Elf On The Shelf, an adorable way to keep the magic of Christmas alive? Or a menace to parent(s)?

Hannah_Alumni

Elf On The Shelf, an American concept, is a book written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter, Chanda Bell. Illustrated by Coë Steinwart, each book comes with an Elf doll. The story is that of a scout elf, who arrives in the home on December 1st and is sent by the North Pole to watch over everything. The book explains, by giving the Elf love and a name they receive their Christmas magic and, every night, can fly back to the North Pole to report everything, good and bad, to Santa. Each morning, the Elf is in a different place which creates a morning game of Hide and Seek. There is only one rule. The Elf mustn’t be touched, or they would lose their Christmas magic. The story ends on Christmas Day when the elf travels back to the North Pole, to stay with Santa until the following December 1st.

It's, in my opinion, a very cute concept. But not being a parent, I couldn’t imagine how much work and creativity would have to go into hiding the Elf every morning and trying to keep my involvement secret. I’ve seen many parents and social media influencers share what their elf gets up to, and I must admit, I roar with laughter at some of them. But because social media can be a source of negative influence on people’s mental health, I question whether the concept is becoming more of a competition.

• Is it too much for parents to take on during an already busy time? 
• Do you think it’s a way to keep the magic alive for the children?

What do you think?

janer1967

I think it's a great way to build up the excitement and fun for all the family 

However I don't get the concept of plastering it all over social media imo people di that to be in competition with each other 

Hannah_Alumni

I love when people create posts to share what they have done that year, or what they did the year before, to give some ideas, and have a giggle. But I agree, every year It seems to be an online competition. 

If you had an elf, what would you name them? 

Cher_Alumni

We have a little elf but he won't be doing different things everyday i) because my boy is too young to understand ii) to give mama a break   

Otherwise, I think it's a sweet new tradition that brings magic to a lot of kids mornings. Come back to me in a few years when I have to do something original everyday though and my answer might be different!

My elf would be called Ernesto. 

Hannah_Alumni

Haha @Cher_Scope have you already started planning what you will do each day?

I saw many parents last year but the elf in quarantine for two weeks!

I'm coming to find, there are not that many newer traditions that keep the magic alive, and ones that are, are technology based. I know the app to ring Santa has been very popular the past couple of years.

Why Ernesto? I'd call my Elf Buddy, mainly because of the Christmas film! 

Sandy_123

That's a thought I might get 1 tomorrow if I can find one. For grandkids, then they can take it home 

SueHeath

We have an elf at ours for the grand children, i will say our elf has no name and is not naughty ha ha 
My youngest grand daughter can be a little naughty so during the year we say our elf is invisible and still watching her. Many moons ago when i was young i can still remember my own Mom and Dad saying "santa's little helpers" are watching you and report back to Santa, another way of making us think about our actions when we were children.
It's a bit of fun and some thing my grand children expect to find when they visit, we just have to remember to hide him well ha ha x

Hannah_Alumni

Aww that would be lovely @Sandy_123, if you do, you'll have to let us know what they named the elf!  

@SueHeath Thats so lovely! As she gets a little older with the elf get cheekier? My parents also reminded me of Santa's helpers. What hiding spots have been the best ones so far? 

Sandy_123

I got one I'm going to put him in the tree with baubles on the floor

SueHeath

Ha ha ha they should come with warning signs @Sandy_123 - it becomes a big hide and seek in our house, i run out of hiding places ha ha x

Sandy_123

Lol I put him in the cereal box with his legs sticking out

L_Volunteer

Oh, all the wonderful tricks you lot are up to with your elves! Made me chuckle and smile 

Hannah_Alumni

I'm loving all the thoughts and ideas on this thread

Biblioklept said:

I love the idea of it but hate that it seems to be a competition as to who can do the wildest things rather than a sweet and fun tradition.

A lady on a FB group I'm in plastered ketchup all over her marble mantlepiece as yesterday's 'prank' and it's bleached and ruined the marble 

Oh no! 🙊 I bet that lady is regretting welcoming the elf now!

Sandy_123 said:

I got one I'm going to put him in the tree with baubles on the floor

I saw one where they hung the elf upside down off the tree using a piece of white ribbon, posed like Spiderman!

SueHeath said:

Ha ha ha they should come with warning signs @Sandy_123 - it becomes a big hide and seek in our house, i run out of hiding places ha ha x

Where have you hidden the elf before @SueHeath ?

Sandy_123 said:

Lol I put him in the cereal box with his legs sticking out

   

seabreeze

Ah ah the elf on the shelf..
I only heard of it because a friend of mine shared a post and I'm like what's that so naturally I googled...I think keeping Christmas alive for children is a good thing BUT I think more of the traditional way is better than how it is today..when I was small my parents did the stockings and filled with oranges, nuts, chocolate money, Christmas toy, socks, a mini board game, glitter and every thing that makes a mess...now adays a stocking has no fruit, nuts, but something's that cost the earth like a computer game, mini keyring that will turn into a robot or something...
Christmas morning was the morning to let rip with rules...paper and pen to write down who sent you a gift so you can write them a thank you letter...and off you go...one main gift and little other bits...anyway I'm moving off track...I think the elf thing is fun but when it comes to social media everyone follows the crowd..trying to think of funny ways to impress their friends...that then means the spirit of Christmas has become a challenge for best posed elf doing something rude that adults understand and not for the children...

durhamjaide2001

Hannah_Alumni

@seabreeze I do agree with you about the rude posing of the elf! I have seen a few on social media and I've wondered who it was for. I like the ones where they include other toys. I saw one where Elsa had frozen an elf in a block of ice

Aww you Christmas stockings sound brilliant! When I was a kid, we always got a DVD and a tube of sweets, so we didn't go downstairs too early in the morning. We were allowed to watch the new DVD lol.

Hannah_Alumni

I love this @durhamjaide2001! Which flavour was their favourite? 

durhamjaide2001 said:

durhamjaide2001

Don't know 

Luchia

Personally I find them super creepy and rather tacky but that’s a personal opinion 

L_Volunteer

I love the elf on the shelf! I particularly love people's stories regarding elf on the shelf - puts a smile on my face every day 

durhamjaide2001

I used to love them when I was younger ours is called Elf Bob and Snowflakes.