Your reindeer should be given a name – as well as lots of love and cuddles to help increase their stores of this special festive magic.

Basketball Game:For sports lovers, this Elf on the shelf Printable Basketball Game will be a slam dunk!(via Kids Activity Blog) Playing Cards:Set-up a card game with all your child’s favorite friends. (via Snapshots of a Sweet Life)Holiday Cookie Baking:Love creating a themed setup for your Elf? There’s nothing cuter than this baking printable set that shows their excitement for Christmas cookie creation. (via Mom Envy) Magazine Clippings:This simple but sweet idea shows your Elf creating a goodbye message for the family with snippets of words from a magazine. (via Frugal Coupon Living) Emoji Letter:Kids seem to speak in emojis these days, so they’ll love this emoji-themed departure letter with a cute poem on when the Elf will return the following year. (via I Think We Could Be Friends)We hope you’ve enjoyed our mega roundup of the best Elf on the Shelf ideas! You won’t run out anytime soon with this magical mix to inspire and create. We hope that you enjoy making memories with your family this holiday season. Turn the tables by placing the elf so it looks like it’s peeking into the gift bags being kept beneath the Christmas tree. Naughty elves! LEGO® Elf on the Shelf Make each day a learning experience by writing or printing out a set of clues to indicate the elf’s whereabouts. Swinging Elf on the Shelf

Angel Rice:Your Elf misses the snow, so have him make “snow” angels with rice! (via Home Stories A to Z) Fridge Surprise:Decorate the milk to their cereal and include a fun treat too! (via Just Live Life Happy) Elf Door:How did the Elf get inside? It must have been through the tiny fairy garden door that appeared on the wall! (via My Frugal Adventures) Want to buy Elf on the Shelf? The main product is a set comprising the Elf on the Shelf book and a soft toy elf to play the game with. Once you have the book and toy elf, you can read the tale to the kids to get them excited about the new addition to the household.

Scout Elf Gym Dandy

Candy Cane Sledding:A simple candy cane sled will provide your Elf (and kids!) with lots of joy. (via Jenny Onsager)

Let the kids catch the elf in the act of wrapping some Christmas presents. Small, cheap items will do, so why not raid the supermarket or local dollar store for some little goodies? Peeping Elf on the Shelf You can also buy different kinds of Elf on the Shelf advent train products made by other manufacturers. Like any popular piece of merchandise, the Elf on the Shelf trend has grown to include extra products. Hence the addition of ‘ Elf Pets‘ to the family. These come in several options. As Christmas approaches each year, Santa Claus sends his army of elves into the homes of kids all across the world. Including here in Australia.Poinsettia:Create a Poinsettia collar and your Elf will blend right in (via Snippets From Suburbia) Hiding in Toys:Will they ever find him amongst all the stuffed animals?! (via Simple as that blog) ELF ON THE SHELF IDEAS WITH CRAFTS Bundle of Balloons:What kid doesn’t love balloons? Have your elf arrive in high-flying style with a bundle of balloons and a fun arrival message. (via Mama Cheaps)

There are other options too. Some of the Elf merch we like includes a larger plush Elf on the Shelf that’s ideal for younger kids, a superhero Elf on the Shelf, an Elf Pets reindeer in tartan pyjamas, a sleeping bag for the elf – and even a large Gemmy Elf on the Shelf inflatable. The idea is that the reindeer is your elf’s best friend, and its magic powers are required to help Santa’s sleigh to fly around the world each Christmas Eve. Elf Operation Game:Make your own Elf Operation using pieces from the actual game. (via Jessica Manton) Integrating your child’s favorite stuffies or games into your Elf’s antics will surely make them smile! Because we know all too well that prepping for your Elf’s holiday antics can be time-consuming during this hectic holiday season, we’ve pulled together an extensive list of the best easy and creative Elf on the Shelf ideas so you don’t have to stress.Orange Juice:A fun bendy straw takes freshly squeezed to a whole new level. (via Frugal Coupon Living) The accompanying book tells the story of how the St Bernard helps Santa channel the love and hope of the Christmas season, and how the dog stores the love children show to others to help things along. Coloring Sheets:Kids love to color, so have your elf drop off some fun holiday-themed coloring sheet printables that they can decorate with when complete! (via The Simple Parent) ELF ON THE SHELF IDEAS WITH FOOD Finishing a Puzzle:Have your Elf start a puzzle and invite the kids to help him finish. (via Shannon Hilton)