Elf on the Shelf: 17 Easy and Hilarious Ideas to Try

Seat your elf on the shelf next to a spilled pack of cookies, with crumbs all over its face and shirt. You can even place a tiny cookie in its hands and scatter a few crumbs around the “crime scene.”

Bonus idea: Leave a little note that says, “Oops… I was just testing to make sure the cookies were still good for Santa!”

The toilet paper… maybe you’ve already used it to build a giant Christmas tree by stacking the rolls and decorating them with bows and garlands—or even to wrap it all around the real tree as a “new kind of garland.”

But this time, here’s something a little more… mischievous: the elf pooped and wiped himself with the toilet paper roll! A bit of melted chocolate (Nutella or leftover Halloween chocolate—no judgment!) is all you need to create fake poop marks. You can even drop a few raisins in the toilet bowl to make tiny “droppings.”

Is it the height of maturity? Absolutely not.
Will the kids burst out laughing? Absolutely yes!

Use some tape to stick the elf to the inside of the washing machine door (ideally when it’s off, of course!) and add a little note saying “SOS!” or “Help me!”

It looks like maybe he wanted to get clean after all his mischief… or maybe he just mistook the washing machine for a magical North Pole slide!

Place a few fish-shaped crackers at the bottom of the sink or in a large bowl. For the fishing rod, a piece of pipe cleaner (or a straw) with a small string works perfectly!

• For kids who are deep sleepers and not easily woken, the elf could draw a funny mustache on their face. Leave the elf holding a crayon to show it was caught in the act!

• The elf could draw funny faces on eggs, oranges, or other foods. You could even turn it into a mini art gallery by sticking little googly eyes on all the fridge items!

• The elf might draw (or paint, if you’re feeling ambitious!) a portrait of itself or the kids. If you have two mischievous elves, one could pose while the other does the drawing.

The elf doesn’t always play pranks—it can also teach valuable lessons!

Place the elf on the shelfin the laundry basket with a little note that says something like:
“To receive, you must give! Put the toys you no longer use here so they can bring joy to other children.”

It’s a fun way for your child to learn about sharing and giving, with the elf as a playful helper!

Kids love playing hide-and-seek… so they’ll definitely enjoy an elf hide-and-seek!

Leave a small note from the mischievous elf in a visible spot to let them know it’s hiding and that the hunt is on. In the kitchen, scatter a few cereal pieces on the counter and leave the cupboard slightly open so they can discover the elf tucked inside the cereal box.

If you have Legos at home, let the mischievous elf have some fun building! It could create a new little bed, a tiny Christmas-themed house as its own hideout, or even make holiday decorations like a candy cane or a mini Santa. Kids will love discovering its surprise creations!

You can also use Legos to build a small staircase and have the elf climb onto the countertops for extra mischief.

While your child is fast asleep, the elf takes the opportunity to read to all the stuffed animals! Set it up comfortably in a corner of the room with an open book in front of it, and arrange all the stuffed animals, dolls, and figurines as if they are quietly listening.

When your child wakes up, they’ll discover the scene and wonder which story the elf was reading to them during the night!

Hang Christmas garlands from one side of a door frame to the other, and attach your elf to a candy cane so it looks like it’s ziplining across the room.

No candy cane? No problem! You can also use a clothes hanger or any small rod.

A bit of tape will help keep everything secure.

Build a mini marshmallow fort, sprinkle a little “snow” with powdered sugar or flour, and place your elf facing your child’s favorite stuffed animal or toy as the opponent. Let the snowball fight begin! You can use mini marshmallows instead of snowballs. Perfect for recreating the fun atmosphere of the movie The Dog Who Stopped the War right at home.

While the kids are asleep, your elf can have fun taking pictures of them… or even selfies! If you have a printer, print out the photos and leave them on the table in the morning, with the elf holding a tiny camera.

No printer? Place your phone next to the elf and change the wallpaper to one of the “photos” taken by your mischievous nighttime photographer. Kids will love discovering their elf’s photography skills!

Your mischievous elf can have fun giving the family photos a little makeover! Swap out the pictures in the frames for images of elf friends. You can easily find funny elf images online. Kids will be surprised and delighted to discover that cheeky elves have “taken over” the picture frames around the house!

Download our elf images here!

Set up your elf stirring a cauldron filled with colorful Christmas candies, as if he’s cooking up a magical potion.

You can also leave a few ingredients nearby and include a little recipe for the kids to follow—maybe “Elf Pudding” or an extravagant hot chocolate!

We all have Post-Its lying around… so why not turn them into an elf prank? Stick them all over the bathroom mirror (or all the mirrors in the house if you’re feeling extra mischievous!).

The North Pole’s chill was just too tempting… so the mischievous elf decided to take refuge in the freezer! You’ll find him sitting among the ice cubes, surrounded by frozen foods, all frosty and cozy.

Bonus: Leave a little note from the elf saying, “Do not disturb! I’m taking a polar nap!”

And if you have any Frozen fans, here’s the perfect mischievous elf prank! Place your elf in a small container filled with water and freeze it. The next day, add an Elsa figurine or doll next to the ice cube… and voilà! It looks like Elsa used her powers to freeze your mischievous elf. He’s now neutralized and can’t cause any more trouble!