Gone Goldfish Fishing

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Kitchen Difficulty ●●●●○ Messiness ●●○○○ Ages 3–12

How it's done

Your elf sits on the kitchen counter, balancing a piece of string over a clear bowl of water to go fishing for a snack. A handful of goldfish crackers are scattered around the bowl to look like a fresh catch. Since this setup requires careful balancing of the fishing line, expect to spend about twenty minutes getting everything positioned just right. It is a great choice for older children who enjoy a detailed scene, though toddlers will love spotting the fish. This setup was Inspired by What Moms Love.

You'll need

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Pets in the house?

Should be fine around pets as long as you place it out of reach.

Why this works

The kitchen is the first room most kids visit in the morning, for cereal, for milk, for the toaster. An elf scene staged here has the highest odds of being the first thing your child spots and shouts about. Difficulty 4 is an ambitious scene that rewards the extra effort, the kind of moment kids remember years later.

If it doesn't go to plan

If the elf ends up too well-hidden and the kids can't find it, nudge them with a vague hint ("Looks like our elf went somewhere cozy"), the discovery is the point.

Inspired by What Moms Love . Visit the original post for more photos and the full backstory.

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