‘Elf on a shelf’ thoughts?

[Batwomann]

I have a nearly 3 and nearly 1 year old. I haven’t overly took part in this. We have a little elf and move him around and explain to eldest he’s got Christmas magic etc and he will make his and baby sisters toys in the workshop soon etc!

This morning (and my social media is scaled down to people I know and actually know only) I see balloon, cake and merchandise for this elf announcing he’s back and messes already made on day 1 saying it was the elf!!🤣

As I’m still drained (youngest wakes frequently still) the thought of a chaotic day with my babies/work day then after bed time making a deliberate mess/clutter to blame on an elf doesn’t appeal? I’ll keep moving him around and explaining Christmas magic etc

But am I shit for not taking part? I have always told myself when eldest goes to school as don’t want him to feel left out when class mates discuss it

He does have an advent calendar and I did a December box for both kids with art&craft sets , pyjamas and a soft toy etc

My son loved his this morning. It is worth the seconds of prep for his reaction.

He accidentally knocked the elf off his desk this morning so tonight I will stick a few plasters on him, make him a makeshift sling and write a Drs note. It really isn't that much of an effort.

To all the people complaining their lives are far too jam packed to do something magical for their kids, maybe try putting down your phone for a minute and use that time to make your kids smile and enjoy the magic.

For those saying their kids wouldn't believe in plastic tat being magic, I think thats more a you problem as of course kids believe in magic if you allow them too. Kids are only small once so bloody embrace it I say.

An advent calendar is a nice idea. We've been doing one since our DC were small but we always get a non chocolate one and everybody guesses what's behind each door, including our GC. The GC take it in turns to open the doors nowadays. If you guess correctly, you win £2. GS won yesterday for correctly guessing a robin. I keep a Sylvac face pot ornament on the window ledge in the kitchen with coins in to give a prize if anyone wins that day.

My oldest is 6 and hasn't mentioned anyone talking about them at school yet. We don't have one.

We do have a couple of fairy doors (1 in each child's room) in our home, which provides year round magic with zero pressure. Occasionally she leaves a chocolate coin or something if the oldest in particular has had a big achievement at school, or is having another bad time with hospital/surgery, etc. I like adding to the magic as my childhood frankly sucked ass, but in an achievable (for me!) way. Our fairy also takes dummies, delivers 'big boy bottles' (aforementioned health issues) and so on. The tooth fairy also uses her door ;)

We didn’t do with kids this young and held out till the oldest was 5ish. Don’t feel bad not doing it, each to their own.

My kids love it and the elves never make a mess or are naughty, today they had a teddy bears picnic with the play food and the kids toys. They think it’s hilarious to see what they have been upto.

And I’ve never posted on social media that we do this 😂

What a lovely idea? What do the fairy doors look like? I might have to steal this idea for when GC come to stay

Even if you ARE going to do it, there is absolutely NO need to do it at any meaningful level at this point. We finally caved and got one for DD when she was 7. That's fine - she actively enjoys it and leaps out of bed in the morning to see what they're up to. I'm very glad though I didn't try to create this tradition when the DC were tiny and frankly, wouldn't have cared either way.

Burn the elf!

I fucking hate them. After avoiding them for a few years my MIL helpfully sent two for my DCs. They get shoved into the tree and never move.

DD once asked as her friend had a magical elf, I just said ours aren't magical and that was that.

@GranPepper They're just little wooden doors painted in bright colours, attached to the wall above the skirting boards. They used to redecorate for Xmas and Halloween but it's been a busy year!

We held out for a long time but for them last year. Mine are 5 and 8 and love them- they were so excited this morning- so, so happy. I find the elves an extra faff and a bit stressful but my 5yo has been so excited for them to return. She remembers lots of the tricks from last year and it’s magic really to see them both so happy. I’ll be glad when we’re done for the month but it’s a small amount of faff for a lot of pleasure.

DD8 had a very compelling argument this year so I said we could “apply” for one. Previously I had said one needs to apply
and as she’s well behaved we do not need one. This year we did “apply” (to Hamleys) My condition is it doesn’t spy on her. I find the idea of surveillance creepy.

It’s day 2. Our elf will move around but no mischief. DD8 is working double time to suspend disbelief. She said the elf is a magical piece of plastic. It makes her happy. I am taking a low key approach.

We have a plush one (see below), but after a few days of being moved around whenever we remembered he started a men's support group with Noddy and the Boris Johnson dog toy. Now they just sit in the popcorn bowl on the kitchen table and kvetch.

Awful awful awful. Very glad it wasn't a thing when my kids were little.

I truly believe that these kinds of things are bad for kids. Christmas is exciting enough. Christmas Eve boxes were never a thing, now it's boxes for December too and the stupid fucking elf. Just stop consuming shite! Rant over.

My grandson doesn't believe that the elf is real but wants to carry on the tradition because he finds it funny . There's loads of ideas online so I don't find it too much of a pain and it's nice to see him enjoy the silliness

That’s cute as. Such a lovely idea.

With regards to the elf on the shelf thing, I guess to each their own but it’s absolutely not for me. I just think it’s a bit.. weird.

I only got one because of mum guilt from my eldest when she was about 6 ("all my friends have an elf why didn't Santa send me one" etc!).
Mine never makes a mess or anything too elaborate either, I just can't be arsed tbh.
With such young children you can definitely get away with just moving it around every night!

Hahahaha, they used to redecorate but it's been a busy year. Oh, I think I've seen something like that in a garden centre but I wouldn't have thought of attaching them to skirting board. Thanks for the suggestion

@Bippityboppitybooo that is lovely. I have a friend who does that for her grandchildren. No pressure or expectation is the key here.

My daughter has DS and is 10. She still very much believes, but she does not like the elf. It scares her. She was tentatively keen last year, but this year we decided to give it a miss. I'm definitely relieved.

We have 2 elfs, a naughty one and a good one. I don't always do elaborate things, probably every few days. The other days they good elf will clean and hide the naughty elf, sometimes they write notes etc (today they have asked DD to wrote her letter to Santa). I don't feel the need to follow the social media posts about them and just do what I can and what I think will be a surprise for my DD

My dd (8.5) absolutely loves it, she says it’s her favourite part of Christmas. Of course if you’d rather your kids thought it’s all about the presents then fine, you do you 🤣! Sometimes low effort and sometimes more depending on ideas and time. We don’t buy things like balloons and accessories and have never posted it on social media.

Just kids taking joy in the simple things in life, nothing to see here! My 70yo dm also loves it when they come for a sleepover (kids and elves!), would definitely have done it had it been a thing 40 years ago.

Fucking hell no wonder the planet is burning. What a waste of resources

Same - I don’t think I’d have taken part if this was a thing when my adult kids were young.
We already have Santa and the tooth fairy as long held traditions which are lies we tell to children but most of us play along with it for a few years.
But the elf has a visible presence and monitors kids in their house - and plays tricks and moves around in some houses. I think it’s a nasty lie which is creepy and unnecessary.

If your child is still only 3, it’s all too easy to stop now.

My dd (hers are 4, 8 and 9) has never done it and AFAIK they’ve never felt ‘deprived’ or asked why not.

They are 3 and 1 wait till they are older. It’s ok for kids to be different from their friends at school. You should be building up your son’s confidence to deal with times his friends do something different. Otherwise you’ll have another 5 year old soon stuck to a switch who doesn’t know how to play with toys. The elf can be fun without making them believe it’s true…that’s a heck of a lot of lying to do each year 😟.