If you’re looking for a hilarious Elf on the Shelf idea that keeps the kids busy and giggly for ages, this little duck hunt is absolutely brilliant. One of the clever moms in the Elf facebook group, Kelly Vayette, shared this idea and it instantly became a favourite.
Tiny ducks, a mischievous elf, and a challenge that will have your kids searching every corner of the house. It’s fun, simple to set up, and gives you just enough time to enjoy a quiet coffee while the kids run around searching.
Kelly originally shared this idea in the Your Elf Ideas group, saying:
“Out elf accidentally let 100 tiny ducks loose in the house. The kids had to find them all so they could go back to the North Pole.
There were two chef’s kiss moments:
- I held onto three in my pocket to elongate the game and enjoyed my coffee hot.
- I re-hid them all while the kids were out and left a note from our elf saying they got out again because they didn’t contain them well enough.
And yes, I held onto extra ducks during round two too because some people just like to watch the world burn.”
It’s the perfect combination of chaos and magic, and the kids absolutely love it.
How to Set Up the Elf Treasure Hunt with Mini Ducks
Setting this up is incredibly simple. You’ll need a handful of tiny toy ducks, but you can also use any small resin animals you already have at home. Mini frogs, dinosaurs, puppies, Christmas characters, or even rainbow unicorns all work perfectly. The charm of this idea is the tiny size of the objects and the thrill of the hunt.
Place your elf somewhere visible and set up a little “scene” like Kelly did, with an elf door, a few props, and a small note. Then hide the ducks around the house before the kids wake up. Tuck a few into easy places for younger children, and hide others in trickier spots for the older ones.
Leave a tiny note from the elf saying something like, “Oh no! All my ducks got loose! Can you find all 100?” or adjust the number to whatever you’re using. The counting aspect also adds a little learning boost, as kids keep track of how many they’ve found and how many are still missing.
If you want to stretch the fun even further, you can do a second round like Kelly did. Re-hide the ducks again while the kids are out of the room and leave a cheeky message from the elf saying they escaped again. It’s guaranteed laughter.
This Elf on the Shelf duck hunt works brilliantly as a little scavenger hunt for the kids. It’s amazing how something as simple as hiding tiny ducks or resin animals around the house turns into a full elf scavenger hunt without any extra effort from you. Kids love the challenge, and it gives them that magical feeling of going on a proper Christmas search first thing in the morning.
The printable 100-square grid fits perfectly with this idea, because it becomes a free printable way for the kids to track how many ducks they’ve found during the scavenger hunt. Instead of just collecting them in a pile, they can place each duck onto a square as they search. It turns the elf scavenger activity into something a bit more structured, and it gives younger children a simple way to count along and stay involved.
Practicing math as they enjoy Christmas magic – win win!
If you want to switch things up in future years, you can still use this same setup with different small items. Mini candy pieces, tiny Christmas crafts, or other small toys all work well for an elf scavenger version of this game. We have a 2nd page in the printable pdf which says items instead of ducks so you can use it with anything.
The main idea stays the same: your scout elf let something loose, and now the kids have to find it. It’s an easy twist that still delivers all the fun without needing new elf on the shelf ideas every single day.
What makes this idea especially fun is how flexible it is. Whether your scout elves prefer a calm morning or a chaotic one, this little hunt works with either mood. You decide how many items to hide and how tricky the hiding spots should be. It’s a sweet, simple shelf activity that feels like a gift for the kids without adding pressure for you, and it keeps the elf magic alive throughout the holiday season.
Download the 100 Square Printable PDF
To make this even more fun and easy, I’ve created a printable 100-square grid that you can use for counting the ducks as your kids find them. It helps keep track of the hunt and adds a nice little maths challenge into the day.
You can download the printable using the link below and print it out for your Elf setup this year.
Terms of use: Our printable elf on the shelf scavenger hunt 100 square is free for personal use and classroom use.
Thank you so much to Kelly for allowing us to feature this adorable elf idea. We absolutely love sharing creative setups from clever moms who bring so much fun and magic into their homes. Featuring real ideas from real families is one of our favourite parts of the season, and we’re always grateful when moms are happy for us to highlight the little touches that make their elf traditions so special.
More Elf on the Shelf Ideas
If you enjoyed the elf on the shelf hunt and you’re looking for even more simple, funny, and magical Elf ideas to keep the excitement going throughout December, I have lots of inspiration for you. From easy setups to creative scenes, and even elf crafts there’s something for every day.
- 80 Simple Elf On The Shelf Ideas For Toddlers
- Naughty Elf on the Shelf Ideas That Will Make the Whole Family Laugh
- Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Christmas Eve Goodbye Letters
- Welcome Your Elf on the Shelf with These Free Printable Introduction Letters
- Elf On The Shelf Coloring Pages
- What’s Your Christmas Elf Name Generator Printable
- Free Printable Elf Coloring Jigsaw Puzzle for Kids
- Christmas Elf Craft
- Cut and Paste Elf Printable Template For Kids
If you enjoyed this idea, please share this blog post with friends or in your favourite Elf groups. It really helps us grow and lets more families enjoy the magic too.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.