elf question

[mummy1986]

What do you tell your dc about the elf re why he comes to live with you?

[Onlyhappywhenitsnows]

My little elf came with a letter to give to ds a few days before he arrives. It is from Santa and says that we have been chosen to have an elf live with us this year. It says the elf is having a little holiday before the busy Christmas day and that he has been a bit michevious back at the north pole so it is up to the dc to teach him how to be good!
Just going to read the letter to my ds a couple of days before sitting the elf on the shelf. Still not sure what to call my elf yet, he looks a bit like an Arthur.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My DC are 10 and 13 and we've done the EotS for the past 3 years (so I didn't explain, we just did it). They are far too old now, but we still do it as part of the build up

When my DS was 3-4yo, I made an 'elf' out of an old bath toy with a white face cloth (face painted on with make-up) in a little cardboard box bed.And a quickly made hat with a bell.
DS and I walked down the garden with a candle-lamp after his bath on Christmas Eve to see the Sleeping Elf. in the DC Playhouse.
He was having a rest before FC magically took him away on the sleigh.

Our Elf on the Shelf is a bit fierce looking TBH, not cuddly like the sleeping elf.

[mummy1986]

I know what my 4 yr old dd is like she will go to school and tell everyone she has an elf sent from santa and want to know why no one else has one! I have mentioned it to a few mums at school but they just looked at me as if i was bonkers!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

It's just jealousy mummy1986 that they didn't think of it.

My DS told a few people at nursery (his Room Leaders and some of the mums) about his elf and they were all "Oh that's a good idea"

We saw the elf really late (well late for him) and we didn't go into the playhouse, just had a peep. Of course he was gone the next day and DS wondered if he dreamed it.

They are old and cynical now

[mummy1986]

70 thats a good idea!
The letter is a good idea too, will try and write one to that effect this week.
How does he turn up and when? My dd is very sceptical of everything at the mo and wants to know the ins and outs of everything!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Elf on the Shelf arrives at your house on the 1st Dec and you do the naming .
Then you hide him every night. He watches the DC to see if they are naughty or Nice (I don't have the proper Elf- I made one with an Action Man style doll- so I don't have the book. But we put the details of where he was on a Christmas Notice Board)

We get more adventurous with the hiding spaces when the DC finish school (they want to find him first thing)

We do an advent tree too. They take turn about to find the Elf/do the advent tree.

[mummy1986]

When the elf has been upto mischief eg snow angel in flour is he left there until dc have gone to school/out because 'the magic' wil go if you touch him?

[Onlyhappywhenitsnows]

I'm going to let ds hold and hug little elfie. I know he will get upset if he can't and will probably touch him when I'm not in the room anyway and then get worried that he's made the magic disappear! And he will want to hug him goodbye on Christmas eve.
My elf is arriving on the first, accompanied by advent calendars and a couple of festive books and maybe some gold chocolate coins.

[mummy1986]

Yeah i think im gonna have the elf bring the advent calenders and some xmas books too.
I think if i let my dd touch the elf he'd go everywhere with her and i wouldnt be able to prise it away from her to cause mischief!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Make sure your elf does an Elf Wee in the toilet (green food colouring)

Ours sometimes hides in the fridge behind the milk (the DC get their milk for breakfast)
or in the drawer with clothes.
Once he threw all my DDs socks on the floor (little blighter)

Mine have never wanted to hold him (probably because they are older) but wrestle the sweets out of his Elf Backpack.

[mummy1986]

I actually think im more and will be more into the elf than anyone! Ive found some ideas on pintrest too so will write list soon!
What else do ur elfs do p

[doglover]

I LOVE this idea and have just ordered an Elf for ebay! My dds are 12 and 13 and are past the age of 'believing' but I just know that theat we'll all find it great fun! I hope that it will become one of our family's Xmas traditions. Keep the ideas coming about elf exploits - they'll love the elf wee!!

[Awakeagain]

I've seen loads of ideas on Pinterest too ds isn't 3 weeks old yet but want to start some Xmas traditions - might have to fork out for actual eots book and elf on amazon (will tell dh it's out of present budget!)

[SoupDragon]

It's just jealousy mummy1986 that they didn't think of it.

Nope. Not jealousy.