Our elf has made a very small exercise plan. It involves clapping, hopping, waving and attempting a wink. 🎯
He is letting a paper arrow decide what everyone should do next. This may be his way of avoiding the hopping himself.
This easy elf idea creates a four-action spinner for a quick morning game, with no board-game box to find.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- A paper plate or a circle cut from packaging card
- Coloured pens
- A small cardboard arrow
- A small split pin (paid link), fitted by an adult
- A folded cloth to support your elf
- A little challenge note
Setup:
Draw two lines through the centre of the plate to make four sections. Give each a colour and write one simple action in it: “Clap”, “Hop”, “Wave” and “Wink”. Cut an arrow from scrap card and ask an adult to attach it loosely at the centre with a split pin, folding the ends underneath. Test that the arrow turns without catching on the plate. Lay the spinner flat beside your supported elf and leave a “Spin for a challenge” note. In the morning, take turns turning the arrow and doing the action it points towards. You can agree that a line between two sections means choosing either one. Keep the actions short and easy, such as one clap or a cheerful wave, so the game fits around breakfast. The elf can be the judge, although his own wink may remain suspiciously unchanged.
Make it cheaply:
Cut the circle and arrow from an empty cereal box. Without a split pin, leave a pencil flat across the circle and have an adult gently turn it, using its pointed end as the selector. For an even simpler version, write the four actions on folded paper slips and take turns picking one from a cup.
Try the paper fortune teller or the mini hopscotch game for another elf scene.
