20 Reasons The Elf On The Shelf Didn’t Move

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Christmas is coming, and if you jumped on the Elf on the Shelf craze at any point, you’re probably already feeling the pressure of a whole month of Elf scenarios. But what happens when you forget to move the Elf?

Suddenly you’re on the spot trying to come up with a reason why. These Elf on the Shelf excuses are for you!!

Make your Elf duties easier with my printable Elf tool kit

Quick Answer: Forgot to move the elf? Say this.

Tell the kids the elf couldn’t fly last night. The most believable reasons are that he fell asleep waiting for them to go to bed, that the dog was watching and he couldn’t risk being seen, or that he liked yesterday’s spot so much he came straight back to it. Pick one, say it with confidence, and move him tonight.

Why Elf On The Shelf Did Not Move

Why does the elf have to move at all? The whole idea is that your scout elf flies back to the North Pole every night to report to Santa on how the day went, then finds a new spot to watch from in the morning.

So if he’s sitting exactly where he was yesterday, the kids know something is up. That’s the bit you need an answer for.

I can honestly say at least half the nights in December I flop into bed after a big day, and then I remember THE ELF. And there have been a couple of nights over the years when I didn’t remember at all. At least now I’m armed with plenty of reasons why the elf didn’t move.

I’m also more organised these days with my free printable Elf on the Shelf planner. But just in case, keep these excuses why the elf didn’t move on hand!

Make your Elf duties easier with my printable Elf tool kit

Make sure you come and join our Elfing Around Facebook group for even more ideas and inspiration!

Ideas For Forgetting To Move The Elf On The Shelf

To help you avoid those on-the-spot explanations when your kids wake up the next day full of Christmas spirit to find their Elf sitting in the exact same spot, asking why is my Elf on the Shelf not moving, I’ve put together a huge list of reasons why the Elf did not move.

Some of these reasons are with the help of my community members and their brilliant ideas! 

My Favourite Excuse For Why The Elf Didn’t Move

I’ve forgotten to move the Elf a few times now, and my default answer has always been the same one:

The Elf did not move because you have been naughty.

It’s simple and it’s very effective. December is the one month of the year when kids take a reminder about their behaviour extremely seriously, at least when a 30cm elf is involved.

But what if they’ve actually been angels? Then that one won’t get you far. My other back up is that someone must have touched it and usually we blame Dad since he’s the most clueless in the house.

Here are twenty more elf excuses to keep in your back pocket:

20 Elf On The Shelf Excuses For When You Forget

• Fell asleep waiting for you to go to bed and didn’t wake up in time to fly
• Didn’t think you’d look there again, it was such a good hiding spot
• The dog was watching him all night and he couldn’t risk being seen
• You woke up too early and caught him before he’d swapped spots
• Didn’t want to fly back and tell Santa how naughty you’ve been
• There’s a flu outbreak at the North Pole so he’s staying put
• He’s on strike until the behaviour around here improves
• Ate far too much candy and now has a sore tummy
• A snowstorm at the North Pole grounded every elf last night
• Got injured on the way back from seeing Santa
• Someone touched him and he needs time to get his magic back
• He’s testing your observation skills. Are you sure he hasn’t moved?
• Ran out of magic dust and can’t travel home until more arrives
• This is his favourite spot in the whole house and he wasn’t ready to give it up
• He had a perfect vantage point from there to watch how you were behaving
• You were behaving so well he didn’t think it was worth reporting back
• He was on the phone to Santa half the night and lost track of time
• He’s waiting on a spare part for his sleigh before he can fly again
• The Christmas lights were left on and elves can’t fly in the bright
• Santa gave him the night off. He’s worked every single night since 1 December

Prepare Ahead With A Letter

If you know you are prone to needing Elf On The Shelf excuses from time to time during December, why not prepare ahead?

Write up a messy handwritten note from your Elf to your child explaining why they did not move. You could have a couple of options ready to go.

A note about being on strike for bad behaviour is an easy one.

In case this one doesn’t work for your kids, because they are actually behaving like angels in preparation for Santa’s arrival, choose one about running out of magic dust, perhaps instead.

Once your child spots the situation, you can tell them their scout elf left a note in a secret place, which you planted earlier just in case. Make sure it’s somewhere they won’t stumble on by accident, and get rid of it after Christmas.

How To Get Elf On The Shelf Magic Back

If your child is concerned about your Elf on the Shelf not moving, even after giving one of the excuses, work together to restore the elf magic. 

This is a fun way to reassure your child everything is okay after a forgetful incident. A little Christmas magic goes a long way. 

You can sprinkle a little cinnamon next to your Elf or sing them a Christmas carol. If you have any glitter, a small sprinkle over your Elf is a magical touch too!

Check out the official Scout Elf website for more ideas on how to restore Elf magic.

The Elf With A Broken Leg Trick

Maybe you’re starting to regret taking on this Elf responsibility. I have those moments where I wonder what I was thinking, so this one could be your solution.

One of the images that does the rounds on Facebook and Pinterest every December is an Elf on the Shelf with his leg in a plaster cast. He’s injured, he can’t move, and he has to observe from the same spot for the rest of the month.

That’s a next-level parenting hack right there if you really don’t want to find new Elf on the Shelf ideas every single night.

Would you try it?

Need more Christmas inspiration? Check these out:

• DIY advent calendar ideas
• Advent calendar fillers for kids and adults
• Free printable Santa gift tag
• Fun Christmas games
• Advent calendar activities
• Printable elf on the shelf props
• Elf on the shelf scavenger hunt clues
• Ideas for 2 or more elves
• Elf on the shelf scavenger hunt clues
• Easy Elf on the Shelf ideas
• Printable Santa gift tag
• Elf on the shelf printable planner
• Elf on the shelf return ideas and printable letter
• Ideas for 2 or more Elves on the Shelf
• Disney Mickey Ears for Elf on the Shelf
• Disney Elf on the Shelf ideas

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