The Elf on the Shelf

**BlackCat** · November 15th, 2012, 03:34 PM

Ive seen a few pins on pinterest about this and it pipped my curiosity. Has anyone done this or considering doing it? Im not certain I like the idea of using it as a behaviour modification for Christmas time moreso a fun family activity of finding the elf. Im also not certain that I want to spend $36 plus on it lol. But still... interested to know if anyone does this...

**nothing2lose** · November 15th, 2012, 03:37 PM

No, but my mum spent half my childhood ringing Father Christmas to tell him I was being naughty so he might want to think about not visiting me that year

**~TT40~** · November 15th, 2012, 03:40 PM

so I went and googled, and went to the offical website and still have no idea what it is!! please explain =)

**Savannah12** · November 15th, 2012, 03:46 PM

he Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition is an activity the entire family will enjoy. Based on the tradition Carol Aebersold began with her family in the 1970s, this cleverly rhymed children's book explains that Santa knows who is naughty and/or nice because he sends a scout elf to every home. During the holiday season, the elf watches children by day and reports to Santa each night. When children awake, the elf has returned from the North Pole and can be found hiding in a different location. This activity allows The Elf on the Shelf to become a delightful hide-and-seek game.

**Heaven** · November 15th, 2012, 03:55 PM

I saw a blog where someone did it (google 'oh my stars' and it's about the 5th one down) and it looked super cute. I'm not a fan of the whole spying to see how naughty the kids are though. There is another one called 'The Christmas Angel' which I like better, it is about the Nativity though. We do an advent calendar with activities every day here to teach the girls about Christmas.

**Tinks** · November 15th, 2012, 03:57 PM

I think it's so cute, I wish I knew about it when my kids were younger.

**~TT40~** · November 15th, 2012, 04:10 PM

but why do you need to register it and what not...would just a plastic elf that sits there "watch" the kids, if it does report back how does it know if you are naughty or nice??

**TeniBear** · November 15th, 2012, 04:13 PM

I love the idea of the elf reporting back to Santa every night, then hiding somewhere different in the morning, but I think I'd say the reporting back is just so Santa knows he's choosing/making the right presents. I never liked the idea of Santa judging me on only my December behaviour

I saw a blog that said their elf is often found doing naughty things, like making a mess, so the kids are encouraged to talk to him about why the behaviour isn't acceptable. I thought that was an interesting way to make them think about how their own behaviour affects the family.

A different one, I didn't agree with. The kids are NOT allowed to touch the elf (I think that's the official story too) so when this woman's daughter accidentally touched it, it was packed away, and the child was told he was in elf hospital because her touch had stripped his magic and made him too weak to make it back to Santa. She was reminded a few times that it was her fault, and he came back a few days later with a note from Santa warning her it shouldn't happen again. I thought all that was unnecessarily cruel.

**Phteven** · November 15th, 2012, 05:12 PM

No eves here but Santa sometimes leaves a potato instead of a present if you have done something a bit anti-social.
I gave my Dad a few potatoes last time he was in Australia for Christmas. Then I had to beg for them back to make a potato salad

**BlackCat** · November 15th, 2012, 05:43 PM

No eves here but Santa sometimes leaves a potato instead of a present if you have done something a bit anti-social.
I gave my Dad a few potatoes last time he was in Australia for Christmas. Then I had to beg for them back to make a potato salad

**OceanPrincess** · November 15th, 2012, 08:13 PM

I saw a blog where someone did it (google 'oh my stars' and it's about the 5th one down) and it looked super cute. I'm not a fan of the whole spying to see how naughty the kids are though. There is another one called 'The Christmas Angel' which I like better, it is about the Nativity though. We do an advent calendar with activities every day here to teach the girls about Christmas.

Where did you find The Christmas Angel, Heaven?

**Novella** · November 15th, 2012, 08:24 PM

I thought it was fun too especially the moving over night part. We are doing it and Im using a small reindeer ornament we already own but Im trying to make it less a negative experience so saying things like 'I bet the reindeer will go and tell santa about how you were kind and helped your sister by getting her drink for her' and Im sure I'll slip up and have the occasional negative comment about Santa's reindeer spy

**Heaven** · November 16th, 2012, 12:09 PM

I'll PM you OP!

**MummyNaomi** · December 9th, 2012, 06:48 PM

We've been doing our 'Elf on the Shelf' for 6 nights and its so much fun, DS wakes up so excited in the morning to see what the Elf is up too, totally gorgeous and so cute.

I've been blogging our Elf Adventures

I've stolen lots of ideas off pinterest

Click here to see our Elf

I am totally loving the magic of Christmas this year, Master 3 is reminding me daily how magical it is!

**BlackCat** · December 9th, 2012, 07:08 PM

We decided to do it last minute, therefore I ended up making our own (slightly larger) version of an elf. DS loves finding him. It didn't occur to me to do a blog (not that our photos are very good) but the Elf has been making a daily appearance on my facebook lol. I think he is more popular than I am ROFL.

Great photos and ideas Naomi - I might just steal some of those