Donut Shop Setup
How it's done
Elf operates a donut stand made with Cheerios decorated with frosting and sprinkles.
Should be fine around pets as long as you place it out of reach.
Why this works
The kitchen is the first room most kids visit in the morning — for cereal, for milk, for the toaster. An elf scene staged here has the highest odds of being the first thing your child spots and shouts about. Difficulty 4 is an ambitious scene that rewards the extra effort — the kind of moment kids remember years later.
If it doesn't go to plan
If the elf ends up too well-hidden and the kids can't find it, nudge them with a vague hint ("Looks like our elf went somewhere cozy") — the discovery is the point.
Credit: This idea comes from The Soccer Mom Blog . Visit the original post for more ideas and photos.
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