Elf on the shelf ideas for a 2-year-old. It is that time of year again when I start to think and plan for our Elf on the Shelf arriving at the end of November. Last year was the first year I introduced Monkey to our Elf on the shelf, who he decided to call ‘Elfie” (very original). It was also before I became a blogger so I will start with a quick apology on the quality of the photos. At that time I was only taking them to keep a note of what he got up to for subsequent years, I didn’t really expect to share them! Hopefully this year I will do a better job!
As it was our first year I wanted to be super organised, especially with working during the week I decided to plan the more labour intensive activities or mischief on non-working days. I found his planner over at Kreations by Kirsty, however trying to search this year I have not been able to find her website again. However, there are loads of planners available if you decide to use one.
Elf on the shelf ideas for a 2-year-old
I appreciate it may be a little hard to read so this is what Elfie got up to last year…
- 28th Nov – Elfie arrives with a letter from Father Christmas and ‘Hello Monkey’ written in sweets
- 29th Nov – Elfie makes a snowman from toilet rolls
- 30th Nov – Elfie being held to ransom by dinosaurs taped to the fridge
- 1st Dec – Elfie gets stuck in the photocopier
- 2nd Dec – Elfie goes fishing in the downstairs sink
- 3rd Dec – Elfie makes paper snow flakes for Monkey’s room
- 4th Dec – Elfie tries potty training with raisins
- 5th Dec – Elfie takes a selfie with Monkey while sleeping
- 6th Dec – Elfie falls asleep in the dumper truck
- 7th Dec – Elfie invites Monkey for a chocolate decoration treasure hunt
- 8th Dec – Elfie makes paper chains for Monkey’s room and hangs off of them
- 9th Dec – Elfie takes a bath in marshmallows
And some more ideas….
- 10th Dec – Elfie presents Monkey with a reward chart and special Christmas calm down bottle
- 11th Dec – Elfie invites Monkey to plant magic seeds
- 12th Dec – Elfie proudly shows Monkey the grown candy canes ready to eat
- 13th Dec – Elfie hides the Christmas ornaments for a treasure hunt
- 14th Dec – Elfie leaves out ingredients and Christmas cutters to make cookies
- 15th Dec – Elfie climbs Christmas Tree
- 16th Dec – Elfie with a completed jigsaw although one piece is missing and hidden for Monkey to find
- 17th Dec – Elife with some Christmas colouring books, partly coloured waiting for Monkey to join in
- 18th Dec – Elfie making snow angels in flour on the kitchen work surfaces
- 19th Dec – Elfie has covered the kitchen cupboards with wrapping bows
- 20th Dec – Elfie has made cotton wool snow chain for the patio doors
- 21st Dec – Elfie leaves out a present of glittery pasta and pipe cleaners for sensory play
- 22nd Dec – Elfie leaves out a Christmas DVD to watch
- 23rd Dec – Elfie leaves Christmas balloons all over the lounge
- 24th Dec – Elfie leaves a papered in the hallway, leaving a letter and a ‘nice certificate’
I am sure Elfie will get up to similar mischief this year, although as Monkey is a bit older it should be even more fun!
For more inspiration please check out my Pinterest board
What’s on your Elf list this year?
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https://mudpiefridays.com/2016/11/29/quick-easy-elf-shelf/
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37 Responses
I love elf on a shelf, we are onto our third year of doing it 🙂 #triedtested
I love your ideas and I hope that Monkey has fun looking for his elf 🙂
We had two little men, Christmas and Snowy, for the last couple of years and they set up scenes from picture books rather than getting into mischief. My seven year old knows now that they had help so I have another plan for this year.
#triedtested
This is our first year doing elf on the shelf and my kids are loving it!!! can’t wait to get out of bed on a school day to look where their elf is!! #TriedTested
I really wish they did this when my daughter was younger, I would have loved it and so would she. She is a bit old now at 12 #TriedandTested
What a lovely Christmassy post full of fun ideas for Elf on the Shelf to get up to some very pixie-like mischief! Great post. 🙂
Some lovely ideas! We did it last year with my then 2 year old but this year I’m going to town with it! #Toddlerapprovedtuesday
Ahh! Great ideas. I think I will have to try a few of these this year!
I’ve never done this as a kid, but it seems like a good fun. It feels like Elf somewhat a real person and kids go on adventure find him doing something.
I love the idea of Elf on the Shelf and am debating, in the absence of Children, trying it on my hubby ha x
Great photos, Elf on the shelf is such a lovely idea. Popping by today from Toddler Approved Tuesday
i’ve read a lot about elf on the shelf this year and its the first time for me to hear of him! Sounds like a great idea and i loved your pictures! – angela
Great ideas. Im considering getting an elf this year – it sounds so fun #toddlerapprovedtuesday
Elf on the shelf is too much effort for me. I struggle to think of enough activities for us to put in the advent calendar as it is.
Fab ideas! We’re having an elf visitor for the first time this year and I was originally considering having her arrive a week or two before Xmas as I’d struggle for scenarios through the whole of December but you’ve given me loads of inspiration! Thanks for sharing #TriedTested
Lovely ideas! I think elf on the shelf is one of my favourite Christmas traditions. I can’t wait for our Buddy elf to ‘arrive’ thanks for sharing with #toddlerapprovedtuesday x
Sounds like good fun. I’m tempted to try it this year.
Beautiful photos and ‘elf on the shelf’ sounds like a great tradition. I have never heard of it before.
Oh you just reminded me to start getting myself prepped. We have done this the last two years, and every year I get all excited to do it but by the 2nd week I’m over it. So I am hoping with better planning in advance I may not want to throw the elf out the window. Great ideas by the way!
I think Elf on the Shelf is so cute, but I’ve never really understood the idea behind him! It does seem like a fun tradition though x
This is perfect, we’ve bought an Elf on the Shelf this year and my boys will be nearly 3 and 1. There are some great ideas. Love the one of him sleeping on the truck, DJ loves all vehicles so will find it funny.
Love Elf on the Shelf 🙂
Ours is called Eric!
Great ideas there x #TriedTested
I’ve only just bought an elf so this will be our first year – totally stealing these ideas so thank you!! #thelist
Oh I absolutely love this idea. It would be so great to do with a class too. #picknmix
brilliant ideas! We don’t do ‘Elf on the Shelf’ but we do have our own version which is pretty much the same it’s so much fun 🙂 #PicknMix
I’d heard of Elf on the Shelf until this year but it sounds brilliant fun. Great ideas might have to try it out. #picknmix
Awesome ideas! Our little elf is called “Alfie”; tipping he will be by at the start of December. I need all the creative genius I can get as Alfie’s adventures are normally exceptionally last minute!! #TheList
I have never heard of this before but I love it!!!! What an amazing idea! Will definitely try this out for my little one #fartglitter
Woah! We have yet to enter the land of Elf on the Shelf. I thought you just shifted it around from shelf to shelf but you’ve really upped the ante here. Great ideas for when we inevitable join the trend- thanks! Thanks for linking up to #fartglitter xxx
Now you are putting me to shame. I tied it last year and it was an epic fail (I’m publishing a piece about it on Sunday). I should have referred to pintrest, however it makes me feel inadequate!!!! #TwinklyTuesday
I’d imagine this is a lot of fun for younger children ….I have a confession though….The elf freaks me out a bit even in photos he’s looking at me…and a little creepy 😉 think I’m just odd though ha.
Thanks for linking up to #Picknmix
Stevie x
I am so excited to do this for a third year, as the kids get older there are so much more fun things to try! #TwinklyTuesday
I can’t wait for Buddy to return, I’ve got lots of new ideas for this year! Thanks for linking to #PickNMix
Wow, Elfie is very mischievous, you’ll have to keep an eye on him lol 🙂 Hope Monkey is enjoying his antics!
Thanks for linking up to #ChristmasCorner
Debbie
Love some of these ideas. I’m largely just hiding the elf somewhere new each night (to save ideas for when they’re a bit older) but he has also made paper snowflakes, made stuff out of the boys’ Duplo, left them Christmas books etc.
#ChristmasCorner
I so need to buy an elf now! X