Elf on the Shelf has taken over as the hottest annual Christmas tradition and these cheeky chaps seem to be getting more adventurous every year. Not just for kids, adults around the world are getting into the festive spirit by creating amazing displays and helping their elves get into all sorts of mischief. We've rounded up the most creative ideas to keep the kids on their toes this holiday season...

Prepping your place for elfin adventures is vital, not least because it gives you a few days' grace before the elf itself actually arrives. Make a tiny home setup for your festive visitor, like this ultra-cute corner pad by Nicole Shelley.

There are lots of ways to introduce your first elf sighting of the year. She can creep out from under the furniture looking dishevelled, or excitedly swing into sight like this cheerful elf from A Small Snippet.

Or he might climb down from his year-round hiding place, where no-one would ever spot him. Oh, and he might not come alone! Perhaps he'll have a reindeer pal like Monique Chillari's adventurous elf...

It's safe to say that 2020 has been a strange and unsettling year, which is why this Christmas should be even more playful than usual. Ensure your elf complies with the rules by making yours a miniature mask. You can also download this letter from Buddy to let your kids know that Christmas isn't cancelled.

A day or two after you've introduced your little elf, it's time to up the mischief factor. After all, that's what the cheeky creatures are best known for. We love the idea of getting him to interact with your child's other toys as The Filer House has done – it'll make the daily surprise more magical for the kids. Your elf will no doubt rule the roost, just like this cheeky little chappy.

This has got to be one of the most creative ideas we've seen yet! It requires committing to the project wholeheartedly, as your poor elf will need a good four hours of freezer time. Be warned though, some children did not take warmly to this frosty assault on their favourite seasonal sprite! 

In 2020, it seems that even the North Pole has been affected by lockdown measures. Ensure your elf can keep in touch with his nearest and dearest with this amazing Elf on the Shelf video call template. All you'll need is a phone, computer or laptop. Simply download the image onto your chosen device and watch the magic unfold!

Making snow angels is an easy and cute option for those mornings when you're not feeling super creative, as the pesky folks over at Next demonstrate!

Depending on your sensibilities, you can go as heavy as you like with toilet humour. There's no doubt the bathroom is a good place to spot an elf... Try tucking yours into the loo roll dispenser like Anna on Instagram. And chocolate drops make perfect elf poop. Just FYI.

Just like his human friends, your elf is likely to come down with a winter cold during the festive season. Try setting yours up like this sick note scene by Living Locurto blog.

When they're not trying to cause havoc among the existing toys, elves can make great friends. Get your kids' favourite figures out from their toy storage and stage a sack race, like this one from Pickled Head Soup. 

As the days of advent wear on, it can be tricky to find new places to hide your elf. Enter, the fridge... Just wrap him up so he doesn't think he's back in the North Pole, like this guy from parenting blog Kitchen Fun With My Three Sons.

If you're feeling a little more adventurous, it's time to get busy with a little Christmas DIY project. This cute igloo will make your elf seem quite at home (and it's pretty easy to construct too...). For a how-to, check out Domestic Femme.

This cute and easy idea for an elf bed comes courtesy of blog Biscuits 'n' Crazy. Just take a tissue box and set up a cosy place for your elf to be found catching up on his 40 winks. If your child loves this special setup, maybe one of these incredible kids' beds would be a big hit from Santa Claus this year...

It's good to remind your children that even though their elf is a mischievous little fun-seeker, he's also got some serious work to do – reporting back to Santa on their behaviour. Your message can be an IOU, like this one by blogger Lil Blue Boo, or you could write a report of your child's behaviour so far...

Make tiny Christmas cards for your elf to write out to all their friends, your children included, of course! If you enjoy a little bit of crafting, you could even whip up some miniature festive decorations to deck the halls on a budget. 

It's a bit rich being told to be good when your elf is most definitely not! But when you are one of Santa's Little Helpers, you can do what you like, right? Even ruining a page in a colouring book, like this elf on the Little Bit Funky blog.

This idea is best done right at the end of the month when the advent calendar is nearly empty – and it might be worth having a few extra chocolates around too, in case your elf gets it in the neck!

Just sometimes, you might want your elf to settle down to some good old-fashioned family fun, like helping finish the jigsaw that's been driving you all mad for weeks. 

And for next-level helpfulness, perhaps your elf could even teach your child's toys a thing or two about life in Lapland with a classroom lesson, like this cute scene by A Small Snippet. 

Elves might be cute and fun, but not so much when they deliberately try to get your child in trouble! Handled carefully, it could be a good life lesson on taking responsibility... Handled badly and your child might cry, so be careful!

It's not clear whether this elf is delivering marshmallows to his friends or stealing them in an ingenious hot air balloon heist, but the kids are sure to love it nonetheless! There are plenty of other ways to make your home feel extra festive this season too, no matter your budget.

This one's an easy win if you have some My Little Ponys in the house. Just turn them into a much more colourful alternative to a reindeer troop with some string, and fashion a sleigh out of LEGO or whatever you have to hand. An empty matchbox would work just as well. 

A simple and cute idea for your elf is to make him a pair of skis out of old lolly sticks. Pop him at the top of the stairs and wait to see how he gets on... 

Dressing your elf up in other toy's costumes has to be one of the more amusing ideas we've come across. How about this mischievous elf as Snow White, as seen on the Life With My Littles blog?

It's the perfect time of year to get all the family together to play games, so if you have a few elves, why not gather them for a game of Jenga?

When it comes to saying goodbye to your elf, it depends how naughty you've made her during her stay. If she's been a real terror, she might just scarper with anything she can find... 

This elf can scale vertical surfaces like Ethan Hunt, thanks to his trusty suction pad. Try this little crafty hack to get your elf's hands to stick together: hot glue a small piece of velcro to his hands and you'll have a whole new world of possibilities open to you. Discover some more ways to make your home jolly in a jiffy!

Or perhaps all you'll see is the shadow of your elf's departing figure in the glass, ready to dream up some mischief for next year... We love this simple idea by blogger Aimee Howell. 

Elves are busy, busy, busy so there's really no time for dawdling. The perfect means of escape, the Elf on the Shelf flying machine is sure to be a hit with adults and kids alike. For this one, you'll need slightly more materials: card, scissors, pipe cleaners, a Scout Elves Peppermint Plane Ride and Candy Cane Cables, all available from the experts at Elf on the Shelf. Sure to banish any holiday blues, this fun-filled annual tradition just gets better every year!

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