Our elf has been practising his ball-maze skills. He has even written down a time, which seems unusually organised for him! ⏳
The challenge says “Beat my time!” A little toy spectator is waiting to see whether the children can show him how it is done.
This elf maze activity uses small enclosed ball puzzles, so it becomes a real morning challenge rather than just a display.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- A pack of six Elfin Around miniature ball-maze puzzles (paid link) – designs may vary; listed for ages 3+
- A phone stopwatch or timer for the morning challenge
- A closed book or small box to support the elf
- A toy spectator and paper for the score cards
Setup:
Sit the elf against the book with his feet on the surface. Put a ball maze beside his mittens, resting it on the table rather than expecting him to balance it. Arrange one or two other puzzles nearby and add the toy spectator.
Write “Beat my time!” on a folded card and give him a pretend score, such as “Elf: 40 seconds”. Choose a relaxed time that suits your children; you can test the puzzle yourself first. A sand timer makes a nice display prop, but a phone stopwatch is easiest for measuring the actual attempt.
In the morning, the children gently tilt the sealed puzzle to guide its little ball through the channels. Follow the puzzle’s intended route and keep the plastic case closed. Take turns timing each other, or forget the stopwatch and simply try to finish.
Make it cheaply:
Draw a maze on spare paper, with the elf at the start and a present at the finish. The children can trace the route with a finger or pencil. If you want a little moving piece, push a scrunched-paper ball along a wide drawn path; it is a different kind of puzzle but keeps the same challenge.
Find more elf activity ideas to keep the morning fun going.
