Oh crap! I forgot to move the Elf!

It’s almost time for the Elf on the Shelf to return. My kids have been counting down the days until December 1st since Halloween, so needless to say, they’re excited. I know there are a lot of you (like me) who have a love/hate relationship with this annual visitor. We only ended up with one because my kids decided to WRITE SANTA A LETTER a couple Novembers ago asking him to send an elf. So here we are.

If you participate in the Elf on the Shelf tradition, you know the dread that comes when you realize you forgot to move the little bugger and now have to come up with a last minute fix before the kids wake up or right as you’re going to bed. This is usually the point where I kick myself for not just ordering a kit online. Well, save this post, because we’ve got you this year!

Here is a list of 11 last minute, minimal effort things to do with the Elf:

1. Grab a coloring book and crayons and have the elf color. Just scribble all over a page and dump the crayons out. 

2. Have the elf make a snow angel in something. We did this with sprinkles one year, but you can use flour, sugar, anything powdered.

3. Grab a book or magazine and have the elf read. You can add a couple dolls or stuffies if they’re nearby.

4. Hide-and-seek. Just toss it in or under something. 

5. North Pole mandatory meeting day. Scribble a note with your non-dominant hand about him or her having a work meeting. 

6. Low magic day. Have the kids spread some holiday cheer by to recharge the magic!

7. Injured or sick elf. Wrap some sort of tape around an arm or leg. Painter tape, masking tape, washi tape, ribbon, whatever you’ve got. Or make the elf have a cold using cough drops and a thermometer. (This could potentially last a few days; broken legs or arms and viruses take a little while to heal!)

8. Elf in a jar. I always save a pickle jar so that the kids can carry the elf around for a day. But this makes a great solution at the last minute too.

9. Hungry elf. Stick the elf upside down into a box of something sweet: cereal, cookies, etc. We did Nesquick powder one year and that was a hit. 

10. It is stuck in the TV. Click here for a 10 hour YouTube link!

11. Too cold to fly. Look up the weather for North Pole Alaska and tell the kids Santa has to adjust the magic for the temperature.

Hope these help! Be sure to leave us any other ideas you’ve got in the comments!