The Only Elf on the Shelf Planner You'll Ever Need
The elf doesn’t have to be stressful. Stop scrolling pinterest at 11pm each night, frantically looking for ideas. This elf on the shelf planner is your road map to stress-free magic!
This is NOT a traditional “25 days of Elf” list because those lists often have ideas:
that you don’t have the supplies for
that are way too complicated
that you’ve already done
or you just don’t like (too fresh, too old, too naughty, etc.)
Instead, this is a tried-and-true TEMPLATE. It will always work for your children, their interests, your house, your supplies, and your energy level because YOU choose what your elf does each night.
I give you the framework for kid-approved categories and you plug in what works for your family!
Here’s how to use this template:
Figure out how many nights you need to plan. Open up the planner and add/subtract the number of nights in each category.
It’s good to have one or two extra ideas up your sleeve, so you can combine 2 ideas into one night if you want to increase the “wow” factor, or you have options for your energy level at the end of each day.
To thine own self be true: increase the category that’s easiest for you to pull off.
Plug in ideas you already have, for example Dec 1= bring the advent calendar. Think about special toys your child has that you’d want to use.
Search Pinterest for ideas that appeal to you. Fill the idea and corresponding things you’d need to buy into the template.
Go shopping. Michaels, Target or the dollar store are good for inspiration.
After Pinterest, walking around the house, and shopping, your template should be (mostly) full. It’s ok to leave some blank and let the ideas come to you as the days pass 😊 You’ll see my example still has some empty spaces! And it’s also ok if you fill in every space!
OPTIONAL STEP: plan out/create all your kindness notes in advance. I’ve done this and had them all printed and ready to go, and I’ve also handwritten them each night as needed. Up to you, but I’ve included my elf-note template for you! I try to have at least ½ of our nights align with a kindness note.
Pull out the template each night, pick one that works for this night’s circumstances and your energy level, and make some magic! Note that you should NOT work straight down the list!
Here are my tried-and-true, kid-approved categories:
CANDY/TREATS –it’s always a hit when the elf brings something to eat. I aim for 6 of these because they’re easy to set up. Change it up each year or make these your staples. Even make it silly!
MINI PROPS – I limit this to 2, one new one and one recycled from previous years. Choosing something that’s meaningful to your child makes this a hit. Check the ornament section of stores for props, too. You can also check with a friend to swap elf accessories or start a local FB thread!
ANIMALS/TOYS YOU HAVE – I shoot for 6 of these because they’re easy to set up. Look around your child’s room for quick, last-minute ideas.
SHENANIGANS – I’ve found there are 4 types of successful shenanigans:
SILLY – these are the puny, silly ones. There are thousands of ideas on Pinterest!
MESSY – you know: glitter, flour angels, cereal all over the floor… while the kids love these, I don’t love the cleanup, so ONE per season!
BATHROOM HUMOR – kids get a kick out of these, so I do one, but this category doesn’t jive with my personal thoughts about the purpose of the elf
EPIC – a must do! Try to find one epic shenanigan… you know, the one they’ll remember forever! Only you know your child- what would make the EPIC list at your house? A prank on dad? Wrapping the sofa in wrapping paper? A family inside joke?
HARD HIDING PLACE – for a night when you’re tired! Prepare the note and then stick the elves someplace really, really hard, but that you’ll come across in the course of the day – like the car, inside the dryer, etc. The children are always amazed when we finally find the elves!
READING – we love reading, so I always incorporate a new Christmas book into our elf fun. It’s also a super simple set up if you have a book prepared ahead of time.
INVITATIONS – these are also simple, but great for spreading kindness. All it involves are the elves setting out something for your child to do, for example: set out a board game, set out a new coloring book and crayons, leave a note for your child to play the guitar for a friend who’s down… any way you can imagine inviting your child to do something. Play to your child’s strengths! I like this category because you can take it in so many directions.
Here you go! The only elf planner you’ll ever need, with room for extra nights!
This EXCEL download has directions, the categories and explanations, my example, an editable excel worksheet, and a printable page if you like to handwrite your lists. It has a perfect blend of kid-approved categories, a space for shopping notes, and room for corresponding kindness notes.
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