Fresh out of Elf on the Shelf ideas? New to the holiday tradition and want to get in on the fun?

For $30, parents can buy the official Elf on the Shelf book and figurine that can be placed around the house to "observe" whether kids are being naughty or nice. This helpful elf then reports its daily findings to Santa Claus.

Each night leading up to Christmas, parents secretly move the elf to a new location, letting kids know that there is always a watchful eye on their behavior.

For those needing a little inspiration, Rare has a quick video with 25 ways to place your elf:

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A person exits the Wolf Creek Library in Atlanta after casting his ballot during election day on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC