Is the Elf on the Shelf creating hijinks in your home?

Easy ideas to help East Coast parents get through the next month

The beginning of December marks the official start of the festive season - and for many East Coast parents, it also means the arrival of a small, pesky visitor to their homes. Yes, Elf on the Shelf is about to descend and the mayhem that will ensue is sure to delight little people everywhere (even if it leaves their big people exasperated).

Love him or loathe him, the pesky Elf brings joy to millions of children every December, but for parents, it can mean a lot of thinking, planning, stressing, and jumping out of bed at 3 a.m. because you released you forgot about the Elf!

It can be hard to keep the ideas fresh year after year, and while your kids might not remember them, you will certainly feel like you've seen and done them all before.

Perhaps this year, you want to add something a little different to mix things up, but you just don't have time to think of a new list of ideas.

Fear not, parents, we have got your back and have come up with eight quintessentially Canadian Elf on the Shelf ideas for your naughty little visitor to get up to.

RESTING IN HIS ADIRONDACK CHAIR

December is a busy time for an Elf, so even Santa's helpers need a rest. Never mind a Partridge in a Pear Tree - what about an Elf in an Adirondack Chair? With a bit of pre-planning, this is an easy one to pull out of the bag for those busy evenings when you just need to fall into bed. Check your local craft stores or anywhere that sells Elf on the Shelf merchandise or doll's house furniture for mini Adirondack chairs. Failing that, get your creative juices flowing and make your own from popsicle sticks and glue.

PLAYING ICE HOCKEY

If your elf is in Canada for a month, then, of course, he has to get involved with the national sport! This is super easy to stage. All you need is an upside-down candy cane and some double-sided sticky tape (which will come in handy for all tricks) placed on his or her hands to hold the festive hockey stick in place. Any small round candy - think Reese's Pieces, Smarties, or chocolate chips - for the puck and voila, the next NHL star is born.

SOCCER FEVER

With Canada reaching the World Cup for the first time in 36 years, why not have your elf celebrating the national team's achievement by playing soccer? You can use any small spherical candy or even a marble to be the ball and use candy canes as goalposts. And as luck would have it, every single Elf is already wearing the national colours.

EATING LOBSTER

Since we love our fresh lobster on the East Coast, we know your elf will too. While you're not going to head out and buy a full lobster for this little stunt, nothing is stopping you from creating one from some of the goodies in your kids' craft box. Failing that, just draw one on a paper plate and set him or her up with a knife, fork and napkin. Easy.

PARCEL OF POUTINE

This iconic symbol of our culinary culture and cuisine is loved by most Canadians, so why not have your elf tucking into a portion of poutine? Keep some leftovers from last night's supper for this one!

SPILLING MAPLE SYRUP

Naughty little elf has been raiding the cupboards again and this time spilled the family's maple syrup! A super easy, last-minute stunt that is sure to have the kiddies in giggles. And easy to clean up!

SUPPING A TIM HORTONS

Tim's serves coffee to millions of Canadians every day, so why should your elf be any different? Save your takeout coffee cup and let your Elf sip it, spill it or even sit inside it. A simple and effective stunt, perfect for pulling out of the bag on those last-minute days. Just remember to save that cup!

ICE SKATING

With many families enjoying the great Canadian pastime of ice skating on our many lakes, why not let your Elf join in the fun? Ice skates can be made from paper clips, miniature candy canes or, believe it or not, you can actually buy Elf ice skates from some stockists. Fill a plastic tub with water and pop it in the freezer a day or two in advance and voila - you have your frozen lake.

FESTIVE FISHING

Since one of our main industries is fishing here in the Maritimes, set your elf up with a rod and let him see what he reels in. Easy to set up. Simply fill a sink with some water, prop him up at the side, and have him holding a rod (a candy cane, chopstick, skewer or anything of this ilk will do) with some string attached at the end. If you have a particularly naughty elf, then maybe he would be fishing in the toilet.

MERRY MOOSE RIDING

OK, so your ordinary Canadian might never, ever attempt to ride moose, but that doesn't mean your little elf pal can't, right? This is another easy stunt to pull off - but it relies on you having a moose stuffy already at home. If not it's time to get creative and turn an existing stuffy into a moose by adding some antlers, using pipe cleaners or maybe picking up a novelty antler hairband at the dollar store.