Elf on the shelf non believer

[TurkeyDino]

Well my elf on the shelf arrived today so I cunningly put it on DS's shelf and placed the book on the pillow while he was at nursery After reading the story to him he said 'yeah mam but it's just a toy'.

He's only 3, I thought he would be utterly fooled. Any tips to convince him?

[iloveholidays]

I had exactly the same with DD who is also 3... 4 in April. She kept saying "it's just pretend mummy"... However she watched the DVD and success, she believes it all.

£2.99 in matalan at the weekend.

[QODRestYeMerryGentlemen]

Just with its antics really!

My friends so far had it in a car with Barbie, making flour angels on the kitchen work top, sliding down a sheet of silver foil, up the Christmas tree peeping up the fairies skirt (her boys are older!!) , on the floor with a load of other toys doing "soccer drills" so little cones and stuff like an obstacle course

[TurkeyDino]

I'll try to get the DVD tomorrow.

Thanks for the ideas. We haven't put our tree up yet so I might pretend the elf has put it up overnight, that will have to be tomorrow though as we don't have a tree yet. (so disorganised this year)

[dementedma]

Think its a bit creepy tbh.

[PoppyWearer]

My 4yo's first reaction was "I don't think that's REALLY going to come to life, actually Mummy".

Every night so far she has been so excited on going to bed, wondering where the elf will be next morning.

And very amused at where she finds it - before returning it to its rightful place (shelf, naturally).

[MyNutcrackerSuiteAudrina]

My DS is autistic and very logical, so I didn't think he was going to go for it but he was delighted with the Elf's green food-colouring wee this morning. If only there was a willy idea

The weird thing is DD aged 12 who sees me doing the staging and has taken an active part in looking for ideas but really wants to believe it's true. DS couldn't give a toss about the DVD but she has watched it three times now and I think she still secretly believes he flies back to Santa every night

I might set Tinsel up with a note tonight telling her that The Big Man is unimpressed with the fact that she isn't wearing a coat to school when it's minus one outside.

[littlemissnormal]

I sent a text message to my landline saying "hello DCs, this is Mrs Santa, I hope you're keeping an eye out for my elf! By the way, are those nice biscuits you're eating?".

They listened, dropped the biscuit with massive wide eyes! My sceptical 4 year old now believes!

[pigsinmud]

I told my 2 (6 & 8) that it was a bit like Toy Story. They have to look like a toy when people are looking and then at night they spring to life. They totally believe it.

[PretzelTime]

Why do you want to fool your children with this?

[BonzoDooDah]

Oh who knows Pretzel? Maybe they're all just evil people who want to build up their children's lives on a bed of false lies and stories. (No more Cinderella stories either then. Or Jack in the Beanstalk or whatever.)

Maybe ... just maybe ... because it's fun? That's allowed with children.

[PretzelTime]

Fairy tales are one thing, but I don't get why you'd seriously pretend that a toy is alive and spying on your kid.

[MyNutcrackerSuiteAudrina]

I am preparing my children for the realities of the digital age. Tesco are fuckers for spying on me and selling the information on to government and other agencies.

[timeforachangebaby]

Mine went bungee jumping from the lights last night, midnight feast tonight

Dc2 is nearly 5 and he absolutely believes.

[timeforachangebaby]

pretzel because it's fun and DCs love it!!! My elves don't "spy" though, they are cuddly x

[MirandaWest]

I find elf on the shelf a bit odd (glad that nether DS nor DD seems to have heard of it and so no need for one) but no ones hurting anyone by having it.

[MyNutcrackerSuiteAudrina]

Actually my little one honestly doesn't give a toss about the reporting-back thing. He has seen TWO Santas this weekend and they have both backed me up on the sleeping-in-his-own-bed "mission". The EotS brought him a special blanket and wrote a poem, no less, plus the free Santa video from the North Pole also specifically mentioned it and DS has not backed down with regard to such a fundamental change in his life.

That's the rigid-thinking of autism for you so I've abandoned the worthy teaching aspect and am just enjoying DS bounding downstairs every morning with a smile on his face and some hope and expectation for something magical to have happened. That's more than enough, this year at least

[pigsinmud]

Our elf doesn't spy either. It doesn't seem any different to telling your children about Father Christmas to me.

My girls seem to love it. In fact ds2 (12) moaned that he didn't have an elf when he was smaller. The first day she brought Arthur Christmas and some chocolate coins.

14 year old ds1 has loads of assessments at the moment and quite likes the light relief of the elf in the mornings.

[timeforachangebaby]

Mummy mummy mummy look what they have done - naught x and x - they have eaten all our sweeties and drank all the juice they are so naughty!!!!!!!!!!!! but they did bring us some.

Giggle giggle laugh laugh - I love you mummy.

[TurkeyDino]

Oh dear I had no idea a plastic elf could be so controversial! Well this morning DS enjoyed looking for it so maybe he is more into it than I thought.

As for why I am doing it. I thought it would be fun. Why does anyone do anything?

[TurkeyDino]

Ps. Text message to landline is genius. Can't wait for DS to return from nursery!