To think this about santa cams and elves on shelves

[Namechanger2735]

I can't stand them. I understand they're supposed to be a "bit of fun" but I think the santa cams just show an inability to discipline children. I wouldn't want to rely on "Father Christmas is watching" to encourage my child to behave. I'm watching, and it's me she should behave for. It's kind of like the whole "wait until your dad gets home" threat, I wouldn't want her to think of me as the messenger that isn't in charge.
As for the elves on the shelves, why?? Making mess that you'll just have to clear up yourself.. and teaching your children it's funny to squirt ketchup over the kitchen or unravel toilet rolls?
Write letters to santa, open your advent calendars, decorate the xmas tree. Why encourage or laugh at bad behaviour?

I think there is too much these days. Whatever happened to seeing Santa for 5 minutes at the local shopping centre? Now you have to book a month in advance for some crazy experience day and pay out a fortune. And as for that bloody elf, I refuse to join in

The elf is a creepy little fucker
Everyone does the same thing like bloody sheep. Is there no imagination any more
I blame FB

www.ccaandb.com/our-company-history

Invented to make money.

It's definitely not a "can't be arsed" situation.

Most people I know have a cheapy elf they bought for a few quid.

I’m not doing it because it would just be another thing to add pressure to Christmas and I feel there is enough going on anyway. There’s Christmas jumpers, Christmas shows & concerts, class parties, Christmas cards for every child in class, school Christmas fair, advent calendar (pictures aren’t good enough, now it has to be Lego or hand-filled), decorations (not only inside the house but also outside too), ice-skating, trip to Father Christmas .... and it goes on. Don’t get me wrong I love Christmas because it’s a magical time for children, but why add more and more to something that is already lovely as it is? We have a few Christmas traditions but they are ones we’ve either inherited from our own families or invented ourselves, I don’t need to be pressured into buying into something.

I have wonderful memories as a child of simply decorating the Christmas tree, the excitement of opening the box of decorations that my dad had pulled down from the loft, every decoration had a memory. I do worry sometimes we ‘over entertain’ children and put too much pressure on ourselves.
And selfishly - by the time I’ve got the kids into bed, cleared the kitchen, got everything ready for the following day and finally sat down for my 30 minutes of tv before I fall asleep on the sofa - I really don’t need the added stress of suddenly remembering I’ve forgotten to make the elf do something hilarious for the kids to find next morning!

Agree with Elektra. No elves here. It’s just something else you’re expected to raise your game at and fit into your life somehow!

It affects others because if some parents do it you have to explain to your kids why the elves havent come to your house without dissing their friends or explaining that its not real, just a cynical and somewhat sinister marketing ploy

I have no issue telling my children they are not real elves and it's the parents that move them.

The cam with the flashing light that is appearing all over my Facebook freaks me out. I couldnt do that to my kids . There home is their safe place and yet people are telling them they are under 24 hour surveillance. Which we know it isn't true but put yourself in their shoes they genuinely believe they are being recorded every minute of the day poor kids .

*their

We are doing elf on the shelf for the first year. I bought the official set and the DVD. The book is lovely and the DVD explains it all very well. The elf isn't supposed to do anything naughty, and nobody should touch him. Ours just brings a small gift daily (eg a gold pen, a stamper, a few chocolate coins etc) and moves location overnight.
Also in the DVD it shows the elves being packaged and sent to shops for parents to decide to buy.