Reasons Why Our Elf Forgot to Move
This was first published in 2017, but we still use these ideas today because it’s that time of year again! Time to reshare our Elf’s Reasons for forgetting to move… again! Yes, even though the Elf on the Shelf’s Ideas make the kids laugh, he often forgets to move and stays put for two days in a row. So… every year, I share this post with the reasons why our Elf didn’t move.
I hope that your Elf is less forgetful than ours. 🙂
“MOM! Gilbert (our elf) forgot to move… again! He is STILL on the wreath on the door! Mom? Mom?”
To which I now have a good response… 25, in fact. If you don’t have an elf, scroll to the bottom and you can find my affiliate link to Amazon to find an Elf on the Shelf & more.
When the kids wake us up to tell us that our elf forgot to move – we need to be quick on our feet to think of a reason why. Our Elf on the Shelf has great ideas, but sometimes he just sticks with the same one for two days in a row. On his good days, he does fun things and even changes outfits, but other days… he simply forgets to move.
Here are 25 reasons why our Elf didn’t move:
1- My friend, Holly, uses the excuse that her Elf was stuck, so they use Kitchen Tongs to move him from his spot, to pry him loose.
2- He heard someone getting out of bed right when he was about to move. He was afraid that he would be caught, so he had to stay put! (You have to stay in bed so that he can move!)
3- (If your child had misbehaved) – He saw you crying about ___ yesterday and he decided not to tell Santa, this time, because in this house, we give second chances.
4- He fell asleep waiting for you to go to sleep…
5- I thought that I heard some snoring coming from downstairs. He must have fallen asleep early last night.
6- I think that I heard the TV last night- I bet he was watching a show and by the time it was over, he heard us waking up and couldn’t move.
7- You woke up too early. This is why I ask you to stay in bed until 7:00 because he doesn’t get home from the North Pole until just before 7.
8- You’re right, he didn’t move, but I see crumbs on the counter, so I bet that he had a snack and then went back to his spot and forgot that he had already been there!
9- Maybe he thought that if he stayed there today, he would be able to hide better since you wouldn’t look there again!
10- Oh no! It looks like his leg/arm/tag is stuck. Let me pry him loose with a spoon.
11- I think that he stayed there because he could see everything really well.
12- “Elf, I’m sorry that we didn’t sleep well last night and you couldn’t move. Maybe you can move while the kids are at school/lessons today.”
13- I think that sometimes he likes to move in the day because he has a hard time seeing at night.
14- I definitely heard some talking last night, I think that his Elf friend came here, because it sounded like two elves… I bet they were talking so much that he forgot to move.
15- One year, our Elf made the kids little green pancakes. When he forgot to move, we decided that it was because he just loved the pancakes too much to move.
16- Oh man! I think that it was my fault. I had to come downstairs to get a drink and I saw magic dust in the air. I bet that he was moving until I came down. Sorry, guys.
17- You know what? That glue of Daddy’s was taken out of the garage. I bet he was playing with it and got stuck. I’ll pry him loose with a spatula. (be sure to tell your Elf not to do that again).
18- (if you have a dog) – The dog kept staying by him and wouldn’t leave, so he couldn’t move.
19- He was sick last night – it looks like he might have a fever. Can you get a thermometer for me? I’ll check.
20- Looks like he may have hurt his leg. Let me see if I can take a look at it for you (get out the Dr. kit and give him a once over, without touching him.
WHEN YOU ARE BUYING YOURSELF SOME TIME SO YOUR ELF CAN MOVE:
21- “Hey, honey, can you run back to your room and grab a sweatshirt in case it’s cold inside today?” Or “Can you run upstairs and see if I left my phone/keys/money in there?” (This will buy you two minutes)
22- We need to all go look together as a family. Let me run downstairs first to make sure that the blinds are open, first, so we can see him really well. (Buys you 1-2 minutes).
23- Oh wait- you have to go brush your teeth (or make your bed or get dressed) before you can check on the elf.
24- Before you look for the elf, can you hurry and make him a card? I feel like we never make him anything and he always does fun things for us.
25- Oh man!! What was that noise? I think he is still moving. Stay here while I run and check. Don’t come down until I tell you that its clear because if you see him, he loses his magic!
#26 BONUS: This one came from a reader & I love it:
Since Elves are used to living in the cold North Pole and our house is so warm, the elf magic disappears when they get warm. In order to recharge the magic, the elf needs to be cold so I use an oven mitt to place him in the freezer for a while.
ps… YOU ARE WELCOME TO PRINT THESE EXCUSES, TOO!
If your kids are anything like our kids (below), they are counting on the Elf moving every day, so keep these little excuses handy. 😉
Where to get an Elf on the Shelf:
If you don’t have an Elf or you have never tried it, you can get an Elf on the Shelf here or you can get a big plush elf (I’ve never seen this until today!
More Christmas Posts you might like:
- FUNNY Elf on the Shelf Ideas
- 25 Christmas Morning Ideas
- Stocking Stuffers for Kids or Stocking Stuffers for Teenage Boys
- Elf Tracker
- NON TOY gifts for kids!
Heather says
This is so true at our house! Love it…
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
🙂 Our Elf forgets A LOT! 🙂
Natalee Jeremiah says
So does my sisters
KeziasMommy says
The last time I forgot, I told my daughter that our Elf probably didn’t move because we did not turn off all the lights last night. We left the Christmas tree lights on!
Now she reminds me to turn off all the lights before we go to bed!
Frank Swan says
My ex-wife and I had a very bitter custody fight. I was able to get two weeks in the summer with my daughter Afan, (10) and son, Walt (8). When I picked them up, my son was holding his Elf On A Shelf. I had never heard of this Elf.
My son proceeded to tell me this strange story about what his Elf does when everyone falls asleep. He went on to tell me that NOBODY should ever touch his Elf. I made several comments about how I didn’t believe in magical Elves. I also told him his Elf creeped me out. For the next several days, I would act like I was very nervous whenever Walt brought the Elf in the room.
One day toward the end of the two weeks, I had made plans to take my kids to their friend’s house to play. I told my kids I was going to drop them off and spend the next several hours running errands around town. I made it clear I wouldn’t return home while they were gone.
After I dropped them off, I ran a couple of errands and then I went home. At this time in my life, I was hosting a weekly poker tournament for a bunch of my friends. I had several nice wooden cases that held 500 poker chips each. When I got home, I “staged” Walt’s Elf at the top of the stairs with two poker chip cases opened … and one thousand chips spilled down the stairs.
After I picked up my kids, we returned home. When we walked in the house and Walt discovered his Elf, the open cases and all the spilled chips … he was jubilant! He was vindicated! I made him take his creepy Elf to his room and I had him clean up the mess his Elf made. He smiled the entire time.
He proceeded to tell everyone we saw for the rest of the trip about what his Elf did … and that his Dad was scared of his Elf. It’s one of the happiest memories of my life.
FS, Knoxville, TN
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
LOL!!!
Demi Godd says
Loved this! It really made my day! Well done you!
Avery patton says
My elf forgets to move too. he is sitting on the couch watching tv.
Tiffany says
Our elf forgets ALOT, makes me feel so bad, this weekend he stayed in the same spot 🙁 #momfail #sorry #TryToRememberToMoveElfie
Robin Lazar says
you know I have a elf on the shelf!
Butter Mc Crane says
I told the kids the first time I forgot to move the elf that since they are used to living in the cold North Pole and our house is so warm, the elf magic disappears. In order to recharge the magic, the elf needs to be cold so I use and oven mitt to place him in the freezer for a while. When the kids aren’t looking, I move him to a new spot. Now, if I forget, the kids yell “mom, stick him in the freezer!” Works like a charm
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
That is SO cute. I love it!!
Cynthia says
I told my kids that he must be hungry and have no energy to move. That night we left out elf sized chocolate chip pancakes to give him enough energy to make it. (That is what we ate, also acceptable would be just a few chocolate chips. Elves like sweets.)
Maggie says
Our elf stayed in her spot on our undecorated tree for two days. We were late getting decorations up that year so my husband told our daughter our elf was staying there in protest because our house was not ready for Christmas.
Mamabear Ellison says
I used this excuse this year!! Haha!!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
🙂
Cindy Smithers says
Luckily for this forgetful Momma, we’ve had bad fog….we tell our little boy that he couldn’t fly out in the fog so he stayed put!!! LOL hey he buys it so I will keep hoping for foggy forecasts and keep using that excuse!!!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Oh that is HILARIOUS- I totally should have used that one this morning! 😉 (its foggy here, too!) He ended up moving during nap time & put on our son’s spiderman mask… silly little Elf!
Shari Kirtland says
I noticed that lots of people move their elves using things. My younger daughter got upset at our elf today because he was sitting on her “My Little Pony” Pinkie Pie, and they were watching her show. Jaden, my daughter, cried because she didn’t want Sparkles, our elf, to be sitting on Pinkie Pie. So I told her that I would call Santa and get his permission to move Sparkles because it upset her. Worked like a charm. I was able to move him with my hands, and he was able to keep his magic….this time, but Santa did say that he was going to speak to him about upsetting Jaden by using her toys as props to sit on.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
🙂 lol!! (ps- cute Elf name!)
E says
Last year, we woke up and noticed our Elf hadn’t moved! Luckily, it was a very snowy night and I told our daughter it probably wasn’t safe for him to fly in the storm so Santa wanted him to stay put for a night!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
🙂 SMART!!
Cricket says
If I know there’s a storm or drop on Temps, I tell my daughter that the 2 elves couldn’t fly because it was too windy or too cold or stormy. It works every single time and it gets my 9 year old thinking at meteorology. 🙂
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Ahh… smart! 😉
Steph says
Forgot to move the elf this morning and told the little guy that the elf must have slept in today! The honey is home so the elf will be sure to find a new spot before school is out!
Steve Mitchell says
I forgot to move Jessica one night and my daughter was upset because she thought one of her friends might have touched her. I moved her that night and wrote a note saying that she was just messing with her and she was sorry that she had upset Catherine.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Aww- sweet!!
Samantha says
I told my daughter that I saw on the weather channel that there was a huge storm at the north pole and it was too dangerous for the elf to leave. She moved once she went to school!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
That’s hilarious & smart. 🙂
pam says
We have one of those window bird feeders that suctions to the window and is clear. Our elf had to spend the night in that bird feeder two nights ago because the darned tooth fairy locked him out! Apparently there is a little rivalry between the two of them!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Oh- SO clever!! I’m using that one!
Kathryn says
I told my daughter that only mommies know how to touch “Smelf the Elf” without him loosing his magic, so I can touch him without a fit.
Also we put a pinch of cinnamon by him every night to help him get to the North Pole. (It is his vitamins). So if he forgets to move I tell her he must not of taken his vitamins.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Oh my goodness- that is the most adorable thing (the cinnamon). 🙂
Jalin says
This year our elf is bring “mission possible tasks. One day the kids accused another sibling it was her fault because she wrinkled up the envelope. The next day he was still there, it took a while for him to get his magic back because you have to show respect to him and what he brings from the North Pole. The next time was because he had given them the assignment to do their rooms of responsibility and they hadn’t so he was just waiting until they fulfilled their mission possible. Hopefully he doesn’t forget to move anymore.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
🙂 I love the missions idea!
Velinda says
I always tell my girls they must’ve been really good since snowflake didn’t have to report to Santa last NIGHT! She looks pretty comfy, I bet she was excited she didn’t have to go out in the cold to give a naughty report. 🙂
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
That is so sweet!!
Jessica says
Our elf fell from his spot one day and two of the kids I provide daycare for touched him so when he forgets to move I tell my daughter he lost some of his magic and has to recharge before he can fly to the north pole and back.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Smart thinking!
Jordyn Gibson says
I think are elves are done with because they have not moved for 2 whole weeks and we have 7 elves that should move every day.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
hahaha!!
Kristin says
Our elf brings notes back from Santa to remind my boys that he is watching everything. Some days Santa is too busy getting for the big day to write a note so he tells Happy Star (our elf) to stay tight and wait for a new message.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Our elf does that, too!! 🙂 (brings notes home), but I love the message on your note. 🙂
Michael says
We told them he was sick because they touched him and he lost some of his magic. My daughter said she read on the web that he should be surrounded by a circle of cinnamon and put a peppermint on his belly. Amazingly, the next morning he was in a new spot and the peppermint wrapper was left (because the elf ate the mint)
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
LOL- of course he did!
Jerrica says
Our elf was so excited to see baby Jesus in the nativity scene he went back to spend more time with him. But he got into the fudge and cookies while we were at work/school.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
🙂 So sweet!! Today our Elf is sitting with Mother Mary, waiting… 🙂
Tracie says
There was a bad snowstorm at the north pole last night so 5he elf was told to stay put until the weather clears up.
Heather says
We forgot over the weekend, so I said he was in vacation just like mommy on the weekends so he doesn’t have to work. I got to leave him all weekend and the kids understood and were anxious to find him Monday 🙂
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Oh my goodness- I just laughed out loud. 🙂
lynn says
we don’t have an elf at our house and my niece (who is currently staying with us) asked why… we told her that the elves only have to check up on the sometimes naughty kids so if there isn’t an elf at our house, then she must really be behaving
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
🙂 Smart thinking!
Lynn says
We didn’t have an elf until Grandma bought it but then promptly said it wasn’t real. The kids seem to have forgotten that or not paid attention.
Kylie says
i tell my 2 kids that our elf Buddy must have spent too much time at the beach (we live in Australia) while they were at school, caught a little too much sun and was exhausted from it! They always get really tired after a big day at the beach and the days have been super hot here for an elf, around 40 celcius, so they completely understand! He isn’t used to such warm weather!
Either that or he was up all night playing minecraft on the ps4! Haha
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Minecraft- our kids would buy that! 🙂
MrsWilson says
Just last night our elf didn’t move (its just been that kind of a year here! ) I hag noticed it was snowing pretty good outside so I told them it was too snowy for him to make the trip last night!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
🙂 Ours just hopped from one stocking to another. 🙂
Caroline says
We didn’t have an elf and the kids asked why. I told them that the elves were naughty and not supposed to be seen by the people in the house, so our house elf must be a good one. We had a Christmas stocking advent calendar that was filled by Santa and one night he forgot. I phoned him up and he told me that our house elf, Dusty, had put it in the wrong stocking (gave me time to put it in their named, Christmas stockings), they were chuffed and excited at the prospect of having a house elf. I then left them a couple of notes from the house elf, with a photo of him with Santa (I ‘borrowed’ it from my friend’s Facebook page, because their house-elf sent a photo of him with Santa as a goodbye note). Dusty had signed ours telling the kids that he was happy they were good.
Next year I think Dusty will become corrupted by my daughter’s friend’s elf and make an appearance.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
🙂 haha!! That’s adorable. I love that idea of a picture of him with santa- next year!!
Erika says
Of course and my daughter has an elf of her own but he doesn’t really move so she started crying and the next day Casper the elf was sitting on a swing and she was so happy 😁
Margie says
Please, pretty please with pink sugar on, tell me where you get one of these precious little elves??
Margie
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
http://amzn.to/1Dr6Jod 🙂
Erika says
At Walmart
Edie Nichols says
I do Elfie with our 2 preschooler grandgirls………..He never forgets to move!
He does his moving right after they leave to go home …… this way He’s ready
for their next visit……even it’s a couple days later! Phew! Our grandgirls LOVE
looking for Elfie……..last year we got a “blood curdling” squeal when the oldest
spotted him! Liked to give all us adults a heart attack! LOL!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Oh so fun!! 🙂 (& that is hilarious about the squeal!)
Erika says
So funny
Donna says
When I forgot to move our elf I told the kids there was a bad storm at the North Pole and Santa told him to stay put for safety.
Erika says
That’s weird but didn’t the book say that no one is allowed to touch the elf ?😬😊😳
Lynn says
I’m not as quick with thinking things up. I just tell them that the elf must not have just liked that spot. That night I wrote a special note to put with our elf explaining that he will sometimes sit in the same spot because when he finds a spot he likes he sometimes likes to stay there.
He sometimes stays in the same spot 3 or 4 days. Thank you Grandma for buying the darn thing.
Erika says
Well my daughter is a crazy little girl who believes in everything 😆
Alaina says
What happens if you knock UR elf over so u pick it up & lay it up & it doesn’t move the next day? Did u Kill the magic? Or come there into were the elf was to much? I did go to were my elf was alot…I hope it was just me I hope she kept her magic! What’s UR opinion ?
Tamica says
Ours fell over one day while the kids were looking at it. My 7 year old said because I am a grown up I could touch her and she wouldn’t lose her magic. So I sat her back up and they both smiled. That was a relief and I was happy to go with it.
Erika says
People say only if you put cinnamon around the elf and then she’ll feel better in a few days that’s what happened with my daughter when she had that problem when she touched it by accident
April says
Our elf gets touched sometimes and I don’t want to pick her up for the year. So, we just have to sprinkle some cinnamon on her so she doesn’t lose her magic. Also, babies can touch them because Santa knows babies don’t know any better. But I usually say she was still a little too sick to fly and needed an extra day of rest.
Lisa says
I am just happy I found other moms that forget to move that !@#$@#$@ ELF! I thought I was the worst mom ever!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
lol!
Erika says
No
Deaven says
Our Elf was in our Christmas tree for 2 days and my daughter pointed at her in the tree and said why didn’t she move? I told her that she must have thought that she did such a great job decorating the tree that it was probably her favorite spot! My daughter said oh yea you’re right!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
love it!!
Gen says
I tell my kids, Baby elf saw you do something bad and he’s giving you another chance today. He really doesn’t want to tell Santa you’re bad.
Erika says
Yes we have the same thing with my daughter
carrie says
When I forget to move our elf I tell the kids that he loved that spot so much he decided to stay there.
Erika says
Like I said it could lose its magic if you touch it like the book says so if you do touch it or move it around you might want to sprinkle some cinnamon around it
Sue says
Did any of you viewers see the advertisement about the Birthday Elf on the Shelf last holiday season? The manufacture of EOtS thought it FIT, to advertise on severl children’s television networks, the “New birthday elf on the shelf”!!!
My grandson immediately called me, and his mom on it. Asking questions as to how this could be when it was a magical thing.
Little Elfie went in the trash and we were done with yet, another holiday lie.
The manufacturing company should be ashamed.
Addi Ganley says
LOL. So many great ideas on here that literally made me Laugh out Loud.
Moms can be so creative at times can’t we 😉
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
🙂 So true, Addi!
bullauge tuer says
Greetings from Los angeles! I’m bored to tears at work
so I decided to check out your blog on my iphone during lunch break.
I enjoy the information you present here and can’t wait to take
a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, good site!
Simon says
If you are interested in topic: earn money online in pakistan at home without investment – you should read about Bucksflooder first
Louse says
My kids found the elf on the shelf buddy on the Christmas tree but he was decorating it with underwear
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
LOL!! I think our Elf is going to have to try that one.
Amanda says
Sometimes our elf Bella has to stay in the north pole for the day and help Santa because he is super busy right now and needs extra elf help! So she will leave them a nice note hanging on the fridge saying that she is gone helping Santa and will see them tomorrow morning and then usually has an extra special surprise for them the next morning since she missed everyone so much! So she always moves but sometimes isn’t there!
Sam says
I misplaced our elf and couldnt find him. Left a note to say he had forgotten a few things and had to go back. 1. He forgot to tidy his room. 2. He forgot to kiss his parents goodbye and 3. He forgot the kids surprise gift. He told them to give him a couple of days as he wasnt as quick as santa. (Just long enough for me to have a rummage and find Boingilingo) today he left a note with the gifts saying that he wasn’t allowed fun until his room was tidy and that they cant use their gifts and have fun with them until their room is tidy.