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Elf Ideas Filters Category: Family Time

Christmas Storybook Collection

Christmas Storybook Collection image

The Elf on the Shelf® and Elf Pets® are characters in their very own books. They’re excited to share them with your family and their arctic friends thanks to these tiny printable books. Featured books include The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, Elf Pets: A Reindeer Tradition, Elf Pets: A Saint Bernard Tradition, Elf Pets: An Arctic Fox Tradition and The Elf on the Shelf’s Night Before Christmas.


Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. First, your elf will print and cut out the printable.
  2. They will fold the books according to the printable instructions and sit down to read their favorite Christmas stories!

Get Printable

Legal [General, 2]

Printable Christmas Activities

Printable Christmas Activities image

Color however you feel inspired to with these free and fun printable Christmas activities! Your family and friends can join in on the fun and complete together.


Materials:

  • Printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Coloring pencils

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print the Christmas activity sheets and cut out the mini versions for themself.
  2. They will leave the sheets next to them and wait for you to find them, so you all can color or fill in the activity sheets together.

Get Printable

Legal [General, 2, 6]

Donut Delivery

Donut Delivery image

Sweet treats are always on the menu when your Scout Elf comes home. When they arrive for the season, they’ll plan a yummy breakfast so you “donut” have to worry about the season’s first meal.


Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Plate
  • Donuts

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the printable sign.
  2. Then, they will prop it near a plate of delicious donuts for you to enjoy!

Get Printable

Legal [General, 2, 5]

The Star of the Show…Elf Joe!

The Star of the Show...Elf Joe! image

Scout Elf Joe is the North Pole’s greatest #elfluencer and dare we say the most popular elf at the North Pole! He has quite the fanbase, including your Scout Elf! They’ll set up a poster and don a matching monocle and mustache to get ready for showtime.


Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Miniature or regular-sized cup of cocoa
  • Phone, computer or other device to watch the Cocoa with Joe show

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
  2. They will set up the Cocoa with Joe poster.
  3. Then, they will grab a mug of cocoa.
  4. Finally, they will don their matching monocle and mustache while tuning into Cocoa with Joe on The Elf on the Shelf’s YouTube channel.

Get Printable

Legal [General, 1, 5]

Baking “Brown-E’s”

Baking “Brown-E’s” image

This is the easiest batch of brownies ever! Your punny Scout Elf isn’t gathering flour, sugar and cocoa; they’re crafting “Brown-E’s,” sure to get laughs from little ones!


Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Baking sheet
  • Wax paper
  • Bowl

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will print and cut out the printable.
  2. Then, they will whip up the batch of Brown-E's, by displaying the printable brown letters on a baking sheet. Yummy? Funny!

Get Printable

Legal [General, 2, 7, 8]

Knock, Knock! Who’s There?

Knock, Knock! Who’s There? image

Both you and your Scout Elf will be laughing all the way to Christmas with the jokes featured in this bitty book! This book will make it hard not to LOL!


Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Tape

Instructions:

  1. First, your Scout Elf will print and cut out the printable.
  2. They will fold the joke book according to the printable instructions and sit down to read some jokes, trying not to laugh out loud!

Get Printable

Legal [General, 2]

Breakfast…Scout Elf Style!

Breakfast...Scout Elf Style! image

Breakfast just got a whole lot SWEETER with the help of your sugar-loving, inventive Scout Elf, who’s dreamed up a silly, sweet breakfast for you to enjoy.


Materials:

  • Toast
  • Icing
  • Sprinkles

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf learned a thing or two from Mrs. Claus’ kitchen, so they whipped up a sugary, sweet breakfast by spreading icing on toast and then topping it with sprinkles. Voila!

Legal [General, 5]

North Pole Virtual Meeting

North Pole Virtual Meeting image

Turning my camera on! Can everyone see me? Your Scout Elf will join a virtual meeting and (hopefully) remember that their camera is on so they don’t do anything too silly!


Materials:


Instructions:

  1. Your elf will download the image onto a phone or other device, so you can get a peek inside their virtual meeting.

Get Image

Legal [General, 2, 3, 7, 8]

Oh, Snowman Tree!

Oh, Snowman Tree! image

Is this how you decorate a Christmas tree? Your Scout Elf skipped the ornaments and used toilet paper instead to transform the Christmas tree into a snowman. “Snow” silly!


Materials:

  • Toilet paper
  • Black, white and orange construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Tape

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will use toilet paper to wrap your Christmas tree.
  2. Then, they will cut a black hat, an orange nose and circles for eyes and a mouth out of construction paper.
  3. They will tape the finishing touches onto the Christmas tree turned snowman!

Legal [General, 2]

Scout Elf Zen Garden

Scout Elf Zen Garden

Ohmmm…Ohmmm…it’s about time for your elf to kick back and relax. What better way to relax than in their own North Pole Zen garden?


Materials:

  • Plate
  • Fork (for rake)
  • Sugar (for sand)
  • Peppermints (for rocks)

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will create a North Pole Zen garden by spreading sugar on a plate.
  2. Then, they will use a fork for a rake and peppermints for rocks before sitting back to relax.

Legal [General, 2, 5, 8]

Christmas Movie Night Tips

Christmas Movie Night image

Lights, camera, action! Get ready for at-home movie night with your Scout Elf and Elf Pets. With this caddy filled with snacks, you’ll be ready to grab a blanket and tune in for showtime.


Materials:


Instructions:

  1. First, your elf will fill a snack caddy or bento box with your favorite movie snacks.
  2. Then, they will wrap your favorite Christmas movies or animated specials and store them in a bin.
  3. Finally, they will hang out with the Elf Pets® Reindeer until you find them. Together, you all can sit down for a cozy movie night!

Legal [General, 1, 5, 7, 8]

Snowy Welcome Back Breakfast

Snowy Welcome Back Breakfast image

You’ll step into a winter wonderland after your Scout Elf sets up this snow-themed North Pole Breakfast® surprise for your family. Your family could even create a similar snowy breakfast and invite your Scout Elf to partake in the celebratory moment!


Materials:

  • Blue tablecloth
  • Snowflake napkins
  • Snowflake sequins
  • Snowflake foil swirls
  • Waffles sprinkled with powdered sugar
  • Fruit
  • White powdered donuts Christmas tree
  • Glass of “snowman milk”
    • Mini glass bottles
    • Straws
    • White milk
    • Marshmallows for heads
    • Colorful chocolate coated candies for buttons
    • Red licorice for scarves
    • Black and orange decorating icing to draw eyes, noses and mouths
  • Color printer
  • Card stock/Paper
  • Printable
  • Crayons or colored pencils

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will get to work preparing a wintry welcome back breakfast. They will use a blue tablecloth and snowflake décor to set the scene.
  2. Then, they will prepare a breakfast of waffles, fruit, white powdered donuts and “snowman milk.”
  3. Lastly, they will print the worksheet and leave it for kids to complete.

Get Printable

Legal [General, 1, 2, 5, 6]

Miniature Gingerbread House

Miniature Gingerbread House image

Oh, snap! This elf created teensy weensy gingerbread houses for his Merry Mini Christmas friends.


Materials:

  • Merry Minis
  • Graham crackers
  • Jelly beans
  • Mini lollipops
  • Coconut shavings
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Mini candy canes
  • Icing

Instructions:

  1. To create mini gingerbread houses for the Merry Minis, your Scout Elf will use icing to attach two graham crackers together and to secure jelly beans as the roof.
  2. They can also create mini sleds with a graham cracker and mini candy canes.
  3. They will add embellishments to the festive scene with coconut shavings, mini marshmallows and mini lollipops.

Legal [General, 1, 5]

Christmas Pancake Party

Christmas Pancake Party image

It’s a festive flapjack party when your Scout Elf returns home for the holidays! They’ll make a grand entrance by whipping up delicious pancakes for you all to enjoy together.


Materials:

  • Pancakes prepared according to favorite recipe
  • Array of fruit, candy and other toppings depending on the pancake
    • Raspberries
    • Mini marshmallows
    • Mini and regular chocolate chips
    • Bananas
    • Brown decorating icing
    • Blue decorating icing
    • Powdered sugar
    • Dried cherries
    • Strawberries
    • Dried mangos
    • Blue coated candies
    • Blueberry
    • Bacon
    • Blackberry
    • Yellow chocolate coated candy

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will get busy in the kitchen whipping up a batch up pancakes.
  2. Then, they will use an array of fruit, candy and other toppings to create pancakes that resemble themself or their furry friends!

Legal [General, 2, 5]

Disconnect to Reconnect

Materials:

  • Large container (Fishbowl, shoebox, vase etc.)
  • Paper
  • Pen

Instructions:

  1. Turn off, tune out and focus in on spending quality time with loved ones. Your elf will see to this by instilling a strict no electronics zone that inspires family members to put cellphones, tablets and computers aside. All your elf needs is paper and pen to create a sign and a place to store the gadgets to get rid of them for an hour, day, week, or however long your elf decides!

Legal [General, 8]

Craving Hot Cocoa

To help you satisfy your sweet tooth, your Scout Elf brought back a new North Pole recipe for a big batch of hot cocoa! After assembling the chocolate-y treat, your elf will leave a note asking your family to grab a mug and top your cup of piping hot cocoa with a variety of fun ingredients, like sprinkles, whipped cream, chocolate chips and more. And of course, don’t forget the marshmallows!


Legal [General, 1, 8]

Hot Cocoa Treat

If there is one drink that Scout Elves love most, it’s hot cocoa! Your elf will get out the marshmallows and leave a note asking you and your family to make some tasty hot cocoa to enjoy together. Yum!

Legal [General]

Clownin’ Around

Your silly Scout Elf is at it again! To show off her love of playing jokes and dressing up at the North Pole, your elf will tape small red pom-poms to one of your family photos—and wear a clown nose herself! She will also leave you a note asking your family to do something silly together today—like create some knock-knock jokes or put on a funny fashion show!

Legal [General, 1, 8]

Festive Friends & Fun Games

Materials:

  • Painter’s tape
  • Marshmallows
  • Red marker
  • Green marker
  • Small party hats
  • Toys or stuffed animals

Instructions:

  1. Leave it up to your Scout Elf to create a game night everyone wants to be a part of! To get all their friends together, your elf created a tic-tac-toe board by crisscrossing four pieces of painter’s tape.
  2. To make the game more festive, your elf used red and green markers to mark marshmallows with X’s and O’s.
  3. Finally, your elf invited all their friends—including the Elf Pets® Saint Bernard and Elf Pets® Reindeer—to host a night of festive fun!

Legal [General, 1, 5]

Reindeer Chocolate Milk


Materials:

  • Clear mugs
  • Chocolate milk
  • Paper straws
  • Orange pom-poms
  • Googly eyes
  • Brown pipe cleaners
  • Tape
  • Scout Elves at Play® tools: Cheery Chair

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will craft a cocoa treat that looks like the Elf Pets® Reindeer, the perfect touch for a morning meal or official North Pole Breakfast! To start, your elf will use brown pipe cleaners to create “antlers” by wrapping two smaller pieces of pipe cleaner (approximately 2 ½ inches long) around the top of one longer piece of pipe cleaner (approximately 5 inches long).
  2. Using tape, your Scout Elf will attach the “antlers,” as well as two googly eyes and an orange pom-pom “nose” to the clear mug.
  3. After filling each clear mug with hot cocoa, your elf will stick a straw in each and kneel on the Cheery Chair to take a sip!

Legal [General]

Balloon Scavenger Hunt Surprise


Materials:

  • Helium balloons
  • String/ribbon
  • Paper
  • Markers
  • Treats/gifts
  • Message Cards from Scout Elves at Play® kit (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf plans to send you searching on a sweet scavenger hunt around the house! To start, your elf will gather helium balloons tied with string or ribbon.
  2. Next, your elf will write clues on the paper with markers and tape one to each of the balloons that will lead your family to a hidden treat! (Helpful hint for elves: you can label the balloons by date, or by family member for even more fun!)

Legal [General, 1, 4]

Wrapper’s Delight

To start the season with a surprise, your Scout Elf will return to your home with a specially-wrapped gift to show you how much you mean to them! But that’s not all, your elf will ask you to do the same by making a thoughtful gift to give to someone as an early Christmas present. Don’t forget the beautiful wrapping paper!

Legal [General, 4]

Treasure Hunt

Materials:

  • Paper
  • Markers/Colored Pencils
  • Prizes or notes

Instructions:

  1. Shiver me timbers! It looks like your Scout Elf is in the mood to play!
  2. Scout Elves can use actual tiny presents, candy, or even fun notes as hidden treasure for your children to find throughout the living room. Your Scout Elf should also leave a trusty map, complete with all of the major landmarks in the room, to help tiny tots find all their goodies. Using markers or colored pencils, your elf will leave X’s on the map where they’ve hidden the treasures since “X” always marks the spot.
  3. Whew! Your family will enjoy all of the fun of treasure seeking in true North Pole style—without ever having to walk the plank.

Legal [General]

That’s a Wrap!

It’s what’s on the inside that counts, but your Scout Elf knows that Christmas presents are even prettier when they come in festive paper! To put the finishing touches on their thoughtful gifts for friends and loved ones, your Scout Elf decided to host their very own gift wrapping party with the Good Tidings Gift Boxes and Convertible Christmas Tree from the book Scout Elves at Play® Paper Crafts.

In addition to perfecting his or her present presentation, your elf will leave out a note asking your family to get your gift wrapping done, too, by having a present wrapping party complete with snacks, pretty paper and decorative garnishes. That’s a wrap!


Legal [General]