Ever wondered why your Elf on the Shelf did not move? Here are 10 facts for parents to read to kids to explain why the elf didn’t move.
Why Your Elf on the Shelf Did Not Move
Wonder why your Elf didn’t move? Here are some reasons why!
Since our Elf on the Shelf Peter did not move a few nights ago, we’ve been getting many questions from our daughter as to why he did not move. We had no idea why he would do this, because he’s usually so active, something must be wrong!
After doing some research, we found a few articles for parents, but none were facts about the elf for kids as to what might be wrong.
Don’t worry! As we did more research, we found many articles by North Pole elves themselves with reasons as to why they might not move from their spot!
In this article, we condensed them down to the top 10 reasons your elf didn’t move for our kids and shared them with you today!
When your Elf on the Shelf doesn’t move, please share this article with your kids for them to read! Hopefully, they can find the reason their elf didn’t move.
Top 10 Reasons Why Your Elf on the Shelf Did Not Move
1. There is too much movement in your home.
Sleepwalking, people getting out of bed to use the restroom, or getting up to get a drink of water can scare an elf from leaving their spot.
2. It’s too warm in your house.
Elves live in the North Pole where the temperature is very cold. Often an elf will lose their magic overnight when the temperature gets too warm, or they use up too much energy making something for you.
Solution:
To make sure your elf has enough magic to leave the next night, gently pick him up with kitchen tongs and place him in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes. This should restore your elf’s magic.
You can see our elf is very active at night making things like an Elf Kissing Booth! No wonder they get hot.
3. An elf does not want to report a child’s bad behavior to Santa.
Instead of reporting naughty behavior, they will stay in their spot for a few days until there is something nice to report to Santa. If you want your elf to move, you better be good!
4. Someone touched your Elf.
In this case, it’s usually a sibling or pet that touches the elf. Placing an elf in the cold helps restore their magic. See reason #2.
If this does not restore Elf magic fully, order some Elf Magic Dust as soon as possible!
5. Your elf was not allowed to leave your home.
There are specific days at the North Pole that Santa requests no elves are allowed.
These are the days Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are decorating for the Elf Appreciation Party. They always want this to be a surprise for all elves, so they require that you stay in your home on these evenings.
6. Bad Weather
The weather could prevent your elf from traveling to the North Pole. If it is too cloudy, raining, snowing or the moon is not bright enough to see well, Santa will not allow elves to travel as it can be very unsafe.
7. Your Elf is Tired
Sometimes an elf gets tired depending on what they did the night before. If your elf did not move, they could have been resting to gear up for something big another night.
Once, my friend’s elf wrapped their Christmas tree and entire living room with wrapping paper! You can see how the next day, he would be very tired.
8. Your Elf is Sick
Sometimes an elf does not feel well and will stay in one spot for a while. They will move when they feel well enough.
Place any kind of sweet treat such as cookies, candy or marshmallows next to him to help him feel better. Maple syrup is also a great medicine for elves.
9. It’s a Trick
Your elf might have moved and returned to the same spot to trick you! Kids often don’t think to look in the same spot. This is a well-known trick that elves like to do.
10. Your Elf Fell Asleep
Often an elf will fall asleep waiting for children to go to bed. Children must go to bed on time to ensure an Elf can leave for the North Pole on time.
Now that the mystery is solved of why your elf didn’t move, please share this article with your friends and family to let them know!
Find our favorite elf ideas in The North Pole Elf Shop!
Originally published December 21, 2014 updated December 2024
Merry Christmas to you too Theodor are you the one who made the top ten reasons why your elf did not move my names Tabitha and i am eight years old i had some very serious trouble with my elf her name is kitty-booboo she wouldn’t move for a week and i never found out why my mom always says that the only way people can cure elves is to suround them with cinnimon. is that true?
Thanks! I put them In the fridge and It worked!!
Merry Christmas Guys.
3 elfes ya?l food bouta b gone.
Cause you is not sleep sunight
30-45 min Alisha read the article
Yeah, 30-45 min or fridge will work
Um, Good question
Thanks so much!!!
You have to use tongs or something else to pick them up. If you don’t have tongs, try two spoons.
So, How long do you stick your elf in the freezer? My Brother keeps touching them! Plus they weren’t moving the day we got them. Neither after that. Any Help?
So, How long do you stick your elf in the freezer? We have 2 elves. My Brother keeps touching them! Plus they weren’t moving the day we got them. Neither after that. Any Help?
This is absolutely AMAZING!!!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this article! My boys are 6 and 2 so my 6 year old believes (like most of the world nowadays) google will help with anything! Though we are still learning to read..Mommy now has ALL THE ANSWERS!!! 🙂 This is our first year with our elf Tom so Mommy is still learning the rules and regulations of Elf’s! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!’
I hope he has moved now.
My elf didn’t not move I cant find it though its like its gone we looked everywhere.
wow i read this to my kids they feel much better jermy did not move last night thanks so much
I have no idea, but I am going to find out what happened.
Thank you SO much. We were so worried when Louis did my move last night. Phew!
My elf moved but whent back to the same place
My elf did not move because there was bad weather thanks for letting me know!!
Cinnamon is a great solution to any touched elves!
I would of never thought of these ideas.Thank you!
oh my elf on the shelf did not move tho when i was in school i got up and when in her spot then she move now she not moving anymore
My daughter was always touching it but when i was reading number 4 i did it and it worked
What ya mean Kayla?
wow my elf never moved for a long time and now she did. she lost her magic (By my brother) and i was so mad]
and i got mad lol and got its magic back
OK ONE CLAM DOWN AND TWO CLAM DOWN AND THREE CLAM DOWN
!MYELVESLOVECOOKIES??!
Cinnamon will do the trick!
No wonder my elves wouldn’t move they were sick so I fed them marshmallows and they felt better!!!!
My elf showed up and didn’t move i found this and realised he was sick so I gave him lots of sweeties my mummy let me do this I am 5 and helped me spell it all thank you for fixing our elves snowbell jingles and snowflake sparkles
WELL AT FIRST I’M 10 AND I WAS SCARED BECAUSE MY ELF WAS NOT MOVING AND I LOOKED FOR SOLUTIONS TO CURE HER AND I FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS SICK AND SO I GAVE HER A MARSHMALLOW AND SHE MOVED AND SHE FELT BETTER NOW THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Good job now I will know why my elf is not moving and if it is sick I will feed it maple syrup to make it feel better and I will know what to do if my elf has been touched and his magic has run out I will stick him in the freezer for a minute to make his magic come back then I will get a cloth and some rubber gloves to bring him out
I think they will be fine
Happy to help!
Thank you for this. Last year we struggled to figure out why sometimes our elf didn’t move. We came up with a theory that every member of the household had to find him in his current spot before he would move to another… but some of these seem much more likely =)
The elf will be just fine after coming out of the freezer. No need to turn down the heat.
Maybe you will know this. Hello my names michele and I’m 12 years old and maybe you might know. Once you put your elf in the freezer for the time they give you do you have to turn down the heat after wards? Or will they be fine
thank very muxh cause im only 11 and i was scared why my elf on the shelf was not moving but now it is thank you very mush
Thank you so much I tried most of the souloutions and I found out mine was sick I don’t have any lollies but now I am of to the shop ?
Hey I did that once
You’re very welcome. Lots of important research went into this to help parents explain the real facts to kids. Happy to help!
Yay! Now she knows why! Our elf hasn’t moved in a while either. I think he’s really tired from his last trip to the North Pole.
The freezer will do the trick!!
Thank Thank you so much ? cristal the elf had. It moved in 2 days and my daughter did not understand why this was , my husband found your article and it was a life saver !!! Once she gets home from school she’ll plans on putting cristal in freezer … once again thank you
You saved my butt this morning! My daughter is on “the edge of disbelief” -her words- and when the elf didn’t move last night, I thought it was all over. Bad mom. Luckily I came across your article and she was able to read it to herself. Thank you for helping me keep the spirit alive!
I absolutely love this! I’m holding on to it just Incase our elf doesn’t move. Thanks for all the research you’ve done