Elf on the Shelf ideas are always fun and this list of 10 ideas using marshmallows are easy and quick to do which parents love. Your kids will love how funny they are too.
‘Tis the Season, my friends! Christmas is coming! EEEEK! As you know, I am a Halloween FANATIC, and I do adore Thanksgiving as well—best meal of the year!! But Christmas, aaaahhhhh, Christmas! I prefer the weather of October and the much lower-stress feel of the Halloween month, but the Christmas season overall sure is a magnificent one, don’t you think? The decorations, the food, the smells, the family, the service and kindness, the gifts, the beautiful religious aspect of it, and the music—OH! THE MUSIC! Best music in the world. Love, love, love. One of my favorite silly parts of Christmas is the Elf on the Shelf tradition. I know, I know, he’s creepy and it’s exhausting to come up with hiding spots—blah, blah, blah. I’ve heard it all before, you naysayers, you! But I still think it’s a fun, silly tradition and I love it! I love anything kiddie and fun, as you may have realized by now.
Our Elf on the Shelf made his first appearance last year, and I am looking forward to his return this year because I know my son will “get” it more this year. In fact, he spied these pictures and got all jazzed up about them and TRULY BELIEVED that the elf ran around and posed for me while I followed him with a camera. LOL! Kids are the absolute best. And that’s why I love this tradition. It’s just FUN! Our Elf is not naughty. He doesn’t make huge messes nor have super elaborate setups and props. Ain’t nobody got time for that! (At least nobody in this house!) He just moves around doing something simple but fun each night. If it takes more than two or three minutes I’m out, people. Out. He’s not a creepy watcher, per se, just a fun, silly addition to the fam for the month of December.
I have a series of posts full of Elf on the Shelf ideas you might want to check out like Elf on the Shelf Using Toys and Elf on the Shelf Using Chores but today we are starting with one that hits close to home: MARSHMALLOWS.
We all know that I have a crazy s’mores addiction, right? Well, I do. If you are a newer follower then be sure to check out all of the recipes in my S’mores Saturdays series that I ran last summer. I can’t wait until summer rolls around again….yummmmm! Well, I loved thinking up ways to bring my marshmallow love into the winter season with these ten simple ideas. And I loved eating a crapload of them while I took the pictures. 😉 Heehee.
Now without further ado, I introduce to you our one and only Elf: Reindeer Face! (Can you tell a 3-year-old boy named him?? This is the name we landed on after Mama firmly rejected “Reindeer Butt.”) Hahaha.
Use large marshmallows to build a road for your Elf’s cars!
Use different sizes of marshmallows for your Elf to practice making patterns. (Your kid could even complete or continue them for an educational moment!)
Use a needle and thread to help your Elf begin to make himself a necklace, or a Christmas tree garland! (This one is sticky, you have been warned. That’s why there are only three marshmallows on the string…)
Dump a bag of mini marshmallows into a sink for your Elf’s bubble bath. I know this has been seen before in many places, but I think my mom’s rad 1990s seashell sink really adds to the effect, don’t you?) 😉
Use a toothpick and your burner to stage your Elf roasting himself a marshmallow.
Use a variety of marshmallow sizes to build your Elf a castle. (This one is a bit more time consuming, but when my son spotted this picture my son flipped out!)
Help your Elf make some marshmallow art. (Another fun one that your kiddo can do as well!)
Build your Elf a little bed. He’s such a busy little guy—he deserves a nap!
Your Elf can use marshmallows to practice spelling!
With the help of a toothpick and a magic marker for the face, your Elf can build a marshmallow snowman!
On Christmas Eve you can get a bit more elaborate and make these darling Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow Elf Mugs from Rook No. 17 and allow your Elf to host a hot cocoa party with his friends as his final hurrah. My son was completely enchanted when he came downstairs to this scene last year on Christmas morning! We made the mugs together on Christmas Eve and set out the plate with the mugs, and he was so excited to see the Elf and his friends had shown up to “use” them! And the Elf even brought him a little present.
I hope this gave you some fun Elf on the Shelf ideas! Elf on the Shelf doesn’t have to be one more stressful thing in the busy holiday season. It can be light, simple, and nothing but silly and joyful!
Be sure to check out my other Elf on the Shelf Ideas as well: Simple & Silly Ways to Post Your Elf on the Shelf Using Your Child’s Toys and A Day in the Life of Your Elf on the Shelf – Ideas Using Household Chores.
If you liked this Elf on the Shelf Ideas post then you may enjoy these posts about kid-friendly Christmas traditions as well:
Christmas Ornaments: A Tale of Tradition
Christmas Countdown Service Chain
Be sure to follow along on my Christmas Pinterest board for more festive inspiration!
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I love your ideas. Just got our first elf! So excited to use some of your ideas… Had to chuckle at the roasting mellows, my boys will dig that one!!!
All of these ideas are super cute! I can’t wait until our little one is old enough to do elf on the shelf! 🙂
Super cute ideas! Pulled our elf out today- can’t wait to get started! Thanks for the cute idears! xoxo
Hello I see that you are a “Elf on a Shelf” fan, I ask for a moment of your time to see if you would like to participate in this with many other elfs as well, to bring a smile to a local little girl face that is fighting for her life. Story can be found here. Thanks
http://www.kctv5.com/story/24107248/santa-needs-special-elves-to-help-cancer-stricken-girl
Such cute ideas!! I have four kids and my oldest is 9. Elf on the Shelf is fairly new to me can’t believe I have waited this long to bring the magic to my kids!!! Thanks for the post!