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Discover 24 funny Christmas Elf pranks your kids will love! Find creative ideas for a magical elf season full of laughter and wonder with your little ones.
Ever since early autumn, my little ones keep asking me when our Christmas Elf will finally return to bring laughter and magic into our home. Especially the pranks – those are always the biggest hit! Every year, my kids giggle endlessly at the funny surprises our little elf leaves behind.
After several years full of Elf Adventures, I’ve collected 24 funny and easy Elf pranks you can try at home. Some need a few little props (you’ll find the recommended Elf accessories linked below), while others you can pull off on the spot without much effort.
24 Funny Elf Pranks for the Christmas Season
1. Colored Water from the Faucet
The elf unscrews the faucet tip, adds a drop of food coloring, and screws it back on – voilà, colorful water in the morning!
2. Toothpaste Swap
The elf replaces the toothpaste tube with a mayonnaise tube – watch the kids’ faces!
3. Wrapped Shoes
All the shoes in the hallway are wrapped in gift wrap, newspaper, or aluminum foil.
4. Shoe Train
The elf lines up all the family’s shoes across the living room and puts little toys or stuffed animals in each one.
5. Frozen Toothbrush
The elf fills a cup with water, adds the toothbrush and toothpaste, and freezes it overnight. In the morning – surprise! A frozen brushing routine.
6. Crazy Tree Decorations
The Christmas tree is suddenly decorated with socks and underwear – naughty but funny!
7. Jingle Hat
A tiny bell is sewn into the child’s hat. When they put it on, a mysterious jingling sound follows them all day.
8. Silly Family Photos
The elf draws funny faces on framed photos with a washable marker – mustaches, hats, eyelashes – or adds googly eyes for extra fun!
9. Swapped Family Photos
All family photos are replaced with pictures of elves or Christmas scenes cut from magazines.
10. Cheeky Banana Faces
The elf scratches faces into banana peels – after a while, they turn brown and look hilarious!
11. Funny Milk Carton
The elf decorates the milk carton with googly eyes, antlers, or a Santa hat – breakfast milk from a reindeer!
12. Toilet Paper Art
The elf cuts little patterns into the first few sheets of the toilet paper roll. A funny surprise for the next bathroom visitor!
13. Christmas “Toilet Paper”
The elf swaps the toilet paper for a roll of ribbon or streamers – festive fun that lasts!
14. Peeked-at Advent Calendar
The elf makes a little hole in an Advent calendar bag or door to “peek inside.” Maybe his ladder or tiny scissors are left nearby!
15. Missing Advent Calendar Door
One calendar gift is gone! The elf has hidden it somewhere else – time for a mini treasure hunt.
16. Bitten Chocolate Santa
The elf couldn’t resist! There’s a tiny “bite” taken out of the chocolate Santa, with bits of foil scattered nearby.
17. Elf Party
The elf threw a party overnight – all the toys are sitting around the elf door with confetti, gummy bears, and streamers everywhere!
18. Flour Trail
The elf was baking or sneaking into the pantry and left a trail of flour footprints behind.
19. “Advent, Advent, No Light is Lit”
The elf replaces the Advent wreath candles with carrots or pencils – a silly twist!
20. Wrapped Lunchbox
The elf wraps the school lunchbox in gift ribbon and maybe hides a tiny note inside.
21. Nibbled Sandwich
The elf took a tiny bite out of the school sandwich and left some crumbs or peels behind – but don’t worry, lunch is still there! 😉
22. Elf Makeup
The elf draws a little star or snowflake on the child’s cheek with a soft eyeliner while they sleep.
23. Window Art
The elf decorates the windows with washable markers – snowflakes, hearts, or funny doodles.
24. Plant Decorations
The houseplants are magically decorated with mini ornaments and ribbons overnight.
Tips for Parents – Keep It Stress-Free
- Don’t overplan – spontaneous pranks are often the most fun.
- Less is more – one prank per week is plenty.
- Take photos! You’ll treasure these magical memories for years to come.
Conclusion – Guaranteed Laughs with Your Christmas Elf
With these 24 funny Christmas Elf pranks, you’ll bring giggles, wonder, and family joy into your home all through Advent.
Whether it’s colorful water, a surprise elf party, or little mischiefs here and there – your elf adds a touch of magic, imagination, and holiday cheer to the season.
Wishing you and your little ones a joyful and magical Elf Christmas!
Yours, Lia
Christmas with an Elf– Magical Ideas for the Advent Season
Dive into the enchanting world of Christmas elves!
In the following blog posts, you’ll find everything you need for a magical elf season with your little ones:
- Tips & Tricks for a Magical Christmas Time with Your Elf,
- 24 Tasks from the Christmas Elf
- 24 Pranks from the Christmas Elf
- 24 Magic Tricks from the Christmas Elf
- Baking for the Christmas Elf.
Find endless inspiration here to make your Elf Christmas truly unforgettable!
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How to encourage your children to bake
Baking with children is much more than just a delicious treat that can be enjoyed together!
By baking with your child, you'll teach them many valuable things! Learn more about this in my blog post: How to encourage your children to bake!
To make baking a wonderful, shared experience for you and your little ones, you'll find tips for stress-free baking in the following blog posts:
- My tips for baking with children
- Baking tasks for children aged 2 and over
- Safety when baking with children
- Q & A about baking
Have fun baking! Yours Lia!
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