December 23, 2026

Day 23: Elf on the Shelf Ideas

You're in the homestretch, under a week until Christmas. Kids are excited and bedtime is harder. Quick, photogenic scenes over elaborate ones; save your energy for the goodbye.

Tonight's three picks

Match your energy to the day, there's no rule that says you have to do the elaborate one.

Easy (~2 min)

Kitchen ●●○○○

Pikachu Banana Faces

Draw Pikachu faces on a few bananas with a food-safe marker. Pose the elf as the artist holding a marker.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0

Medium (~10 min)

Living Room ●●●○○

Campfire Marshmallow Roast

Stage the elf on the living room rug with superhero action figures gathered around a pretend campfire made of tissue paper flames. Give each figure a skewer with a marshmallow on top.

Ages 3–10 Not pet-safe 0

Elaborate (~20+ min)

Kitchen ●●●●○

Crazy Breakfast

Absurd breakfast scene with unusual combinations like green milk.

Ages 3–12 Pet-safe 0

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