storybook is that the Elf is not to be touched or he'd lose his magic. Of course, that's a rule for the child. The parent can reposition the toy anytime they want to. It's like many rather common and harmless little traditions in some families, like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy.

What is a evil elf called? ›

The drow (/draʊ/ or /droʊ/) or dark elves are a dark-skinned and white-haired subrace of elves connected to the subterranean Underdark in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. The drow have traditionally been portrayed as generally evil and connected to the evil spider goddess Lolth.

Is elf suitable for a 4 year old? ›

Due to some of the violent scenes mentioned below, children under the age of 5 will need parental guidance to view this movie. Some children in this age group may still need some parental guidance. Children over the age of eight should be okay to see this movie with or without parental guidance.

How old is Elf on the Shelf? ›

When did Elf on the Shelf start? The book and box set launched in 2005. The tradition has gained in popularity over the years, likely because the Scout Elves' shenanigans have been well-documented on social media. Parents and kids love to show off all the wild ways elves return to their homes each morning.

What happens if you touch your elf too much? ›

There is only one rule according to the story: if the child touches the elf, it will lose its magic. Herein lies the problem for so many parents of children who are blind or low vision.

Can the Elf on the Shelf cause anxiety? ›

They have to deal with a new house guest (and now maybe even Elf babies) whose job it is to let Santa know whether they've been naughty or nice—and that's not always all fun and games. Depending on your child's developmental stage, Elf on the Shelf could be downright frightening and even lead to stress.

What happens if adults touch Elf on the Shelf? ›

According to the official "Elf on the Shelf" website, "Christmas magic is very fragile, and if scout elves are touched they may lose their magic." It doesn't specify that this only applies to kids, so we're guessing this applies to any humans.

What do elves like to do for fun? ›

Well living and working at the North Pole is fun most of the time, but in their spare time elves like to sing and dance. Some like to dance the cha-cha, just like Norris Figgyworth.

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