Our elf says he has completed his morning brain workout. It seems to have involved a very tiny Rubik’s Cube. 🧩
Every visible side is one colour, and he looks pleased with himself. We suspect he has been practising while everyone was asleep.
This easy elf idea pairs a working miniature puzzle with a little note. It is a quick scene that can lead into some gentle puzzle play.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- World’s Smallest Rubik’s Cube (paid link)
- A closed notebook as a little puzzle platform
- A folded cloth to support your elf
- Paper and a pen
Setup:
Put the miniature cube on a closed notebook and sit your elf behind it, with his mittens resting either side. Use a folded cloth to support his back. If the cube is already solved, leave it that way for the elf’s boastful “Tiny brain workout” note. If it is mixed up, change the note to “A little help, please!” instead; nobody needs to solve a difficult puzzle just to set up the elf. Leave the cube where its coloured squares are easy to see. In the morning, children can examine the colours and try a few turns with an adult. A simple first challenge is making one row match, rather than promising a complete solution before breakfast. The miniature version has turning layers, so it is a real puzzle as well as a small prop. Keep its packaging instructions with the rest of the toy.
Make it cheaply:
An ordinary Rubik’s Cube works perfectly if you have one already. A big puzzle and a tiny elf make a lovely size mismatch. For a free display prop, draw coloured grids on a small cardboard box and leave a separate colour-matching activity for the children. The cardboard cube is pretend and will not turn like the proper puzzle.
Try the tiny Etch A Sketch challenge or the Christmas memory tray for another elf scene.
