Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Jokes for Kids

Grab this Free Elf on the Shelf Jokes Printable with 24 funny jokes your scout elf can leave each night. Kids laugh, and you skip the late-night idea scramble! Plus, find even more easy Elf on the Shelf ideas here.

December nights get busy, and that little elf still needs something to do! This Elf on the Shelf Jokes Printable gives your scout elf 24 silly jokes to share, one for every night until Christmas. It’s quick, it’s cute, and it gets the whole family giggling. 🎄

What Is This Free Printable?

This free printable includes 24 elf jokes for kids on easy cut-apart cards. Each card has a joke and a punchline that kids can read alone or with a grown-up. You simply print the page, cut out the cards, and let your elf deliver one each night in December. Think of it as a Christmas countdown with way more giggles. Here’s a sneak peek: Why did the elf cross the road? To get to the other shelf! 😂

Why You’ll Love This Idea

Let’s be honest. By mid-December, my brain feels like a box of tangled Christmas lights. Some nights I remember the elf at 11:45 p.m. and just stare off into space, you know? These cards take the guesswork out of it. Grab a card, prop it next to your elf, and head to bed. Done!

Besides saving your sanity, these jokes create real moments with your kids. My two race downstairs each morning to see where the elf landed. Now they also race to read the joke out loud, and then they groan at the punchline together. Those little giggles over breakfast feel like the best part of the season. Plus, the jokes sneak in some reading practice without anyone noticing! 📚

How to Use Your Elf on the Shelf Jokes Printable

Getting started takes about five minutes. First, download the free printable at the end of the post and print it on white cardstock. Cardstock holds up better than regular paper, especially around little hands and maple syrup. 🥞

Next, cut out the cards along the lines. A paper trimmer makes this super fast, but scissors work fine too. After that, store the cards in an envelope or small box near your elf’s favorite hiding spot.

Finally, pull out one card each night and set it with your elf. You can tuck it in his arms, lean it against a cookie, or tape it to the bathroom mirror. Your kids will find it in the morning and start the day with a laugh.

Fun Ways to Use the Elf Jokes

These cards work for so much more than a nightly note. In fact, they fit right into lots of easy Elf on the Shelf ideas. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Elf arrival day: Have your scout elf show up with a joke card and a welcome note. It sets a silly tone for the whole season.
• Lunch box surprise: Slip a card into your child’s lunch box. Kids love sharing lunch box jokes with friends at the table.
• Breakfast setup: Pose your elf with a mini stack of pancakes and a joke card. It makes a sleepy morning a lot more fun.
• Car ride giggles: Keep a few cards in the glove box for holiday errands. Kids can take turns reading Christmas jokes to the whole car.
• Advent calendar add-in: Tuck a card into each pocket of your advent calendar. Your kids get a treat and a giggle at once.
• Elf Comedy Show: Set up the elf by a microphone and add a comedy show sign. Then lay out all the jokes for everyone to read.

Variations to Try

Want to switch things up? Try one of these ideas to keep the fun fresh all month long. Each one takes just a few extra minutes.

Joke Scavenger Hunt

Hide the punchline somewhere else in the house. Leave the joke with your elf and add a clue to where the answer is hidden. Kids will run around searching, and you get a few quiet minutes to eat your breakfast.

Classroom Elf Fun

Teachers, these cards work great for a classroom elf too! Read one joke during morning meeting and let students guess the punchline. It turns into a fun warm-up that gets everyone ready to learn.

Make Your Own Jokes

Older kids can write their own elf jokes on blank cards. Then the elf can “trade” jokes with them each night. This gives your kids a creative outlet and keeps them excited about the elf’s next move.

Common Questions About Elf on the Shelf Jokes

When should I start giving the jokes?

Most families start elf setups on December 1st, since the printable includes 24 cards. That gives you one joke every night until Christmas Eve. However, you can start whenever your elf arrives and simply mix and match. Use one night or muliple.

What if I forget to move the elf?

Hey, it happens to all of us! Just have the elf leave two jokes the next night with a note saying he got stuck in a snowdrift. Kids usually think a double joke night is even better. 😉

Are these jokes good for little kids?

Yes! Every joke is kid-friendly and simple enough for preschoolers to understand. Younger kids may need help reading, but they still love hearing the punchlines. Older siblings often jump in and read them aloud.

Can I print more than one copy?

Absolutely! Print as many copies as you need for your family or classroom. Please send friends to this post instead of sharing the file directly, though.

My Favorite Printable Supplies:

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• Printer: I love my HP Home Printer, it prints beautifully everytime no matter what projects I am working on.
• Paper: Depending on the durability you want with your printables, consider printing on white card stock or high quality paper.
• Laminator: For printables you are planning to use over and over again, simply laminate and use dry erase markers to mark up the printables.
• Paper Cutter: I love my CARL Paper Cutter. It makes trimming and cutting out printables a breeze.
• Sticker Paper: When printing tags or other free printables, sticker paper can make it easy to attach to gifts, boxes, or to make your own stickers.
• Cutting Supplies: You’ll want a great pair of paper cutting scissors and I love using an Xacto Knife for intricate details.
• Pens and Coloring Supplies: Here are some of my favorite writing tools for pencils and pens. Coloring supplies that I love to use in my own home: colored pencils, crayons, markers for adults, and markers for kids.

Download the Elf on the Shelf Jokes Here

Please remember my printables are free for classroom use or personal use only. You may not sell or distribute the printable or digital file. If you wish to share the digital files, please refer friends to the link of this blog post where they can sign up to receive the free printable directly in their inbox.

Be sure to check your printer settings before printing, I generally make sure that the scale to fit option is selected to make sure all of the printables fit on the page.

To ensure emails for printables are received in your inbox add hello@thebensonstreet.com to your email contacts. Also check your promotions, updates, spam, junk or other folders if you do not see the email in inbox. Also for educators, consider using your personal email as many school districts block the emails or downloading of files.

Let the Giggles Begin!

This Elf on the Shelf Jokes Printable makes busy December nights a little easier and a lot more fun. Your elf gets a fresh idea every night, and your kids get a reason to giggle before breakfast. That’s a holiday win in my book! 🎄

Don’t forget to save this post to your Christmas Pinterest board so you can find it again next year. And if you love easy holiday printables like this one, sign up for my email list. I’ll send fun seasonal ideas straight to your inbox, so you’re never stuck staring at the shelf at 11:45 p.m. again! 💌

More Elf on the Shelf Ideas:

• Elf Welcome Back Letter
• Elf Late Arrival Letter
• Elf Touched Letter
• Elf Christmas Eve Letter
• Elf on the Shelf Word Search Printable
• Elf on the Shelf Word Scramble Printable
• 25 Days of Easy Elf Setups with Printable Cards
• Elf Sized Breakfast Props
• Elf Sized Mailbox and Letters
• Elf Sized Pirate Props and Treasure Scavenger Hunt
• Taylor Swift Eras tour Elf Sized Props and Guess the Song Game
• Harry Potter Elf Sized Props and Word Search
• Detective Kit Props and Decoder with Clues
• Magician Set Props
• Art Studio Props with Drawing Prompts
• Elf Shopping Packages Props
• Elf Exercise Equipment and Challenge Cards
• Kpop Demon Hunters Props
• 67 Elf Printable Props
• Jail Props and Mugshot Signs
• Beach Day Elf Props
• Football Field Props
• Squishy Toy Props (Butter, Cube, and Dumpling)
• Elf Sign Posts (Perfect for a North Pole Village)
• Elf on the Shelf Jokes
• Check back again more coming soon!

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