If your 7 year old still believes in the magic of the elf, this list of Elf on the Shelf Ideas is for you! Chances are you’ve been doing Elf on the Shelf for the past few years and might be running out of ideas on where to hide or how to engage your now first or second grader with this holiday classic. Lucky for you, as I have for the past 6 years, I’ve put together an Elf on the Shelf printable schedule of ideas all tailored to a 7 year old, all available as a free download schedule!
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Today’s post, and this printable schedule includes hiding places (which, of course, can be used for any age) but also some printable activity sheets and activities catered mostly to this older first/second grade age. Some are just fun, but some focus on skills they’ve been doing in school during these early elementary school years.
To grab it, click on the image above and print the sheet. Complete the tasks in order, jump around in a different order or pick and choose your favorites mixed with what you have at home!
Hiding ideas
- Elf arrives with the book – Our Elf arrives on Black Friday and the first day always includes the book to refresh their memory on the story on why the elf is here and the rules!
- Elf brings an advent calendar – Our family tradition includes those daily chocolate advent calendars where they can have a sweet sample after school in the afternoon. Have the elf bring this soon-to-be daily goodie!
- All wrapped up – Wrap up the elf with wrapping paper and don’t forget a bow on top!
- Dressed like a Hershey Kiss – Grab a piece of foil and wrap your elf up like the favorite candy. Bonus: pair this one with one of the free printable speech bubbles linked below.
- On a stack of books – Take them out of the bookshelf and stack them up with the Elf on top. Just make sure you don’t include tonight’s favorite bedtime story they’ll feel the need to read as you can’t move the elf! Bonus: pair it with the “will you read me a story?” free printable word bubble for some interaction!
- In a missing sock – We all have a mismatched sock waiting for his mate to appear from the laundry. Stick your elf in this single fella.
- In a cooking pot – It’s always fun to look through the cabinets and discover the elf hidden in a fun place!
- Tape a message – Painter’s tape it pretty much my best friends during Elf on the Shelf season. I use it to hang our elf in all sorts of silly ways but it can also be used to actually spell a word on the wall or ceiling!
- Game time – set up a favorite board game with Elf and another plush or toy friend playing against him
- Gone Fishing – Tie a little string onto a paper straw and have Elf fish for a pile of goldfish crackers
- Lego message – Grab their probably extensive collection of legos and spell something out!
- Mini Donuts – Make cheerios look like mini donuts with a few little sprinkles or dipped in melted chocolate chip chocolate. They’ll get a kick out of seeing their elf eating a special treat!
- Elf brings PJs – this is a yearly tradition in our home which is done the last day so they have cure PJs to wear Christmas morning.
Activities
- Elf Word Bubbles Printable – This free printable sheet actually includes 6 days worth of hiding activities you can do for the kids (or any age!) Print and cut out the word bubbles and tape them near the elf who’s acting out the activities suggested on the sheet.
- Crepe streamer obstacle course – Use crepe streamers left over from party activities and encourage your kids to get active to crawl and maneuver around, under and through the course set up by the elf.
- 5 Senses Christmas Scavenger Hunt – Unlike my nature scavenger hunt, this scavenger hunt is all words so it really is more fitting for kids who can read or those who have helpers to read for them. But each item on this free printable is up to the child’s own interpretation so it not only puts them on a hunt but let’s them think creatively. Example: something bouncy, something striped etc.
- Leave some snowman soup – If you didn’t know, snowman soup is a little hot chocolate, mini marshmallows and a candy cane for mixing. You can put these all together in a little bag and add this printable topper for maximum cuteness!
- Paint with me activity – Have elf set up a canvas and paint with the computer open to follow along in a step by step painting activity. Here’s a cute cardinal or The Grinch hand holding an ornament.
- Holiday Elf-ercise – Chances are your 7 year old is already familiar with Go Noodle or Cosmic Kids Yoga but have they tried Elf-ercise?
- Color by Numbers Math Activity sheet – In 1st and 2nd grade, kids are working harder on their math skills so put them to the test with this free printable activity sheet where they need to figure out the math problem in order to know what color to add to that cell.
- Time Capsule printable – Capture this moment in time with a little activity sheet your child can fill out by themselves and you can keep to review in the future.
Discover more free printables, hiding places and activity ideas on these ideas from the last 5 years!
- Elf on the Shelf ideas for a 6 year old
- Elf on the Shelf ideas for a 5 year old
- Elf on the Shelf ideas for a 4 year old
- Elf on the Shelf ideas for a 3 year old
- Elf on the Shelf ideas for a 2 year old
Or just grab this one listing and get them all in two minutes without having to hop to a bunch of pages!
Make sure to check out this post on our favorite products for a 7 year old if you’re shopping for one this holiday season!
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