Did you remember to move the elf? Use these simple tips and tricks to save your sanity and make the Elf on the Shelf a fun family Christmas tradition.
Elf on the Shelf. These 4 words can make parents cringe in terror or smile with delight. I fall into the latter category. My children’s elves, Present and Butterscotch, have visited our home from the North Pole for the past 6 years. I look forward to this magical time of holiday surprise and mischief almost as much as my children. I want to share three simple tips I use to make elf on the shelf easy , fun, and stress-free for the Christmas season.
1) Make the Elf on the Shelf Poseable
Out of the box, a brand new elf can only sit upright with it’s hands clasped together. That restriction puts limits on the amount of places where this red mischief maker can be hidden or placed. With a few simple tools and in under an hour, anyone can turn their elf on the shelf into a poseable doll. Now the possibilities of where the elf will turn up next are endless. Follow this simple tutorial from Life She Has to transform your elf.
2) Set a Nightly Alarm
The secret is out. Every parent has forgotten to move their elf, at least once, each holiday season. Our days are filled with so much to do, that by the time the kids have gone to bed, the elf is far from our minds. To help remember to move the elf, set a phone alarm or reminder to go off every night after the kids are in bed. I labeled mine E.O.T.S. (codename for Elf On The Shelf) just in case my kids access the alarm app on my phone. This nightly alert has proven it’s worth time and time again in our house.
3) Keep It Simple
As much as I admire the complicated, intricate, and creative elf antics posted on Pinterest, that is not me. Instead, I use things around the house for our elves. My sons Legos, my daughter’s Barbie car, a fish tank, wine glasses, picture frames, candlesticks and more. And when I put up all our indoor Christmas decorations, the elves manage to find their way into those as well. Present and Butterscotch have been wrapped in garland, hidden in poinsettias, tucked into holiday wreaths, held by Nutcrackers, hidden in the advent calendar slots, and so much more. I promise, the elf on shelf visit is more enjoyable, when it is kept simple.
Now go have fun spreading Christmas cheer to your children with a poseable, alarm following, simply placed elf on the shelf.
Merry Elfing!
