To ask you to rethink telling your children they're being watched 24/7 by Santa's spies?

[Algor1thm]

If the elves come to your house just to mess around and have a laugh with no reporting back on behaviour to Santa, I'm not talking to you.

If you've got Elf CCTV cameras or are sending little notes from Santa with spying updates, I am.

It's just awful. Imagine if you genuinely believed your boss was spying on you 24/7 in your own home for a month every year and was going to deduct your pay if you behaved in an age-appropriate way.

Its just a bit of fun. No ones really taking away their kids presents.

I could never imagine caring so much about what other people do

🙄🙄

Also if my boss did that that would be very illegal. It’s kids at Christmas.
not the same thing.

Tell me OP - where do you stand on the tooth fairy?

Trauma bingo time

Imagine if you genuinely believed your boss was spying on you 24/7 in your own home for a month every year and was going to deduct your pay if you behaved in an age-appropriate way.

I'm my 4 year olds boss not Santa, and i like most parents do watch our kids 24/7. Because those that believe in Santa tend to be 9 and under and need supervision.

Well it's a fair point. Telling your kids that is shitty parenting, even if you don't actually take presents away.

Oh fgs get a grip 🙄 parents have used santa as a bargaining chip for years. Never did us any harm. I honestly despair of future generations.

You do you sweetie.

I’ll have magical elves and what not that my little one loves.

Christmas is already so stressful for children with constant buildup from all sides and excessive organized glee. Commercialism pushes unrealistic expectations. Children don’t need to be told the elf is spying on them. It only prepares them to accept the Orwellian levels of surveillance present throughout much of the industrialized world.

Tell that to my youngest who was crying today worried her elf wouldn’t come because we have moved house. No fear no being scared of it. Just a fun elf who Santa sends to live with us who sometimes is a bit silly and makes a mess. Brings them presents too before Santa comes.

It's naff as fuck, too. Which is enough reason not to bother.

I agree with you OP. We do Father Christmas in this house. He's a kindly person giving out gifts to all but he doesn't spy on you like some creepy big brother and neither do I behave like a Stazi informer reporting things to him. I can't see why kids whose parents do this don't end up with serious paranoia.

Well Twinkle-Toes, our elf in the shelf is watching this thread and has told Santa that you’re a big ole meany and you’re going on the naughty list!

You wouldn't like my fairy door.

Used by Santa's fairies to pop in and out and report back.

It's staying.

Might frighten some children

I’ve always thought it’s a bit weird to say that to your dc’s. I remember my religious dm saying “God is always watching you” when we were younger to try and get us to behave in the way she wanted. It’s one of the many reasons I don’t really see that much of her nowadays!

It’s manipulative and also really lazy parenting.

It really isn't like this. Over reaction.

I absolutely agree with you. I'd go so far as to say these things should be banned. I'm not a killjoy at all and each to their own usually but I believe that Santa cams are psychologically harmful. The idea that you are being spied on and judged at home or school where you should feel safe is horrible and creepy. Imagine how scared an adult would be if they really thought a stranger was spying on them. And telling kids they have to do what an old man on the end of a webcam wants? WTAF. Maybe my opinion on this is somewhat biased due to an unpleasant experience involving inappropriate (putting it mildly) online behaviour. Christmas gifts should be unconditional and not used as a disciplinary technique. Thank goodness DS's school does not do this rubbish because if they did I absolutely would be "that parent", and I usually let things go rather than create a fuss.

I bloody loved the Santa Cam. Kept my two in line at least for a wee while leading up to Christmas. Sadly, they're too old now. But they were the days!🤣🤣🤣🤣

The idea that you are being spied on and judged at home or school where you should feel safe is horrible and creepy.

Kids are judged at school.

Yeah it's bloody creepy

There have been threads over the years when partners have put hidden cams in the home to spy. The responses have been wtaf, talk about controlling and ltb amongst other things.

Don’t children have the same rights to not be spied on in such an intrusive way?

If mine were still on school and their teachers had these cams I wouldn’t point out the bloody hypocrisy. When cams were suggested as a way to include those who were at home for health reasons omg the absolute outrage.

@OhmygodDont My mother was a tyrannical sort at Christmas who never permitted any changes, and bought expensive gifts, pressure my sister, sister-in-law, and me pose in matching pajamas, and so on. Every year into my forties, I’d walk back to my house, coming back only when my father pleaded.
I’m all for cutting down the rites, and adapting to a less crazy season and Christmas Day. If your daughter enjoys the elf, have the elf.

Banned??
Yeah good luck with that 😂😂😂