To say no to elf on the shelf

[Illumicrateme]

My DS is 5 and in Y1, this morning all the children were excited that their elves had visited them. I had previously told him that the elves were for children that miss behaved and the elves could report back to Santa. Now it looks like half his class have been miss behaving and I don't want him thinking he needs to be naughty tk get a elf🙈 I really don't want to begin elf on the shelf so I was hoping you lovely lot could help me come up with a better excuse before school pick up this afternoon 😬

This says it all I think

My children have never mentioned it either (10 and 7). I've only just heard of it and am baffled! Fingers crossed they don't come home asking for one!

Glad we missed it then and all the other nonsense that’s appeared since. There’s enough to think and worry about with the age old Christmas customs to add new ones in. 😬

Just be honest. I told mine we don't do it. They know it's the parents that move the elf.

What I hate is the whole contrived / invented tradition aspect.

Every tradition was 'invented' at some point. Your Christmas will be full of contrived, invented traditions like trees, crackers, turkey, etc.

OP just say you aren't doing it, all houses do Christmas differently. No need to more than this or being snide about other people's kids.

I've told mine that the Elf she insisted on buying when she saw one in a shop is just in our house to report back to FC as to her behaviour each day. She has to be good every day till Christmas if she wants FC to bring presents.

I hate elf on the shelf idea.

Yeah this. Do your own things. I'm sure some people would think our family's rituals odd.

It only irks me when it comes to already stressed parents (usually mums from what I see) feeling pressure to keep up with a growing list of new essential Christmas traditions (North Pole Breakfast, I'm looking at you!) And lots more involved halloween, Easter etc. It's a lot to find money & energy for. If you're not as confident or comfortable just doing what you want.

This.

Everyone is entitled to do their own thing. But I often find those who don't do it are the ones who are passive aggressive and snipey about those that do. Weird.

I don't like the idea of elf on a shelf and find them a bit creepy.Neither do. I like the idea that only 'nice' or 'good' children get gifts. And the idea of an elf spying on them to report back to Santa is just weird. All children misbehave sometimes and they shouldn't be bribed into always being nice. Besides it's not true anyway no parent is going to withhold their child's gifts because they have done something they think they shouldn't.
Also what about families that really can't afford to buy their child lots of gifts are they supposed to think they haven't got what they wanted because they haven't been nice?
I am sure your child won't be the only one without one.

You're not unreasonable to say no, but just realise your son might feel really left out when the other kids in the class are talking about their elves.

My GC age range 10 to 4 have never had an elf on a shelf and have never felt sad or left out because of it. It Some of their friends have them but many don't.

They have other traditions they follow and have a lot of fun in my the follow up to Christmas. Just not with an elf!

Soo glad I missed out on the Elf thing!

@Suedomin perhaps they didn't 🤷‍♀️ maybe they will or won't this year or next. I was only letting OP know what happened here.

We were quite late to the elf on a shelf game as my kids are now 15 and 16 so we only had a few years of it before they were too old (although they’d still be up for it now if I was…which I’m not!). I’m glad I never have to do it again but they did love it.

we all have our own things. I bet a lot of the people dying they’d never do EOAS do Xmas eve boxes and/or matching PJ’s and both would be a solid no from me so do whatever works for you and your family.

*saying, not dying!

You think the cave man got dressed up and sat the cave kids in his knee every shortest night or thereabouts and gave them a new bone to play with?

Tell him you don’t do it in your house. Instead, do a little St Nicholas basket on 5 December. Just needs to contain chocolate, gingerbread, nuts and satsumas. Then it is a nice surprise and just done on one day. It’s a European tradition.

To be honest think elf on the shelf is much better than Santa. It's not materialistic (apart from initial outlay for elves). And it's just fun and very playful, and makes the children happy for £0. I get it's annoying having to move them everyday though and think of things to do with them. And more pressure on stressed parents. But if I could, would replace Santa with the elves.

We don't do elf or xmas eve boxes. He won't be the only one

I hated doing it in the past but I'm not at the point of it takes me 2 mins an evening to set something up and it makes my daughter happy.

At the point of*

I find it hard to believe that children of any school-going age would get so excited about a stuffed toy that they would talk about it at school, or even mention it to their friends.

What are they going to say?— "He was on top of the dishwasher this morning!". "Ooh, mine was behind the sofa!".

It's hardly gripping stuff.

I thought the elf was supposed to bring gifts hence the excitement.

Needless to say I don't do this and never have done.

I don't think you're the target audience to be honest...

What are they going to say?— "He was on top of the dishwasher this morning!". "Ooh, mine was behind the sofa!".

My 8 year old talks about the elf with his friends. Seems pretty exciting to them 🤷‍♀️

I thought the elf was supposed to bring gifts hence the excitement.

No. I mean you can do whatever you want with the elf, up to you, but this doesn't seem to be a common approach.

I don't think you're the target audience to be honest

Quite 🤣

furry muff