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What is Elf on the Shelf and should you participate?

The Elf on the Shelf is a festive family Christmas tradition that is becoming more popular every year. If you have children, you've probably heard of it, but in case you haven't, the concept is that Santa sends elves to the homes of children celebrating Christmas. These elves have magical powers and the special mission of flying to the North Pole every night to report to Santa on the behavior of the children in the household – specifically, whether they have been “naughty” or “good.”

Many parents and children enjoy incorporating their elf guest into their Christmas celebrations. However, the Elf on the Shelf tradition may not be right for every family. Below, you'll learn how Elf on the Shelf works and explore the potential pros and cons of bringing a Girl Scout elf home to your family this holiday season.

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Story of Elf on the Shelf

The Scout Elf tradition began with the popular children’s storybook The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition which was published in 2005. The book was written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell.

Since then, millions of households have brought their elf along from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve for an annual dose of holiday fun. In fact, it was Publisher: as one of the best-selling books of the last 25 years.

How Elf on the Shelf works

Starting the Elf on the Shelf tradition is easy. First, you purchase the elf doll, which can be personalized by gender, skin color, and eye color. Your chosen elf comes as a set of two items in a “The Elf on the Shelf” keepsake box. Inside the box, you'll find the hardback storybook and your elf.

Read the story

Reading the Elf on the Shelf book with your children is the key to the experience. The storybook explains everything you need to know about your elf and what you need to do to bring the story to life. Think of the story as a clever textbook for adults and an introduction to the elf's job for the children.

You can also find more detailed information on the company's Elf on the Shelf website, including additional details on the elf's backstory, as well as ideas on where to hide your elf, what to make with your elf, and even songs to sing with your elf.

Give your elf a name

A fun part of the tradition is that each family gets to name their own elf. At the end of each storybook is a full-page certificate that you can personalize with your family's name, the date, and your elf's name to celebrate the start of your Elf on the Shelf tradition. After you name your elf, visit the Elf on the Shelf website to register him or her. Your child will then receive a special message from Santa.

Hide your elf

The central element of this tradition is that every night your elf flies to the North Pole to tell Santa if your children have been naughty or good. Each morning the elf chooses a new vantage point from which to keep an eye on the children. On the night before Christmas the elf flies off one last time to spend the year with Santa until he shows up again next season.

To bring the story to life, a parent hides the elf in a new place each night. The children wake up each morning and search the house to see where the elf has reappeared – so it becomes a daily Christmas game of hide-and-seek with a sneaky elf.

Rules for “Elf on the Shelf”

The golden rule of Elf on the Shelf is that the children are not allowed to touch the elf. Otherwise, there are no other rules to follow. The children are encouraged to talk to the elf, but not to actively play with him – the idea is that the elf only moves and talks when the children are sleeping. The intention is to maintain the mystery and discourage the children from moving him and hiding him themselves, which could dampen the myth (and possibly even destroy their belief in Santa).

For the magic of Elf on the Shelf to work, the adults in the household must commit to moving the elf every night. Parents must also assess how hard it is to find a hiding place for the elf. It shouldn't be so easy that the child discovers it right away, but also not so hard that a frustrated preschooler bursts into tears. In the beginning, parents may need to remind children to look for their elf friend (and possibly show them the right way) until the routine is established.

Is Elf on the Shelf right for your family?

Many families find that Elf on the Shelf is a fun way to start the day and get everyone in the holiday spirit. However, like many decisions in parenting, there is no right answer as to whether or not the Elf on the Shelf tradition is right for your family.

Advantages and disadvantages of Elf on the Shelf at a glance
Per Disadvantages
Family traditions such as “Elf on the Shelf” can strengthen family cohesion. Adults must hide the elf every night, which can prove stressful, especially year after year.
Children look forward to the return of their elf every year. Children are not allowed to touch or play with the elf, which can be challenging for some children.
The morning search for the elf is a fun game for children (and adults). Some families may not like the idea of ​​the elf spying on their children and reporting their behavior to Santa.
Some parents enjoy being creative and coming up with unique scenarios and hiding places for their elf. The elf is top heavy and has felt legs, which can make positioning difficult. Additionally, he is so fragile that he may not be the right choice for very young children.

Possible benefits

The Elf on the Shelf concept offers a fun way for children to interact with Santa (and an elf, of course). For many families, this tradition builds anticipation for the holiday between Thanksgiving and Christmas and provides a creative way for parents and children to play hide-and-seek together for several weeks. Additionally, many parents welcome a screen-free holiday activity that gets their children moving, and some parents also use the elf as an excuse to teach their children kindness, respect, household rules, and acceptable behavior.

Many parents also enjoy the creative challenge of coming up with unique places and situations to find their elf in. Children often love discovering their elf doing some holiday shenanigans, such as hiding in the snack drawer.

Possible disadvantages

For some parents, however, the pressure and time it takes to come up with increasingly elaborate scenarios for their elf (and the necessary cleanup) seems like just another holiday chore rather than holiday fun. For other parents, having to remember to hide the elf every night is too much.

While the company's website offers plenty of explanations you can tell your children when they find the elf in the same spot – such as that the elf was testing the children's powers of observation, that it is their favorite spot, or that they were tired – the responsibility of keeping the game alive still lies with adults.

Some parents don't like the idea of ​​a tradition that sends the message to their children that they are being spied on. Others don't like the message that children should behave because they are being watched or given gifts. Another common complaint is why the toys are not allowed to be played with. Also, some children will certainly want to touch them, which could lead to conflict or misunderstanding.

Funny ideas for Elf on the Shelf

If you decide to start this holiday tradition, you can choose The Elf on the Shelf Follow the book's guidelines closely, or adapt the story to suit your family's preferences. For example, in some households, the family elf gets up to silly mischief every night, such as taking a bubble bath with marshmallows in the sink, playing dress-up with doll clothes, reaching into the cookie jar, or making snow angels out of flour on the kitchen table.

You can build on the story and make the tradition your own. Here are some more ideas for making the Elf on the Shelf tradition the most fun:

  • After you pack your elf away on Christmas Eve, set out a small gift from your elf for your children. It doesn't have to be a big gift. Candy canes, a book, a Christmas card with the date on it, or another small gift can become part of your family tradition.
  • Search for “Elf on the Shelf” ideas on Google or Pinterest and you will find many more tips on how to make your elf’s stay unforgettable for your children.
  • In 2010 An elf story: The elf on the shelf, a 30-minute animated TV special that aired. Watch the show with your family every year and read the storybook to bring the fun of Elf to life for your children.

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