To think this is a step too far?

[Stormwhale]

Do kids really need this shit? I would have hated to think I was being watched constantly to see if I was being good in the run up to Christmas. I bloody hate the fucking elf things too. Just leave kids alone! Being watched on a security camera by father Christmas. Seriously? The kids young enough to believe really can't benefit emotionally from this sort of stuff surely?

total bollocks, what happened to kids being kids ? think this is more of a bribe to please/excuse the parents from spending money on tonnes of plastic shite

worse thing people are buying this shite - WHY??

I agree. Hate elf on the shelf too. Just discipline your children!

I always assume that threats of Santa (DH's favorite) or Elf on the Shelf are a substitute for decent parenting in the run up to Chistmas.

I like Mensch on a Bench. Much nicer.

I have an elf on the shelf. My dd when very small was frightened of him so he stays in the loft. She gets a little anxious when we open the loft for something. Its madness.

Yep, bloody ridiculous.

"You'd better watch out
You'd better beware
Cause Santa cam's bloody everywhere
Santa Clause is coming, to town....."

The poem was even worse than the bauble.

Ugh - no, horrible.

Nothing wrong with the odd 'Don't forget FC could be watching' in the couple of weeks before Xmas, but this is too much.

Wonderful. Glad there are still some sane people in the world.

What makes me sad is that I feel things like this are taking the joy out of Christmas for kids. It is supposed to be a magical time, not a time for kids not to dare breathe because father Christmas is watching them on a fucking camera or a poxy elf is telling on them for everything they do. It makes me sad.

But storm.were you not told as a child that Santa brings coal to naughty boys and girls?
I know I was. I was really peeved when I found out the truth. Actually I was told the robin was watching me and reporting my every move back to the north pole. I think it has really messed me up

The Elf is nothing more than a snitch. Mean bastard.

I was told about coal. But it was supposed to be self-censoring, not because you were being spied on.

What do you do if the children's behaviour doesn't get better? Cancel Christmas? And what do you do about behaviour from Boxing Day onwards?

Fuck. That. Shit.

My children's Christmas presents aren't conditional on behaviour, but because we love them. We don't do Father Christmas or Spy Elf or any of that. We do other exciting things that don't rely on complicated fabrications. It's all just too complicated.

Firstly, Santa doesn't need a camera, he's been watching children 24/7 for years actually not as long as you think.

2nd, it's a rubbish way to try and get kids to behave and doesn't work. A threat can only ever work if there's a certainty that it will be followed through and even the littlest children know (once they're aware that he exists) that he's still coming.

My DC are still at school but the Elf didn't exist when they were little. It's become "normal" in a startlingly short space of time. And parents made it happen

Glad you all agree with me. And no I was never threatened with coal. The only threat I remember was that father Christmas wouldn't bring presents if I didn't believe or go along with it for my mums sake

Mine are well grown now, they were (blessedly) grown before all this Santa-spy business. I think it's horrible!

My kids thought that all parents had a phone number to call Santa to report misbehaviour. Worked well enough.