We have done the 'elf thing' for the 1st time this year with ds (5). However, we have completely ignored the no touching rule and ds is completely taken with the elf. He takes him everywhere he can and cuddles him in bed every night. He has never been like this with any other soft toy. The elf sometimes 'gets up' while ds is asleep and does something a bit cheeky or leaves a treat, but mainly ds just loves having him around and telling everyone he is one of Santa's elves with his own passport.
He has known from the start that the elf has to go back to Santa on Christmas Eve, but he is feeling pretty sad about it. Two weeks ago we had to have our young rescue cat put down and ds was very attached to him. He has taken it very well but misses him, and now I feel rotten that the elf will be going on Christmas Eve.
Am thinking perhaps the elf could have special permission from Santa to stay longer, until ds felt it was ok for him to go home.
Really I think I'm just looking for a bit of reinforcement for having perhaps messed up and allowing such an attachment, and wondering what anyone else would do in the same situation. I have to say it has been so lovely to see how taken ds has been with the whole thing, and how much he is enjoying everything about christmas this year.