AIBU not to play along with elf on the shelf?

[missymayhemsmum]

DD (9) ordered this creepy elf thing with her pocket money. Apparently her friend has one which ? mustn't be touched but which moves around the house and writes letters telling her to behave well or else. I made it clear that I didn't want to play this kind of game- yes I want her to do homework, put her clothes away etc, but not by forging manipulative notes from this rather nasty ornament. Cue floods of tears, she's left out, I'm a horrible mother who spoils everything etc.
AIBU and if so what are you supposed to do with the blasted thing?

What Lois said. Plus, I don't think it's manipulative if your daughter knows what the deal is, which I assume she does if she bought the damn elf. She's just looking for a fun way of following the rules (my guess is it won't last long though).

Surely only at Christmas time! I don't really get when people say they are creepy sinister etc.. it's only a bit of fun.

I think UABU not to entertain her a bit over the christmas period - eh but not at this time of year.

The elves are clearly for Christmas.

We have one but don't pay attention to the spying, rules etc. It's just something fun for advent.

Dd is 11. Clearly knows it's not real but loves doing it for ds who is 4.

If your dd is doing this now when it's not Christmas I would guess she is trying to get you to play with her.

It's a funny age. Caught between wanting to play and being more grown up.

When I was nannying two children (3 and 5) I arrived in the morning to find that the mum had put knickers on the Christmas tree and coloured the 6 pint milk green with food colouring. Of course it was the Elf on the shelf and I was expected to play along. The children were quite freaked out and confused. So was I tbh.
Agree with the poster that labelled it as a 'facebook thing'.

Your DD clearly knows it isn't real so you aren't really "forging manipulative notes"are you? You are playing with your child.

My boys are 8. They have 2 elves that turn up in December. The elves are can occasionally be arsed to get up to mischief. My youngest twin absolutely loves them - he is really into cuddlies - he was asking about them in november this year. We'll see if they are just as interested this year.

They aren't the hideous pre-bought ones. Just rag dolls that have had a sex change.

Undercracker5

We had a lot of fun with the Elf in early December, towards the end I was getting a tad bored and felt pressurised to keep it up.

I don't think carrying this on is feasible all year round if I'm honest.

We have 4dc who loved it. But I would only do it for Christmas.

Although the dc didn't appreciate this work of art

Tell your dd that the Elf normally only comes round at Christmas, but perhaps leave her little notes from Mum & Dad every now and again, if she feels really left out.

Gosh what a fuss about someone's else's Christmas tradition! Do you or your daughter realise it's an advent thing? I don't really get the angst when it's February and there are 10 months until elves even show their faces!

We do the Christmas elf, but he appears at some point in December (not before the last week or so), and his only role is to run around at night and moves position for the morning, then sits in DS stocking to go back with Father Christmas when he comes.

It has captured your daughters imagination and you could turn it in to whatever you like, make a fun plan that both of you want to do. Maybe dds elf could sit on a ginger bread house or whatever other Christmas things you do. Or come out on Xmas eve bearing Choc decorations to add to the tree. Or Dd writes a thank you for coming note to FC, and ties it to the ends neck... Or maybe DD & the elf go buy the maker of the Xmas dinner a special present that the elf sits on/ is tied to. Or... Or... Or...

Or you could take umbrage and decide someone (who? Your daughter?) is forcing you to forge manipulative notes all year.

Someone made the elf an offer he couldn't refuse! V.funny ... but didn't your children cry?