Surprise! The Elf on the Shelf Is Back With These Funny Ideas

Every family has its fair share of Christmas traditions. It's always nice to add something fun or silly to the mix, and there's one holiday practice that's gained pretty widespread popularity over the years: the magical, mischievous Elf on the Shelf.

Nowadays, these cute troublemakers are practically synonymous with Christmas. In the weeks and days leading up to Christmas, they silently watch over your kids during the day and report their "naughty" or "nice" behavior to Santa himself. It's only at night (how convenient!) that they come alive and wreak playful havoc on your home in the name of spreading Christmas spirit—eating your Christmas cookies, sitting beside you during your family's Hallmark movie marathon, and beyond.

Here, you'll find a comprehensive list of funny Elf on the Shelf ideas to give you a head start on the year's silliest game for grown-ups and kids. Every Scout Elf deserves their own moniker, so choose from our Elf on the Shelf names like Buddy and Peppermint. Start with one of our Elf on the Shelf return ideas for your Scout Elf to make their big debut, then have fun with activities! Outfit them in Elf on the Shelf clothes like festive costumes, winter coats, and even ugly Christmas sweaters. There are lots of Elf on the Shelf accessories, too—try Elf coloring pages to keep both him and your children occupied, printable joke cards to help you spell out the hilarity of it all, and (of course!) an Elf on the Shelf face mask that's perfectly relevant for 2022—plus so, so much more.