Cutest Police Elf on the Shelf Outfit Ideas
Making the Holidays Magical for Your Kids Even When Your Partner Works Shift Work
Before we dive in: grab my free 3 Keys to Knowing He’s Got Your Back training so you and your partner can stay connected as a team through busy holiday shifts.
When you are a police, fire, or military family, December often means working holiday shifts, overtime, or late-night reports while you hold down the holiday magic at home. Having fun Independent Daily Routines with our boys (like moving our police Elf on the Shelf each night and taking him along to our snow cabin in Shaver Lake), paired with Gentle Observation, Assertive Trauma Informed Communication, and Consistent Quality Time Together, keeps the holidays joyful instead of stressful.
I had a fear to start Elf on the Shelf, but honestly it was such a blast. As a police wife and mom of two boys ages 5 and 7 this past year. My 5 year old would check to see where our Elf went each morning when he woke up. He did not care where the Elf was as long as it moved. Our Elf even followed us all the way to our cabin in Shaver Lake for a pre-Christmas snow vacation. It was so fun integrating police uniforms into our Elf fun as a police family. I truly hope you enjoy these ideas and check out a new book I wrote for children of police officers,
I found two Elf on the Shelf police uniforms on Etsy that I know you will love linked below along with photos. Please note that the links below are affiliate links, and I may make a commission from them.
#1 Elf on the Shelf Police Outfit Ideas
As a Los Angeles-based police family, our police elf just had to do a police chase. Though the car chases don’t happen as frequently as they used to, this is classic Los Angeles law enforcement. Use the Deputy Police Elf on the Shelf Costume, a toy police car, Christmas themed troll or other character, and you will be ready for this fun scene. Beware that the children may take the money that the police elf left. Mine did! This made me laugh. I’m not sure why I expected them to just leave the money. Silly me!
#2 Police Elf on the Shelf Idea
If your officer is in SWAT, they will just adore this SWAT vest. I paired it boots I stole from a vintage army ken doll we had lying around the house in a toy bin to ensure the Elf was ready for action. This SWAT Elf on the Shelf ready in his vest had cleared the house with a unicorn Nerf gun the previous night. We are so thankful that he kept us safe.
#3 Police Elf on the Shelf Idea
We all know that report writing is a huge part of the job and keeps our officers working late to complete those reports. Report writing as SWAT elf can be such a drag. Our police elf on the shelf just likes to mark everyone as nice so he can go home on time!
#4 Police Elf on the Shelf Idea
This guy in a Deputy elf outfit ensured our presents were safe all night. This year, he will have to protect them from our new puppy! You can just call this guy Deputy Present Protector. No sneaking or he will tell Santa!
#5 Elf on the Shelf Hostage Idea
Our army guys caught the Elf trying to sneak around the house. They wrapped him up and are holding his hostage until you assess the situation.
Boots by the Door: A Book for Police Kids
As a police wife and mom of two boys, I wrote this book, Boots by the Door, and it was illustrated by another police wife, Michelle Johnson. The story is told from the perspective of a son of a police officer who wakes up and finds his dad’s boots near the door. He gets excited, because his dad is home from work. The boy and his brother try on their dad’s boots and go through emotions of seeing their dad when he wakes up to realizing that he has to go to work that day. Their mom comforts them and talks about all the fun things they will do that day. We think it would be the perfect gift that your police Elf could leave for your kiddos this Christmas.
I hope you enjoyed these Elf on the Shelf Ideas. For more Christmas related police blogs, check out:
Picture this:
Even when he has to work a holiday shift or stay late writing reports, your Independent Daily Routines keep Christmas morning and Elf traditions fun and stress-free for you and the kids.
You use Gentle Observation when he walks in tired from a busy December shift, and he jumps right into the holiday fun with you and the kids.
You use Assertive Trauma Informed Communication to plan holiday traditions and family events around shift work without resentment.
Whether you celebrate on December 25th or on his next day off, you protect Consistent Quality Time Together as a family.
Your kids grow up proud of their police, fire, or military family and seeing their parents on the same team.
Ready to feel like a true team through the holidays and every season of shift work? Start with my free 3 Keys to Knowing He’s Got Your Back training.