Elf Rules

Oh God, just let her play with them. Way back when I had more enthusiasm for parenting than I do now, I instigated the no touching rule. Obviously they touched the buggers, because they are toys. Then they got upset because I had told them that the magic would go. Then we had to do an elaborate ritual to put the magic back in. Now I end up doing a glitter/poetry ritual multiple times throughout the month of December. At least the big two DC, if not the little two know that it's me doing it.... So at this point I think they are just torturing me. Also they carry them around with kitchen tongs, so my tongs are missing for the whole of December.

My children just love the silliness of it. We don't really do the watching thing... Because it's a bit creepy. It's a massive ball ache and I often wish I hadn't started it, but they love it. They each have an elf which I am going to give them when they have children of their own. Although at this point they are covered in various unknown substance and at least one has lost a hat.

Both my sister and my sister in law act a little bit smug about not having the elf/elves and Its really looked down on on here as well. I end up feeling a bit ashamed for doing it all. But each to their own, my children love it and they don't mind if the elves pants the Christmas tree 4 times in December, so all is good.

Because that's the only way anyone sane would have allowed the odious little thing into their house?

We love ours, he's adorable

All December there is thread after thread of people saying "OH MY GOD why did I start this, it is awful".

Bit of an exaggeration here, in fairness 😂

Because that's the only way anyone sane would have allowed the odious little thing into their house?

All December there is thread after thread of people saying "OH MY GOD why did I start this, it is awful".

I left DH in charge of the elves last year while pregnant. Came downstairs to a tableau of Elf yoga instructors and Barbies in downward dog

Make up your own rules. I did it when they first arrived in the UK ( teens now) we did it for a couple of years. I said they where sent by Santa and brought treats during the night. They could play with them and they stayed after Christmas just popping to the north pole at night. There are no rules, make your own.

I've told mine that if a child touches him the magic dies. So wherever he is found in the morning is where he remains all day - unless mummy needs to move him. Mummy has special permission to gently move the eld from Santa

Haha every year I love how much MN hates The Elf.
We have three elves. Cuddly little ones, cute. We've had them for years. They originally came when the kids were little, in a box with a letter saying they'd got lost and could they stay in our house til FC can take them home on Xmas Eve. No spying, no reporting back. No elf death if touched by children.
Over the years their arrival has marked the beginning of Christmas time! Some days they've gone bigger than others, definitely not an every night is huge situation. Sometimes they just move. But I genuinely miss the days of the kids coming down in the morning to see what the elves had done. We had SO MUCH FUN over the years. Yeh, the getting into bed and suddenly thinking oh shit, the elves! happened a couple of times. But if you set the precedent early that they don't do something every night, that's not so much of an issue.

My kids are teens now. The elves still come, but they don't move (much... Sometimes I get a pang for the old days and do something fun, to be met with rolled eyes 😂)

I get that people have different traditions and do things differently but I don't get the hate on here towards people who chose to have elves 😂 I feel no hatred towards people who do Christmas eve boxes, or special plates for Santa's cookies, or make floury footprints Christmas morning, it's just not something I do.

Have fun OP. I'm glad I have some magical memories to look back on!

It stays where its put in our house until the next days shenanigans. Don't bother with no touching, mine were never interested in playing with them. They leave on Christmas Eve to go and help Santa get the presents and the sleigh ready. Never used them as a behaviour tool, all just for fun here. I resisted for a long time and wondered why in the end, we love the elf. DC15 now enjoys getting involved for the younger Dc.

YABU because there is a Christmas topic.

DONT DO IT

They are here because an American marketing company created this nonsense.

So many of our Christmas practices owe their existence to marketing in fairness.

So I'm doing it for the first time for my 5 yo and I'm not following most of the "rules". I'm going to set it up doing something each night but nothing "naughty" just funny, cute things. He can play with it if he wants to. I was thinking of writing a letter as well, I was just going to say he's been sent from Santa to keep him company and play with him til Christmas Eve then he has to go back to help Santa deliver presents.

I thought the only reason people ended up doing this was by force or because they'd been hoodwinked, not voluntarily!

Why would you think that?

I thought the only reason people ended up doing this was by force or because they'd been hoodwinked, not voluntarily!

There is a film on Amazon Prime about Elf on the Shelf - maybe watch it with her today so that she's ready for its arrival tomorrow?

I thought I had avoided these things - not really a thing when my kids were small.
Then I moved to a school where every class has one and I have to do it at work.
I never have a clue what to do and I had to buy the stupid thing and any bits it needs for tricks myself.

They are here because an American marketing company created this nonsense.

Don't do it!

This thing seems to stress out my friends who are mums (not dads) an awful lot.

Just keep it relaxed, I make my own elf rules. We have one of those advent calendars you fill yourself, the elf puts a chocolate coin in it each morning. Then he has moved to a different position, but also high up so he can’t be picked up! Normally hanging from a light, sitting on the shelf, on top of a picture.
Also some days the elf doesn’t move at all or forgets to bring the chocolate. That’s fine too, we laugh and then he might move when they’re at school.

People are so negative about this but it’s just a little bit of fun that takes about 1 minute each night and the kids love it!

DS is 3 and has no idea about the elf yet so admittedly I have 0 experience but could the elf not just arrive with a letter saying Santa has sent the elves on holiday as they’ve already been working so hard getting everything ready and your DD has the very special job of looking after them until Christmas? They need to be left with Santas milk and mince pie on Christmas Eve and Santa will collect them and take them back to the North Pole? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

It gives a reason why they’re here, and sets the expectation that they will leave. She’s to look after them so can play/take them to bed if she wants. If she leaves them out some nights you can set up some funny scenarios for them if you want.

We never did it, but if you are keen then I would recommend setting the expectation that the elf checks in weekly rather than every day. That way you still get to do the thing but only 4 times rather than 20odd.

Aw I've found this thread quite useful OP, thanks. I'm going to buy an elf today as my youngest has been asking. My eldest (now a teen!) definitely felt out of the loop not having one so I'm giving in now. I thought my eldest might like to help move the elf each night with me but she said she wants to be surprised too! The pressure 😂 I'm definitely not going along with any story of santa surveillance or killing elves. Just a fun thing for them to wake with.

I was determined not to ever do it but was forced when my gran bought the kids one - she had no idea, she just thought it was a cute Christmas toy, but DD immediately said “it’s one of the naughty elves which comes alive!” so I was forced into it. Our tradition was the elf brought their advent calendars the first night with a letter saying he was back (or I’d write it on a mirror/framed photo with a dry wipe marker) then I’d nick ideas from Facebook (only simple ones) and on the last night he’d leave their Xmas PJs. They’d leave him out next to the mince pie and drink for Santa and he’d hitch a lift back to the North Pole. That was it, no gimmicks or watching them or anything. They absolutely loved it and now DS has taken over for DD who doesn’t really believe but pretends she does (Y6). This’ll be the last year and then next year I guess the elf will just be a Christmas decoration.

I was like you OP didn't listen to the advise, thought the elf would be a brilliant addition to the family, I was so wrong 😆

Hated the bloody thing, one of my kids would wake up at daft o'clock just to see what the elf had been up to. I would wake up at daft o'clock because I forgot to have the elf do something.

After a couple of years giving me anxiety, I promoted their elf to a chief elf because the kids were so well behaved and he would just come on Christmas Eve with a Christmas Eve Box of goodies. The relief I felt of not having to come up with anything was like no other 😂

Your time is worth more than this!

Mine isn't. It only takes a few minutes and it's totally worth it.