Elf ideas for small children
For a two- or three-year-old, elf antics should be clear, kind and harmless. Here are nine without string or small parts, which even the youngest understand at once.
Nine elf ideas for small children
- 1 December · 5 min The elf moves in On the first morning the elf sits on a shelf with a tiny suitcase and a letter in its hand. Read the whole antic for free
- 2 December · 5 min The cereal bath The elf has taken a bath in a bowl of cereal. Read the whole antic for free
- 5 December · 5 min The shoe train Every shoe in the hall has lined up like a train, with the elf as the driver. Comes with the purchase
- 10 December · 5 min The banana gang Every banana in the fruit bowl has got a face. Comes with the purchase
- 11 December · 5 min The fridge elf The elf is sitting in the fridge, wrapped in a tea towel. Comes with the purchase
- 12 December · 5 min The book den The elf has built a den out of books and fallen asleep in it. Comes with the purchase
- 15 December · 5 min The ginger biscuit thief Someone has been eating the ginger biscuits, and the crumbs lead to the elf. Comes with the purchase
- 16 December · 5 min Hidden in the tree Today the elf has hidden. Whoever finds it first wins. Comes with the purchase
- 20 December · 5 min The topsy-turvy breakfast The elf has laid the breakfast table, but everything is in the wrong place. Comes with the purchase
From what age does the elf work?
At around three, children tend to understand that the elf did something in the night, and find it funny. A two-year-old can join in a little, especially with older brothers or sisters, but mostly cares that the elf is sitting somewhere new. Under two it is mostly for the grown-ups.
Safe for the youngest
- No string within reach. Never stretch a string where a child could get caught or trip, and skip the antics that depend on it.
- No small parts. Paper clips, buttons and small sweets should be high up or not used at all.
- Think of allergies when an antic includes something to eat.
- Sit the elf where it can be seen but not reached. Then it stays in its place, and the secret keeps.
Make it easy to understand
- One thing at a time. The elf has had a bath in the cereal. Nothing more needs to happen.
- The same place. Small children want to know where to look. Let the antics happen by the elf door or on the kitchen table.
- Kind, never scary. The elf is cheeky, but it never breaks anything and it is never cross.
- Short letters. One sentence that you read aloud is enough.
If the elf needs somewhere to live, there are elf doors to print, also to colour in and as a dot to dot. More lists: easy elf ideas and elf ideas for older children.
Nine elf doors, also to colour in. Free to print
