Elf on the shelf has been a tradition for us since the kids were little. The magic and fun of the elf has never gotten old to me throughout the year.
However, my kids on the other hand have gotten old.
16 years old to be exact this Christmas season… But has the Elf fun stopped?
No chance! Instead I’ve reinvented the Elf with some fun ideas that get my teenagers just as excited to see where our Elf friend has moved while they’ve been asleep at night.
Although, one thing that has changed is now my teens basically put me to bed. So I set up the Elf fun in the mornings, which means the ideas have to be simple and easy to execute while we all wake up.
To make it easier, I’ve made a calender of all the ideas we use to make the entire process of continuing your elf tradition on through the high school years as simple as possible.
So simple perhaps, I can even carry this on as long as I have kids living in my house.
And then I will need to find someone else to have Elf fun with, because I just adore this tradition.
Download the calendar here and read on to see all the ideas, links to supplies you’ll need and even some extra tricks to make this Elf year your best one yet, no matter how old your kids might be.
One thing I’ve learned over the years with my teens is that the funnier the Elf idea the better! So here are some ideas I’ve done that might have just made my big kids laugh out loud.
Barbie driving up a wall is a classic take that only requires digging out your old doll stash and using a comand stript to attch to the wall.
We live near the mountains, so bear season is a real thing! But gummy bears are even more fun to enjoy.
A bath of marshmallows! Genius, especially when there’s hot cocoa nearby. This is an especially fun one to do around finals week, when your teenagers could use a little encouragement from their elf friend.
In the fridge with a piece of toast for a jacket is a classic move that is always fun.
Found these mini-uno sets at the dollar store and they are the perfect size for Elf! I got one for each kid and was happily surprised when they popped them in their backpacks to play at school with their friends.
My teenage kids love different things now than when they were small, so finding unique ways to connect little treats and gifts to our Elf time, makes the holidays more fun for everyone.
Popcorn which is a cute Elf move and doubles as a great snack they can take to school that day.
Our Elf-On-The-Shelf has always announced his return with a box of their favorite cereal. This is a special treat in my house and one they enjoy all week long.
Elf makes a playlist for your teens! My kids love music and it’s so easy to create a Spotify playlist for your Elf to share.
Haha! Sometimes, just a good ol’ joke is what your high school kids want to see from their magical Elf friend.
Elf twister is a fun game to play! I’ve loved using the download printables from Threadmama every year that includes this fun Elf time game. 
And for those teenagers who are extra stressed with finals during the Christmas season, why not give them a breather with a little Elf lead yoga.
Naughty Elf Ideas for Teens
I mean, there;s sweet and funny which s great. But expecially for your teenage boys – naughty Elf might keep the magic alive.
Lemonade that is obviously a little Elf prank.
How we say goodbye to our Elf! Haha. Such a fun way to have the kids say goodbye until next year.
Kit Kat Jenga is easily my favorite type of jenga around. With the chocolate crunch and sweet vibes.
My son is very into Magic the Gathering, so I found this fun download that is a magic card for the Elf! Such a fun way for him to wake up one holiday morning.
A melted snowman.
The age old undies on the flag pole prank, but Elf style! Get ready to have your kids say… ewww mom! As you chuckle under your breath at this naughty Elf position.
Chips in the Christmas tree? They certainly don’t belong there, but my teens are happy to find the Elf and thankful for an easy to grab snack on their way to school.
Taylor Swift Elf fun, there are so many options for this, here are a couple of my favorite:
A cute cocoa way to wake up to a new day.
Elf getting ready for an ugly sweater party! This works great if you have one you are going to and want to add a couple extra accessories to the look.
Whether your elf goes funny, sweet, naughty or nice with little presents as treats. Finding ways to connect the holiday magic with my teens is always worth the effort.
Happy Elfing and don’t forget to download your 2024 Elf idea calendar today
– Victoria
