Looking for fun and funny elf on the shelf ideas? Here’s how to set up an easy Elf on the Shelf Candy Cane Hunt idea!
Setting up the Elf on the Shelf can be a LOT of work. Let’s keep it easy by using things you already have on hand that won’t take half an hour to put together!
My kids LOVE scavenger hunts, so I decided to put together an elf-themed scavenger hunt for them one Saturday morning.
Instead of hiding clues, our elf hid candy canes!
Now, you could do this with anything you have on hand – coins, hershey kisses, paper cut out to look like ornaments. Use what you’ve got and have fun with it!
I did a total of 24 candy canes and hid them a mix of easy and hard. I liked 24 – it was 2 packs exactly and like the 24 days of Christmas – but adjust your quantity and hiding difficulty based on the age of your kiddos.
If you have multiple kids way apart in age, consider hiding different things for each – like red candy canes for one and green for the other, with the older kid’s hidden harder or more up high.
Just do what’s right for your family!
Anyways, this was quick to set up and a really fun idea. Here’s how I did it!
Elf on the Shelf – Candy Cane Hunt
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 5 minutes
What you need:
- Elf on the Shelf
- Candy canes
- Paper + marker, crayon, pen, etc
What you do:
- Position your elf somewhere – high up is a great option for this one!
- Write a note on a piece of paper explaining that your elf has hidden candy canes, the space where they are all hidden, and how many candy canes were hidden total.
- Place the note near the elf.
- Hide the candy canes!
- When your kids find the note, they can go on a candy cane hunt to find them all!
This was so easy to set up and a HUGE hit with my kids, who love scavenger hunts! So much fun!
For even more fun, be sure to download my free printable Elf scavenger hunt clues!
Happy elfing around!
See all of our Elf on the Shelf ideas:
- The best Elf on the Shelf name ideas
- Why your Elf on the Shelf should bring books
- Elf on the Shelf idea: dinosaur sled
- Elf on the shelf snowball fight
- Elf on the shelf idea: bubble bath
- Elf on the shelf idea: bow rock climbing
- Elf on the shelf idea: zipline
- How to get an Elf on the Shelf inside a balloon
- Free printable Elf scavenger hunt clues
Thanks for reading!
Hey there, I’m Morgan, the creative mind behind CelebratingWithKids.com! As a parent of two lively little ones, I’ve made it my mission to turn ordinary days into extraordinary adventures, sharing playful activities, thoughtful toy reviews, and delightful printables to help families celebrate every moment together. 🎉👨👩👧👦🎈