Our elf is on duty! He has set up a little surveillance station to keep an eye on the children and send his behaviour reports back to Santa. 🎅
The “Elf on duty” note makes it official. Good manners, sharing nicely and helping at home are all going in his notebook. He takes this job very seriously!
This elf surveillance idea fits the usual story of the elf watching how the children behave before flying back to the North Pole. The camera is a decorative dummy with a flashing light; it does not record anything.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- A decorative flashing elf camera (paid link)
- Optional: An Elf Surveillance wooden sign (paid link)
- A small box or wrapped present to support the elf’s back
- A notebook, pencil and scrap paper
Setup:
Choose a spot where the elf can overlook the room, such as a living-room shelf or side table. Sit him against a small box or wrapped present, with both legs resting on the surface. He can keep watch without having to balance on his own.
Set the elf camera beside him, facing out into the room. Follow the product’s battery instructions if you want the flashing light. Hang the surveillance sign from an existing hook, or lean it securely against the wall behind him. You can use either accessory on its own, too.
Fold a scrap of paper into a little sign saying “Elf on duty”. Put a notebook and pencil nearby for his reports. Add a note from the elf: “I’m keeping an eye on you! Let’s give Santa lots of good things to hear about.”
For something the children can join in with, let the elf set one little mission for the day: help put the toys away, share a game or remember to say thank you. The following morning, his notebook can mention something kind or helpful he spotted.
Make it cheaply:
Turn an empty yoghurt pot into a pretend camera with dark scrap paper and a drawn-on lens. Make an “Under elf surveillance” sign from a cereal box, and use an old envelope for the elf’s note. A few folded sheets of scrap paper make his report book.
You can also skip the camera completely. The elf, a handwritten sign and a notebook tell the same story without buying any accessories.
Browse more elf ideas for kids for another bit of Christmas fun.
