Get a plan for every night the elf visits. This planner is for families doing an Elf on the Shelf style tradition with small children: every idea takes five minutes or less, uses things you already own, and can be filtered so nothing small ends up within reach of a child under 3.
Set up your plan
Each date is the morning your child finds the elf. You set it up the night before.
Your elf plan
What you will need
Forgot to move the elf?
Pick a story, say it with a straight face and move the elf tonight.
- The elf liked this spot so much it stayed another day.
- It was too windy to fly last night, so the elf stayed in.
- The elf is playing statues and has not lost yet.
- The house was awake late, so the elf waited for a quieter night.
- The elf is saving its energy for a big move tomorrow.
How to use the planner
Choose the first and last morning the elf will be out, say how much time you have in the evening, and tick the things you already own. Press Make my plan and you get one idea for every night, with an arrival on the first morning and a goodbye on the last. Each date is the morning your child finds the elf, so you set it up the night before.
If you do not like a night, press Swap for a different idea that fits the same filters. Press Lock on the nights you want to keep, then shuffle the rest. The nights you expect to forget become zero prep nights, where you only move the elf. Print the plan when you are happy with it. It fits on one page.
How the under 3 filter works
When your youngest child is under 3, the planner only uses ideas where the elf and every prop stay on a high shelf, the top of the fridge or another spot a toddler cannot reach. It leaves out food, anything small or loose at floor level, string and ribbon, and anything a toddler might copy, such as sitting on the stairs. Still check your own house: if your child can climb to a shelf, choose a higher one.
Questions parents ask
When should the elf arrive?
Many families start on December 1 and finish on Christmas Eve, which is the default here. Some start the day after Thanksgiving. Change the first morning to whatever suits you. A shorter plan is fine.
What if I forget to move the elf?
Use one of the cover stories under your plan, then move the elf the next night. Setting the forget count a little high gives you more nights with no setup at all.
Do I need to buy anything?
No. Every idea uses the elf and ordinary things from the list, and many use nothing at all. If you tick nothing, the planner sticks to ideas that need no props.
Is my plan saved?
Yes, in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent anywhere. If you clear your browser data or switch devices, make a new plan or use your printed copy.