If your family is getting ready to welcome back the Elf on the Shelf for the holidays, we have some fun and easy inspiration. Elves typically arrive sometime after Thanksgiving and return to the North Pole on Christmas Day, giving families about a month to fill with hilarious Elf on the Shelf ideas.

Like any good house guest, your elf should be able to keep mischievous acts mostly mess-free and easy to set up. We've put together a list of 50 simple but impressive elf antics, including funny Elf on the Shelf ideas, easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, and last-minute Elf on the Shelf ideas for hectic mornings. Many of these activities can easily be worked into your existing or holiday schedules while requiring few extra props.

Find more Christmas activities and crafts for kids, plus other fun things to do this season, in our Christmas and Holiday Fun Guide.

Toys For Tots, USPS Operation Santa, and many other organizations collect new toys every holiday season to deliver to kids in need throughout New Jersey. Read on for ways your family can donate toys in NJ and spread some holiday cheer.

And be sure to check out other feel-good holiday ideas, like our holiday and Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities for families, in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in New Jersey.

If you're looking for ways to give back this holiday season, consider donating to Toys for Tots or one of these other locations where you can donate toys in NYC. After all, during this jolly season, what brings more joy to children and families than celebrating Christmas morning with presents under the tree? Unfortunately, many local families need support to provide toys for their children.

If you have the means, it's a wonderful gesture to spread cheer by donating new toys to local charities. We’ve found multiple charities that allow families to donate toys in NYC. From the perennially popular Toys for Tots to other local charities, these organizations and their patrons can use your support. If you're struggling to put toys under your own tree, we've also noted how to request toys where possible.

Remember that most of these locations accept new toy donations. If you’re looking for places to donate gently used clothes and other items, we’ve got those, too. Plus find tons more picks to make your holiday season extra merry in our New York City Kids Guide to Christmas and the Holidays.

Nonprofits like Toys for Tots offer donation spots throughout Long Island where you can lend a hand to families that are struggling to provide toys for their children. Read on for various opportunities to give back by making donations this holiday season. 

 Be sure to also check out our rundown of holiday and Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities on Long Island and many other seasonal ideas in our Holiday Guide. 

The best outdoor ice skating rinks in Connecticut are opening, so don't let winter weather keep you stuck inside! Experience an old-fashioned winter tradition when you lace up your skates and jump on the ice. We may complain when the thermometer drops, but that is also the perfect time to get onto a frozen pond or find an outdoor ice rink and glide away on the ice (if you can stay upright that is). We've rounded up our favorite spots for kids and families to enjoy the best outdoor ice skating rinks in Connecticut.

Looking for more fun outdoor winter activities? Explore our list of 30 Winter Activities in Connecticut with Kids or our jamp-packed winter activities guide.

Take pictures with Santa as Christmas approaches and usher in this magical season with great Santa photos! Dress the kids in holiday outfits as they hand-deliver their wish list to Santa himself. Capture these adorable moments with Santa pictures...even Fido can get in on the fun! And keep the holiday fun going at mealtime with a fun breakfast with Santa (or even tea time)!

Here's a list of places to get pictures with Santa in Atlanta, ranging from tree lightings and holiday festivals to breakfasts and malls. Even if reservations aren't necessary for some Santa photo spots, reserve time anyway to avoid long lines and cranky kids.

The Christmas season is hardly complete without pictures with Santa, and Westchester and the Hudson Valley offer plenty of fun ways to meet the man in red. Our roundup below includes events and opportunities for Santa photos at malls in the area. 

For more holiday fun, check out our Holiday Fun Guide, especially our roundup of must-do holiday experiences for Westchester kids.

Want to take pictures with Santa this holiday season? Check out our roundup of the best spots for your kids to pose for pictures with Santa on Long Island. 

Santa has the magical ability to be in several places at once, so we've rounded up 12 Long Island venues where old St. Nick is holding court regularly and posing for pictures this holiday season. It's time to get out your most festive Christmas sweater and plan a date to share your wish list and snap photos with Santa on Long Island.

For more seasonal adventures, check out our roundup of the top holiday and Christmas events in the region, and bookmark our Holiday Fun Guide for all the can't-miss seasonal happenings.