Elf on the Shelf is back! It's almost the holidays, so it's almost time for Elf on the Shelf. Elves typically arrive sometime after Thanksgiving and return to the North Pole on Christmas Day, giving families about a month to fill with hilarious Elf on the Shelf ideas.

Like any good house guest, your elf should be able to keep mischievous acts mostly mess-free and easy to set up. We've put together a list of 50 easy ideas that are also impressive elf antics that delight kids— including funny Elf on the Shelf ideas, easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, and last-minute Elf on the Shelf ideas for hectic mornings. Did we mention they don't take a lot of time to set up and require very few props?

Find more Christmas activities and crafts for kids, plus other fun things to do this season, in our Christmas and Holiday Fun Guide.

Crafts are an amazing way for tweens and teens to unplug from screens, express their creativity, and even make thoughtful gifts for friends and family.

They’re perfect for fun, screen-free time with friends—and also make great activities for birthdays, sleepovers, or rainy days when you want something engaging and hands-on. I love seeing my own daughter get completely absorbed in a project, coming up with ideas I never would have thought of, and feeling proud of what she creates.

The best part? These crafts are actually cool, not “kiddy,” so kids will be excited to dive in and genuinely enjoy the process. On this list, you’ll find everything from trendy TikTok-inspired projects to hands-on art crafts that let them experiment, explore, and make something uniquely their own.

Try one of these projects this weekend and watch their creativity—and confidence—shine! For thousands more craft ideas for kids of all ages, check out our Crafts for Kids Guide. For your hard-to-please teens, we've also got a Teen & Tween Activities Guide, filled with ideas we've run by our kids to ensure they're teen-approved, not mom-lame.