Marshmallow Bag Crawl In

Pin it
Kitchen Difficulty ●●○○○ Messiness ●●○○○ Ages 3–10

How it's done

This kitchen scene features your elf taking a snack break by diving headfirst into an open bag of marshmallows. Your children will walk in to find the elf positioned deep inside the bag, looking as if they are searching for the perfect treat. You only need a standard bag of marshmallows to set this up, making it one of the quickest setups for busy weeknights. The cleanup is practically nonexistent, which is perfect for parents who are already feeling the holiday fatigue. Inspired by Another Mommy Blogger.

You'll need

  • bag of marshmallows

affiliate Cart icons link to Amazon search.

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 2 means it uses items you already own and takes about five minutes, quick but visibly intentional.

Variations

  • Bigger-kid twist: For an older crowd that sees through simple scenes, step up to Buddy Four Food Groups , same room, cleverer setup.

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 Another Mommy Blogger . Visit the original post for more photos and the full backstory.

Need an idea for tomorrow?

Tell us about your house and kids, we'll pick 5 more ideas personalized for you.

Try the generator →

Also: See all Kitchen ideas · Browse the full guide

More Kitchen ideas

Other quick ideas

Related guides from Elf Planner

More ideas, templates, and rescue plays from our writing.