To tell 9 year old elf on the shelf not real

[SukiRose]

Ds age 9 got some money for Xmas and wants to use it to buy an elf on the shelf. We haven't got one and tbh I didn't want to start the tradition. I've just to say to him that now it's after Xmas it won't move around etc but he is completely convinced it is magical and will continue to move around, or whatever it is they do, throughout the whole year!

He has got himself very upset about it as I'm trying to encourage him to spend his money on something else and I'm not sure what to do. Should I let him buy it but then he will be really disappointed that it does nothing, then I'll feel really bad and probably end up moving the thing around the whole bloody year! Or should I tell him the truth that parents move them and they're not magic?

Don't want to ruin the magic but equally don't want to start a whole thing! Also it's £21(!) - he got £35 in total so a big chunk of it.

Well #1 he won’t be able to touch it (as it will lose his magic)

#2 they return to the North Pole on the night of Christmas Eve / Christmas morning and dont return until next December so it would be a waste of money

Why not get him a cheaper one next year? It doesn’t have to do big elaborate stunts if you don’t want it to, you could just write a note from it saying that he’s there to watch his behaviour over the month of December, etc & don’t move him?

Very much doubt that a 9 yo believes in anything like Elf or Santa tbh. Most children figure it out before then but keep schtum in case it means the presents stop.

TBH given his age I'd be surprised if he still believes in Santa next Christmas. Surely many of his friends have worked it out by now?

January to November they recharge their magical powers and every time you touch them they lose a little bit of power so can do less magic in December.