Why should kids get all the fun with the newest holiday tradition? Elf on the Shelf is an activity where people place a small elf doll in a different spot each day in December. So, each morning, place your elf somewhere for your residents to find. The first resident who finds it wins and gets a daily prize. To keep it fair, a resident can only win once and they could help recreation staff hide it the next day. This game could also be played in teams.