EVERY Reason your Elf on the Shelf Didn’t Move!

Oh no! Why didn’t your Elf on the Shelf move last night??

It happens to the best of us! Your Elf on the Shelf didn’t move last night…but don’t worry! We’ve compiled every idea on the web for you. So just pick one of these, and you’re good to go!

So let’s cut to the chase — Elf didn’t move, the kids are wondering why, just say “I have no idea why he didn’t move, maybe I’ll google it quick!”

This buys you a little time and you can quickly pull up this list…

40 Reasons your Elf on the Shelf didn’t move:

Someone got out of bed (if Elf hears movement he won’t move for risk of being seen)
It’s too warm in your house compared to the North Pole, he’s forgotten what to do!
Elf would rather not report bad behavior, he saw what you did yesterday, you have one day to correct it
He’s saving his energy for a BIG surprise tomorrow
Someone touched your Elf on the Shelf
He fell asleep waiting for you to fall asleep, go to bed earlier tonight!
Elf was not allowed to leave: Special black out dates
Bad weather, not safe for Elves to fly in
Elf is tired
He’s frozen and can’t move
Elves are afraid of heights and he is too scared to move
He’s waiting to go until he has something good to report, do something good today!
Oh no, Elf has the flu (or other illness)
He tricked you! He left and came back to the exact same spot
He fell asleep, it’s hard work being an Elf!
Dog or cat kept moving so he had to stay still
It was too windy last night so he couldn’t fly
He ate too many Christmas treats and was too full to move
He worked from home and sent an email to Santa
He might be stuck in place, let’s see what happens tomorrow
He forgot he was in that place yesterday
You probably woke up too early, try going back to bed and see if he has moved
He’s finally found his favorite spot (every Elf has one)
This is the best viewpoint to observe your behavior
It was extra busy at the North Pole and he didn’t have energy to find a new spot
He heard movement and got back into place quick
Maybe he’s a fake and our real Elf is hiding somewhere else
Maybe his arm or leg is stuck and he couldn’t move
Maybe this time he is going to move during the day
Your dad/mom/sister accidentally touched him so he couldn’t move
He can see the TV really well from here, I think he stayed up all night watching!
He forgot his keys and is waiting for them to come in the mail
Maybe that’s not actually our Elf? Did another come in his place?
Once it gets closer to Christmas the Elves only go back every other night
There’s not enough Christmas Spirit around, try singing loud for all to hear!
Yesterday was a Holiday so he didn’t have to work, we should really request a copy of his schedule!
He stayed up late playing with your new toys and didn’t have time to think of a new spot
It was too cold to leave last night
He just likes our house SO much he hates leaving
I have no idea!

Of course, we recommend setting an alarm on your phone so this type of thing doesn’t happen again. But, no matter what the reason your Elf on the Shelf didn’t move, at least we have you covered!

We hope you’re having a great month with your Elf on the Shelf!!

Want to introduce a new tradition at your house where Elf works FOR you???

What Teachers REALLY want for Christmas

NEW Elf on the Shelf Ideas!

If you’re Elf on the Shelf gets stuck in a poor place where he can’t stay all day (like an ice block in the middle of the bathtub!), you’ll definitely need one of these! The Magic Elf on the Shelf Moving Glove:

Save this to Pinterest!

Revise your Elf on the Shelf tradition! (EASIER + More MEANINGFUL + Kids LOVE it!)

By Dawn, Christmas, Elf on the Shelf Resources, The Minimal Mom

Elf on the Shelf: We know. It started as a fun tradition, but having an Elf on the Shelf has now become a weight that hangs over our head every night after the kids go to bed. Scouring Pinterest and the internet for new (easy) ideas has gotten old and the kids’ expectations have increased.

So what do we do???

Transition your Elf on the Shelf to a new purpose

What if your Elf on the Shelf could be working FOR YOU instead of against you? What if he could inspire your kids to get rid of some of their toys? What if each day they were placing a special bow on an old toy that your Elf on the Shelf could take back to the North Pole with him? Wouldn’t that be magical???

How this new Elf on the Shelf tradition works:

This is a really simple (aka EASY for parents) plan:

Your Elf on the Shelf arrives with this FREE ARRIVAL LETTER and a bag of bows (these are from the Dollar Store).
The letter instructs your kids that there is a shortage of toys so Santa is asking if each night they will place a bow on one of their old toys so that Elf can bring it back to the North Pole with him where it will be refurbished for another child to receive on Christmas.
This is Elf’s (and your child’s) new mission for this year, so there isn’t time for mischief or other shenanigans.
Use the FREE PRINTABLE NOTE CARDS to encourage and reward your child throughout the Christmas season.

You might think your kids will resist, but I couldn’t believe how receptive our kids were! It seems that they had grown a little tired of our current Elf on the Shelf tradition as well.

Quick Video Overview:

Tips for Success

I think it is most important that as parents or guardians, we’re sold out on this new Elf on the Shelf tradition. I intentionally positioned it that they are helpers for Santa now, and their contributions will be received by other kids around the world. So here are a few pointers:

Celebrate EVERY size toy that they decide to give away. At first they may pick tiny toys, like a happy meal toy, but use the note cards to encourage them towards other toys that are bigger that they never play with.
Use the FREE PRINTABLE WISH LISTS. Have your kids fill out wish lists that your Elf on the Shelf can bring back to Santa. Encourage them that they will be getting new toys on Christmas so that it’s easier to get rid of the old ones.
Use the note cards to suggest specific toys. If you have toys in mind that you KNOW the kids have outgrown or don’t play with anymore, use the FREE PRINTABLE NOTE CARDS to write a description or draw a picture of the toy (it doesn’t have to be a fancy drawing!). This was really fun for our kids to try and find the toy Elf was hinting at!
What if they pick an EXPENSIVE toy to donate? If they don’t play with it, in the words of Frozen, “Let it go, let it go!” Most of us have spent quite a bit of money on toys (or our friends and family have) but if the kids aren’t playing with them, this is the perfect opportunity to part ways.
Designate a special spot for the toys. Maybe it’s under the Christmas tree or next to the door, have a spot where your kids put the toys they’re giving away each night.
You’ll need your own spot to hide the toys. As the adults in the house, we have to have a way to hide the toys until we donate them. It may be in your trunk or in a designated box or tote, just make sure the kids won’t happen across them. I made a trip to the donation center twice during the Christmas season last year to donate the toys they were giving away.
Go big. If you’re like us, we had play kitchens, car ramps and doll houses that NEVER got played with. You’re not alone if these things go unused at your house. Don’t be afraid to use the NOTE CARDS to suggest getting rid of the big things, too. You’ll be glad to have the extra space back!
Mix in a few other ideas. If you still want to mix in a few traditional shenanigans, use this index for Elf on the Shelf ideas, it has every idea out there all in one place!

And don’t be afraid to make up your own rules or guidelines as you go! You’re the adult after all!

The Free Elf on the Shelf Arrival Letter

The arrival letter sets the scene for this new Elf on the Shelf tradition. Here is what it says:

“I’m Back!
And I have a very important request from Santa. You see, Christmas is quickly approaching and there have been SO many GOOD kids this year, there appears to be a TOY SHORTAGE! So he sent me with this special bag of bows and a new mission for us both.

Each night, he is asking that you place a bow on a toy that you no longer play with and then I will take it back to the North Pole with me. The elves there will quickly refurbish it and it will be used for other boys and girls.

And, this will help make room for the new toys that you will be receiving this Christmas (I’ve heard how good you’ve been while I was gone!)

THANK YOU for your help with this very special mission!”

Use the link below to print it!

But will my kids be ok with it???

We know, at first, you might think: “No way my kids will get on board with this!!”

But you wouldn’t believe the positive reports we’ve heard from parents! I think kids are naturally generous and want to help other kids, sometimes we just have to help uncover it! SO many parents have said that some of their kids were hesitant at first, but by the end they were giving away MORE toys than required!

Give your kids a chance, we think you will be pleasantly surprised!!

Free Elf on the Shelf Printables for this new Tradition

Here are all of the free printables designed to go along with this new Elf on the Shelf tradition:

Arrival Letter: “I’m Back! And I have a very important request from Santa!…”
Christmas Wish Lists: There are two different versions of the Christmas wish list. One with blank lines and the other guided with things that your child wants, needs, will read and wear:
Elf on the Shelf Notecards: Use these notecards to encourage your kids, celebrate how much they’ve given, reward them and suggest toys for them to give away next:We used the “Today Let’s…” cards to say things like bake Christmas treats, build gingerbread houses or go Christmas shopping. This was a fun way to reward the kids for how much they had parted with.
Departure Letter: When it is time for your Elf on the Shelf to take off for the year, you can use this letter to say goodbye and thank them for their generosity:

And like I said before, you may be surprised how receptive your kids are to this new tradition! There was some grumbling along the way once in awhile, but mostly the kids seemed to LOVE the idea of helping Santa AND helping other kids to have a great Christmas…and after all, that is what Christmas is all about!!!

DID YOU KNOW??

We have a COMPLETE INDEX of Elf on the Shelf ideas?? EVERY Elf on the Shelf Idea ALL in ONE place!!! It has:
– Uniform picture sizes
– Its ordered new ideas to old
– and you can even make a saved ideas list!

Find the complete Elf on the Shelf Ideas List HERE!!!

I hope this works for your family, too! And if any links stop working, please leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you!

Happy Elf on the Shelf-ing!

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Elf on the Shelf Free Printable Lego Arrival Letter!

By Dawn, Elf on the Shelf Resources

DID YOU KNOW??

Find the complete Elf on the Shelf Ideas List HERE!!!

Welcome back, Elf! We’re glad you’re here and what a fun way to arrive, with Legos and a free printable letter! Our kids (especially our Lego-loving boys) thought this arrival was awesome.

And for me? This Elf on the Shelf arrival was quick and easy! Gotta love that!! I just printed off the free Lego letter, built some Legos around him and boom! DONE!

We’ve done more elaborate arrivals in the past (streamers and balloons everywhere!), but I just don’t have the energy for that this year!

FREE PRINTABLE LEGO ARRIVAL LETTER

To print this free letter, just click HERE or on the image below. A high resolution version of the Lego letter should open in a new window. From there you can print or save.

Please let us know if you have any questions or problems printing this Lego themed arrival letter!

And did you know, we have a complete list of over 40 more Elf on the Shelf Arrival Letters? You can see them all by using the link below!

And, if you’d like to see over 40 other FREE Printable Elf on the Shelf Arrival Letters, just CLICK HERE for the complete index of arrival letters! No dead links and every letter out there all in one place, isn’t that nice!?! (oh yeah, and all FREE!!)

Elf on the Shelf Moving Glove

Oh! And if you haven’t made one of these magic Elf Moving Gloves yet, you may want to! I don’t know about you, but our Elf sometimes get stuck in some poor locations. Luckily, with this glove, we can move him and he won’t lose his magic! ;)

The best part is that you can make it in about 5 minutes (truly!) with about $2 in materials from the dollar store! And of course it includes a free printable!

Merry Christmas to you and your Elf on the Shelf!

I’m not necessarily counting down the days until our Elf on the Shelf comes back, but at least with these arrival ideas, I have the first day covered!!

We hope you have a really great Christmas with your Elf on the Shelf! Our kids are SO excited for him to arrive! It seems that it really feels like Christmas at our house once he is here.

Start a new tradition with your Elf on the Shelf:

What Teachers REALLY Want for Christmas (Written by a Teacher):

35 BRAND NEW Elf on the Shelf Ideas:

Oh! And if you want to save this idea for later, here is a picture for Pinterest:

Elf on the Shelf Arrival Idea: FREE Printable Star Wars Letter for Kids! Easy & Fun!

By Dawn, Elf on the Shelf Resources

DID YOU KNOW??

Find the complete Elf on the Shelf Ideas List HERE!!!

Let the force be with your Elf on the Shelf’s arrival this year! This fun (and EASY!) arrival idea is sure to have your kids talking!!! Just print the free letter and free mask and you are well on you way to a grand entrance.

STAR WARS ELF ON THE SHELF IDEA

You’ve probably seen this Star Wars Elf on the Shelf idea floating around. Our nephews are BIG into Star Wars, so I thought it would be fun to create a printable for his arrival that had the Star Wars theme.

I’m also including a link to the free printable Star Wars masks that your Elf on the Shelf can wear. These are super fun, and again, EASY! (Because who has time for complicated Elf on the Shelf ideas!?!).

So, without further ado, here is the Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Welcome Letter!

Star Wars Arrival Letter Printable

I know there are printable arrival letters out there that you can buy, but free is better, isn’t it?? ;) We’re more than happy to offer this printable for free, just click HERE or on the picture below. A high resolution version should open in a new window.

This is designed to print on standard copy paper (8.5″ x 11″), but you could also print it smaller. It would fit in an 8×10 picture frame easily. Whatever works best for you!

For us, I printed it and put it on a clipboard that I then stood up by our Elf on the Shelf. I placed them both on our kitchen table, not very exciting, you may be able to think of something more creative!

Free Printable Star Wars Masks for Elf

And like I mentioned above, here is a link to the free printable star wars masks, just click HERE or on the picture below!

These Star Wars masks are super easy to print and place on your Elf. I like to keep a little rubber cement around at all times during Christmas just for things like this! A little dab on his nose worked perfectly. You could also use tape to adhere the mask to your Elf’s face.

Complete Index of FREE Arrival Letters:

Elf on the Shelf Moving Glove

The best part is that you can make it in about 5 minutes (truly!) with about $2 in materials from the dollar store! And of course it includes a free printable!

Merry Christmas to you and your Elf on the Shelf!

I’m not necessarily counting down the days until our Elf on the Shelf comes back, but at least with these arrival ideas, I have the first day covered!!

We’d also love to know what your favorite arrival has been for your Elf on the Shelf? Does he come in with a bang? Or is he more of a quiet gentleman??

We hope you have a REALLY great Christmas season with your Elf on the Shelf. We’ve sure grown to love our little guy, he feels like a member of the family!!

Merry Christmas!!

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Oh! And if you want to save this to Pinterest, here is a picture for that!! (And THANK YOU for sharing!!)

Elf on the Shelf Arrival Idea: Superhero Free Printable Letter!

By Dawn, Elf on the Shelf Resources

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No…wait…our Elf on the Shelf is back! This is a fun Elf on the Shelf arrival idea for your superhero loving little guys! Our boys are ALL about superheroes these days, so I thought this would be an awesome way for our Elf to come back.

Of course, there are a number of different ways that you can dress up your Elf as a Superhero. And the great part is that most of them are FREE! But, maybe you want your Elf to be dressed up as a superhero all season, then it may be fun to purchase the outfit below from Amazon.

Elf on the Shelf Superhero Arrival letter

To print this free printable letter just click here! Or click on the image below. A high resolution version of the letter should open in a new window and is perfect to print from:

And if at any point these links don’t seem to work, please leave a comment below and I will respond right away! Links that don’t work are a pet peeve of mine, and I don’t know why they break sometimes, but I don’t want that here!

Elf on the Shelf Superhero Costumes

These free printables are great and come together pretty quickly! And I love that she has EVERY superhero covered, so no matter which one is your child’s favorite, it should be there!

Or do like Kari at CherishingTheInBetweens and create your own superhero costume out of felt with the first letter of your Elf’s name. Their elf’s name is Chippy so he has a “C” on his shirt! A little felt and double sided tape goes along way with any Elf on the shelf! I’m always surprised the number of props and costumes we’ve made just out of felt!

Or, if time is short, just order this Superhero Costume for your Elf from Amazon! They have alot of fun costumes there of course. I’ve never ordered any, we’ve been able to find enough free ideas, but this year I may need to break down!

We hope you have a great Christmas with your Elf on the Shelf (and your family, too!). Also, be sure to check out the links below for MORE arrival ideas, free printable arrival letters and a whole group of original ideas with Dollar Tree props!

We know that keep you Elf busy EVERY day can get a little overwhelming (and TIME CONSUMING!) so we hope these collections help! You’ll also find a link to a FREE planning calendar. We’ve found that a little planning goes a LONG way with this guy!

We’d also love to know any fun arrival ideas that you’ve done with your family? You can always leave them in the comments below! Or if you have any questions or if any links stop working, PLEASE don’t hesitate to let me know! There is nothing worse than a link that doesn’t work when you’re in a hurry and it 11:00 at night!

Merry Christmas!

Dawn

Oh! And if you want to save this to Pinterest, use this image:

Elf on the Shelf Arrival Idea: 5 min Northpole Cam with FREE Printable Letter!

By Dawn, Elf on the Shelf Resources

This is a super fun Elf on the Shelf Arrival Idea! Elf comes and sets up a “NORTHPOLE CAM” so that Santa has eyes on the kids all season long! What I like most about his Northpole Cam is that it actually LOOKS REAL!

REAL LIFE NORTHPOLE CAM:

The foundation of the camera is a clip on cell phone lens from the Dollar Tree— isn’t that brilliant!?! And then we also added a red USB cord (also from the Dollar Tree) that runs back to the middle of the tree.

Because the lens has a clip, it is SUPER easy to install! Here is what the lens and cord look like on the tree (again, from the Dollar Tree):

And then you just add our FREE PRINTABLE SURROUND and it looks like this:

…and then the last piece! If you are using this for the first day that Elf comes, you’ll need the FREE PRINTABLE ARRIVAL LETTER. Click on the image below and a high resolution letter should open in a new window!

We hope you have an AWESOME Christmas with your kids and family! (And that this Northpole Cam helps keep everyone in line ;)

Merry Christmas!!

Oh! And if you’d like to save this to Pinterest, here is a graphic for that!: