Here are some free printables for you to let your child know what the Elf reported the night before. Were they naughty or nice?  This is an easy way to Elf it up when you're feeling lazy.  You're welcome :)

For the other disorganized moms out there who forget to move the elf (or were too tired to get out of bed to once you remembered.

This is another idea you can use, one I like to call "blame the kids for touching the elf" (because s/he loses their magic when they are touched).  There are a few videos on You Tube about how to bring your elf back to life with Cinnamon.  Needless to say, our elf is a little brown from all the times we've reincarnated her!