Interactive Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Make your elf visits even more magical this year with these interactive elf ideas that invite kids to join in the fun. Instead of simply finding the elf each morning, these activities encourage children to play, explore and participate.

From scavenger hunts and silly challenges to fun games and exciting science experiments, these ideas will take your elf pranks to the next level and turn them into an engaging experience for the whole household. These interactive ideas are great hands-on ways for the kids to get involved in the elf's adventures and magic without breaking the no touching rule.

Christmas Countdown Colouring Advent Calendar {Free Printable}

Count down to Christmas in a fun and creative way with this free printable Christmas countdown colouring calendar. Featuring 25 festive squares, each with a different Christmas-themed picture to colour, it’s the perfect way to add a little magic to each December morning and build the excitement for kids as they await Christmas Day.

The countdown calendar can be used alongside a traditional advent calendar, or as a substitute for one if you're looking for a sugar free way to countdown to Christmas that also doesn't involve bring more little trinkets into your home. It’s a simple daily, screen-free activity that combines creativity, routine, and holiday joy all in one.

Roll & Draw a Gingerbread Man: Free Printable Christmas Game

Get ready for some festive fun with this roll and draw a gingerbread man game. Perfect for Christmas, kids need to roll the dice to decide their gingerbread man’s features. What shape will he be, will he have a bite missing?! What buttons will he have and will he be in disguise? Every gingerbread man will be one-of-a-kind.

This printable game is a wonderful way to combine learning and creativity. Ideal for kids to play at home, in the classroom, or at Christmas parties, it helps kids practise number recognition, counting, and fine motor skills as they draw. Download the free printable roll and draw game template below and let your little ones start designing and decorating their own gingerbread men.

Bluey Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Get ready for some Heeler family fun this Christmas with these Bluey themed Elf on the Shelf ideas. Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, these elf setups bring the magic of Bluey, Bingo, and all their friends to life, for real life..

From recreating favourite episodes to dressing your elf as beloved characters, these ideas are easy, imaginative, and guaranteed to excite your kids each morning. Will your elf play a game of keepy uppy, host a dance party, or try to find Chattermax?

Torn Paper Christmas Tree Craft

If you’re looking for a simple and festive Christmas craft for kids either at home or in the classroom, this torn paper Christmas tree is the perfect holiday activity. Children can rip, tear, and glue pieces of paper to create their own special Christmas tree. 

This hands-on craft is not only fun and easy to set up, but it also helps build fine motor skills, strengthens little hand muscles, and encourages creativity as they design their own unique tree. I've also included a free printable Christmas tree template to make it even easier.

Elf Alphabet Ideas: A-Z Daily Elf Ideas

What does the elf learn in school? 

The elfabet!

Looking for a way to make your elf visits both magical and educational this December? Have your elf teach your kids the elfabet by introducing a new letter of the alphabet each day with playful setups that highlight words beginning with that letter. From A to Z, your elf can help children learn letters, sounds, and vocabulary in a hands-on, memorable way. Not only does this keep the holiday tradition exciting, but it also turns it into a fun daily literacy adventure for little ones. 

This post includes multiple daily alphabet inspired elf ideas for each letter of the alphabet. They're perfect for parents or teachers who want to sneak a little learning into the festive fun.

Free Printable Elf Ideas Planner & Calendar

Do you always start your elf season with good intentions of being prepared and organised, only to end up running out of ideas or completing forgetting the elf half way through December? Don't worry, I do too and I have literally hundreds of elf ideas on my blog and still have nights where I go completely blank and throw something random together last minute.

Well, not this year my friends! I'm determined to actually write down and plan out my ideas on paper instead of relying on my overwhelmed Mum brain to magically remember them all during the Christmas chaos. I've created a free printable elf planning kit that includes a calendar, idea planner and ideas checklist, so nothing can go wrong {hopefully}. Good news is you can all use it too.

Roll & Draw a Jack-o-Lantern: Free Printable Halloween Game

Get set for some spook-tacular fun with this roll and draw jack-o-lantern game. Perfect for Halloween, kids simply roll the dice to decide their pumpkin’s features, will it be tall or short, scary or silly, happy or grumpy? Each child will create a unique, one of a kind jack-o-lantern.

This roll and draw a jack-o-lantern game isn’t just a Halloween activity, it’s also a playful way to blend learning with creativity in a game kids will want to play again and again. Perfect for home, the classroom, or even a Halloween party, it helps children practice math skills, spark their imaginations, and get involved in some festive fun. Grab the free printable roll and draw game template below so your kids can start designing their own funky jack-o-lanterns.

Roll and Draw a Ghost: Free Printable Halloween Game

Get ready for some frightfully fun drawing with this roll and draw a ghost game. Perfect for Halloween, kids will roll the dice to see which silly features their ghost will have, will it have wide eyes, be poking out it's tongue, or have a funny moustache? Each ghost will end up one of a kind.

This roll and draw a ghost game is more than just a Halloween activity, it’s a simple way to mix learning and creativity into a fun game that kids can play over and over. Whether you use it at home, in the classroom, or at a Halloween party, it encourages kids to be creative, practice important maths skills, and enjoy the festive spirit of the season. Download the free printable roll and draw game template so your kids can start playing too.

DIY Rainbow Fish Costume

If your child is in primary school {elementary school} then chances are they've read, or been read, The Rainbow Fish in class at least once. It's a staple picture book, popular around the world, so it didn't surprise me when my daughter wanted to dress up as The Rainbow Fish for book week.

As usual I created our own DIY Rainbow Fish costume and I've written all the instructions down so you can make it for your child too as a dress up costume, for book week, or even Halloween.