Bloody Elf turns up in a balloon now

[DressingGownofDoom]

I know IABU and a curmudgeon but why does everything have to be such an exhibition at Christmas? Elves can't just appear this year they have to float from Lapland in a balloon with a present I know, I know if you don't like it don't do it. That's fine but I do feel sorry for the kids whose parents don't have £15 to spend on an elf balloon and then a present on top just because it's the first of December. I thought this year might make us all step back and maybe consider a simpler celebration of Christmas but no, the social media onslaught of who can be the most ostentatious Christmas fanatic is worse than ever. I hate it.

If children attend a school where everybody celebrates Christmas and everybody expects Father Christmas to visit, they see the Elf on the Shelf as an extension to the Father Christmas thing that some children are getting and they are not.

But there are a million variations on what Santa does or doesn't deliver

Sometimes Santa brings the stocking, sometimes the main presents, there is often huge variation in the type of presents he delivers

Some see Santa in Winter Wonderland type stuff before christmas, others don't

Some go to lapland, most don't

Some get advent calendars, others don't

Eventually, someone will pop up in your class who isn't visited by Santa, and that's something you'll have to deal with.

I just don't get this narrative that we cope with all of these other variations on experiences of Santa, but the Elf creates difficulties on another level. It sounds like post rationalizing of a generalised dislike (which is what I suspect it is).

In the past, I have quietly told upset children that the elf on the shelf doesn't visit them because Father Christmas knows how amazingly well-behaved they are so hasn't had to send an elf to their house to keep an eye on them. Really cheers them up and it has never yet got back to those who have visits from the elf!

For obvious reasons, I don't think this is a particularly stellar way of dealing with the situation. However, I suspect my own DS would happily trade not being 'amazingly well-behaved' for the fun of the elf and I'm sure that's true of many.

To me it's not whether or not it's cringe/chavvy/show-y offy as such.

It's more the fact that it's just commercial wank that people are buying into. There were over a million monthly searches for elf on the shelf in Nov/Dec 2018. I wonder what those figures are now? It's an advertisers dream.

It's more the fact that it's just commercial wank that people are buying into. There were over a million monthly searches for elf on the shelf in Nov/Dec 2018. I wonder what those figures are now? It's an advertisers dream.

What's your point? We shouldn't google things?

@GordonsAliveAndEatsPies

To me it's not whether or not it's cringe/chavvy/show-y offy as such.

It's more the fact that it's just commercial wank that people are buying into. There were over a million monthly searches for elf on the shelf in Nov/Dec 2018. I wonder what those figures are now? It's an advertisers dream.

Do you not have anything in your house you don't need?

No, of course not, but this information is used by marketers to sell even more tat. It just perpetuates commercialisation.

No, of course not, but this information is used by marketers to sell even more tat. It just perpetuates commercialisation.

Again, that’s not an inherent aspect of doing the elf.

I keep saying this, but I haven’t spent a penny on it since our initial outlay of 5 Euro, 4 years ago. I haven’t googled for ideas either, come to think of it.

For me, the beauty is that it creates a lot of excitement during the Christmas period that isnt about buying stuff.

I need everything in my house. Some may not need what we need - I don't know, but everything we have is thought about as what we need for our lives.

But this is something that people just buy into because someone else has and therefore they are following a line. I just don't see why we buy into something that's just total commercialisation. But then I don't particulary like the way Halloween has become a big drama either. Seems rather unnecssary to me

I just don't see why we buy into something that's just total commercialisation.

It isn’t though

I need everything in my house.

I don't believe this for one single second

I think the elf is fun! Just a bit of a laugh between us and the kids really. We got a balloon for his arrival (same last year) and had a lovely special breakfast together. I went to work in such a good mood yesterday, it was a really nice morning! The elf arriving feels magical to the kids and that’s really special to us. We moved him for them to find this morning too, although all the moving from now until Christmas Eve is very low key for us. Nothing too elaborate, he will just be doing different mundane activities in the house (brushing teeth; reading; cleaning) - it’s funny to our toddlers! We also have a little wooden Christmas box which my husband made and we fill with special new pyjamas and leave under the tree to be opened on 24th, it’s something I did every year as a child too and enjoyed picki out the pyjamas every year when I was older. The ones from last year have been worn and worn, it’s not like we throw them out on Christmas morning. We do lots of other things too including carols at the church, making our own wreaths and choosing our real tree at the farm. These are much enjoyed Christmas traditions, new and old and I think the least classy people of all are the ones judging others for how they choose to live their own lives. How pathetic.

@GordonsAliveAndEatsPies

No, of course not, but this information is used by marketers to sell even more tat. It just perpetuates commercialisation.

Why is it always small things like an elf that prompt accusations of greed and over-consuming, and not, I don't know, a massive roast dinner with too much fat and sugar, or crackers full of bad jokes and plastic crap, or wrapping paper that isn't recyclable (and it's not, if it's got sparkle or laminate on it), or plastic trees with tinsel and blinking lights? Nobody denies Christmas is commercial, but why is it always the small things that aren't generally considered especially classy that get this form of attack?

I am not buying (har har) that all the objections to a sodding soft toy are truly motivated by noble concerns about waste and consumerism. That's just a fig leaf. If you wanted to complain about Christmas consumerism, this is a ridiculous target. It costs far more in time and effort, which is supposed to be the Good Person's method, than in the few quid it takes to buy the thing once.

You don't like the elf, don't do the elf, but stop trying to pretend that it's a moral issue!

It has though. Do you have any idea how much this market is now worth? The original Elf on the Shelf company was worth almost $85 million itself. The brand issued over 50 licenses globaly by 2019 and has over 2.5 million followers on social media. Each year it gets more exotic to bring people in to spend more.

Of course, anyone who gets involved perceieves "need" for it (in the same way that i say i need what's in my house, others may not need what we need - it's all relative), I am just making the point that people are buying into something that's inherently commercial. Some may make the initial cost and spend no more. In the same way some manage to bet free chips and spend no more money. Most don't

@GordonsAliveAndEatsPies After the initial buying of the elf (a couple of quid), the other associated things are from local businesses. So the balloon for example is from a local woman who runs a balloon shop. I can’t see why that is worse than someone else buying any other Christmas decorations at this time of year?

What are these elves?

The original Elf on the Shelf company was worth almost $85 million itself. The brand issued over 50 licenses globaly by 2019 and has over 2.5 million followers on social media. Each year it gets more exotic to bring people in to spend more.

Capitalism/consumerism is what our entire economic model is based on. Getting people to spend money on stuff is the whole point of many companies. Tax revenue from profitable companies funds our public services and keeps society going.

Is it capitalism in general you have an issue with or just the small niche that EOTS has carved out within that?

Equally, no one is being forced to hand over their money for elf related activity, just as they aren’t forced to buy fashion, books, wine, Christmas crackers, decorations or anything else that people choose to buy because it brings them joy.

@MolyHolyGuacamole. Seriously, direct your pity at children who are neglected, abused or living in poverty, not children who have a bit of fun with a plastic elf

@Amerimoon yeah, I take that point. I still think it's commercial tat but each to his own.

@TheKeatingFive I have taught in schools where Muslim children get to talk about Eid and share their news about the presents they have received. I've taught Jehovah's Witness children who don't get birthday or christmas presents but have treats and presentes on an ad hoc basis through the year. They get the opportunity to share that. Children in these situations generally understand that everyone gets their turn at having presents at some point. As teachers, we can all deal with that thank you.

As another poster has pointed out the gap between Father Christmas coming and children returning to school is quite a long one and by the time children return to school, they are only interested in sharing the fact that he came and what they got. The fine details of what he's left where, whether they have left Santa brandy or sherry, whether he comes down the chimney or through the door with a magic key is all forgotten but he has been to everyone and everyone has experienced it.

When a child comes through the classroom door on the 1st December shouting, "he's been, he's been. The elf on the shelf has been and he has done x and brought y." A discussion about cultural diversity doesn't always cut it for kids who all have a similar cultural experience and generally share the same cultural traditions but are not experiencing this one (and don't understand that the elf on the shelf is a cheap toy that parents buy not an actual, real, magical elf.)
Hard to come up with a stellar explanation on the hoof with a really devastated child. This explanation cheered these kids up, got them over their distress and let them get on with their day and like I said done quietly. Those who did get the elf knew nothing about it.

@Janegrey333

What are these elves?

They’re a new fangled thing.

Like google.

I still think it's commercial tat

Ours is just a soft toy. If you’re taking issue with ‘commercial tat’ I can think of thousands of better places to start.

Elf is a huge bandwagon people have jumped on. Dont think my kids miss out not having one.

I have never heard of such a thing but then I prefer a real, evergreen bough in the house or at times merely a few minimal decorations - and no greenery in sight. I have bark stars and they work well with silver baubles like this which are hung on fine rustic twine.

[quote Oooohbehave]@MolyHolyGuacamole. Seriously, direct your pity at children who are neglected, abused or living in poverty, not children who have a bit of fun with a plastic elf [/quote]
I can do both

Children like elves, though, and if it’s a fad, they want one. I don’t see the harm.

When a child comes through the classroom door on the 1st December shouting, "he's been, he's been. The elf on the shelf has been and he has done x and brought y."

And what do you do if they discuss their weekends and some are full of soft play outings, play parks, treats out, cinema, movie nights - and others have done none of these things?

Children having different experiences is unfortunately a sad fact of life. You deal with that day to day. The elf is no different.

I don’t ever recall being told that I shouldn’t take my kids to the cinema (for example) because others don’t get to.