Thanks to my wonderful mother in law, my kids have their very own Elf On The Shelf that has visited them every Winter for the past three years. From Black Friday until Christmas Eve, Juliet finds her way into our home. (Juliet, the elf. Not my mother in law.) I have to say, I like the name Juliet much better than Duck, which is what my daughter originally named her. She was three years old and obsessed with ducks at the time.
Sometimes, Juliet gets into mischief and sometimes she doesn’t, but one thing is for sure. You will never find Juliet sitting cross-legged on a shelf like it shows on The Elf On The Shelf book cover. That’s so boring! My husband and I love to have our daughters find Juliet actually doing things that they love to do themselves, something they can relate to, or something we know they will find hilarious.
As long as you follow these four guidelines for places to put your child’s elf, a smile on your child’s face is pretty much guaranteed:
1. Something that your child loves to do.
My kids love it when they find their elf doing things that they love to do themselves, whether it is getting into their crayon box and drawing a picture or taking a nap on their dollhouse’s bed that they play with everyday.
Here are some other ideas:
– Elf building a house out of Legos (A Christmas tree perhaps?)
– Elf doing a fashion show with Barbies (“Don’t just stand there! Strike a pose!”)
– Elf playing a musical instrument (How about silver bells?)
2. Something that your child can relate to.
Kids will enjoy seeing their elf doing something they can relate to, which you may think is the same thing as something your child loves to do, but it’s not.
Here are some ideas:
– Elf practicing reading with Sight Words (Pictured above)
– Elf forming the word “Yuck”on a plate of brussell sprouts
– Elf being buckled into their carseat (Note: Only do this one if you don’t plan on going anywhere, since the number one rule for the Elf On The Shelf is it cannot be touched or else he or she will lose its magic.)
3. Something your kids will find hilarious.
Kids love to laugh and parents love to see and hear their children laughing, so have fun with this one and don’t be afraid to get creative! You know your child best, so choose things you know will work.
Here are some ideas:
– Elf writing a message with toothpaste (Pictured above)
– Elf using the potty chair (Note: Use Hershey Kisses for the poop.)
Don’t get too predicable with your Elf placement! Kids are smarter than you think and they also get bored easily. Keep the magic and fun alive by mixing it up.
Here are some ideas:
– Elf hanging up high on mistletoe (Pictured above)
– Elf stacking up cups and sitting on the very top on the kitchen counter
The most important thing is that everyone has fun with your Elf on the Shelf, both the parents and the kids! Merry Christmas!