Our elf has a challenge that sounds easier than it is: keep the balloon off the floor. He is currently having a little rest. 🎈
The balloon is parked against his feet, and the note says “Don’t let it drop!”
This easy elf idea leaves a simple keepy-uppy game ready for the children, using one ordinary air-filled balloon.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- One ordinary red latex balloon (paid link), inflated and tied by an adult
- A folded cloth to support your elf
- Paper and a pen
- A clear space for the morning game
Setup:
Inflate and tie the balloon yourself, following the packet’s age guidance. Sit your elf securely on a sofa against a folded cloth and let the balloon rest on the cushion against his feet or the sofa arm. It does not need helium or a hidden floating pose; it is simply waiting for the game to start. Leave the “Don’t let it drop!” note nearby. In the morning, move into a clear space and have an adult start the challenge by giving the balloon a gentle tap upwards. Take turns keeping it in the air with light hand taps and count how many you manage together before it lands. Restart the count and see whether the family can beat its own score. The scene needs only one balloon, so the activity can be packed away quickly when breakfast or the school run calls.
Make it cheaply:
Use a spare balloon from an old party packet rather than buying a themed elf accessory. If balloons are not suitable for your household, scrunch a clean sheet of paper into a ball and change the note to “Catch without dropping!” Take turns tossing it gently between an adult and a child instead. The elf still provides the morning challenge.
Try the static balloon star trick or the challenge spinner for another elf scene.
