MoxVlog

Every year, parents all over the U.S. call on the magical Scout Elves to help Santa write his naughty and nice lists.

The fun game sees parents moving an Elf on the Shelf around the house every day to keep an eye on children ahead of Santa's visit.

The character originally came from the 2005 children's book by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell.

Now, the character can be bought as a toy for parents to use to make sure their kids are earning their place on the nice list.

Here are some mischievous ideas of what to do with your Elf on the Shelf to keep the children in line in the run up to Christmas.

Elf on the Shelf Wrapped In Toilet Paper

An elf in the bathroom may seem a little strange, so why not bring some of the fun to the steps. As shown by the Elf on the Shelf Instagram account, you can wrap your elf in toilet paper and spread them around the house for added mischief.

Elf on the Shelf Meets Other Toys

An Elf on the Shelf is, of course, a stuffed toy, meaning you can easily nestle it in with other toys. Whether these are in the kid's room or in a communal space, your child's face when they find their elf among the toys will be priceless.

Elf on the Shelf in the Tree

The Christmas tree can be a great place to put the Elf on the Shelf, either nestled among tinsel or sitting in place of the star at the top of the tree.

To add even more mischief, you can place the elf on top of the presents, almost like he is guarding the gifts.

Elf on the Shelf Taking a Selfie

A Christmas selfie is wonderful, especially when you gather all your friends and family together for the perfect picture.

But what if a cheeky elf stole your teenager's phone for a little selfie? That is a great way to bring the mischief to the house, and you can even leave some funny pictures on the phone.

Elf on the Shelf Climbing Up the Flowers

If you have a hanging basket or plants which hang down, they offer a great opportunity for your elves. They can either be climbing up the plants, or climbing out of the hanging plants, meaning they are even harder for the children to find.

Elf on the Shelf Selling Lemonade

While this is not the season of children selling lemonade in the front yard, your elves can always try this from inside your home.

Whether it's lemonade, non-alcoholic eggnog or even a Christmas cocktail, your elf can set up their bar in the kitchen to serve up festive treats.

Elf on the Shelf On the Mirror

If your teenagers are doing make-up for school, or your younger children are looking in the mirror, they can get a fun surprise by finding the elf on top.

To add some more mischief, you can position them as if they are climbing away from trouble.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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