Ok, whats an Elf on a shelf and a christmas hamper, sorry!

[pastelmacaroons]

What on earth is elf on shelf? And a Christmas hamper? CANT belive these things have passed me by?

I have no idea what an Elf on a Shelf is .

My version of a Christmas hamper is a bag with new pj's, a blanket, dvd and some hot chocolate inside. DS gets it on xmas eve. My plan behind it is to try to calm him down a little bit, snuggle on the couch and then get him to bed without resorting to duct tape and staples

Elgin the shelf is basically an elf toy which visits on 1st dec to check on the kids and report to Santa ...basically to make sure they've been good! Every night the elf gets up to mischief e.g. Riding the my little ponies, having snow ball fight (using marshmallows) etc. it requires good thinking by the parents as you have to set up an event every night for the kids to come down to!

I started this 3 years ago when dds were 4&2 and tbh I wish I hadn't! Thing is, its lovely but for me I know dds will get onto the fact of the elves not being real long before they would figure our Santa! Plus once in school, they wonder why none of their friends get them so think they must be really bad!!! I have therefore got a letter ready to send this year saying they're going onto other kids. At 8&6 I think I let it go on too long tbh. They still believe in santa but would surely questions fake elves coming alive this year!

The ceh is basically a hamper of treats to enjoy Xmas eve so not really gifts as such...more sweets, new pjs, fancy bubble bath, Xmas movie to watch. We do a family ceh which inc treats for me and dh too like wine and baileys Its basically stuff I buy on my Xmas shop anyway, I just chuck it in a box and wrap it up. My kids love the ceh more than anything else!

Elf on the shelf that should say!

Thanks Jam.

My thread this year

Thanks Viking

Its a fun idea, but I think I will just stick to Father Christmas cam...

Interesting to read that jamtoast12! I was tempted to start doing Elf on the Shelf this year, but the more I think about it the more I am getting put off the idea. Yes it must be fun and exciting for the kids but Christmas is fun and exciting ALREADY without the extra work (for us mums) that Elf on Shelf needs.

I would also worry about keeping the story going over the years, how to deal with endless questions about the elf etc, so I have decided am not going to bother.

As for 'hampers' we do a sort of basic one, new pjs, hot choc and a Christmas movie, but we don't dress it up as anything fancy or call it a hamper.

Sometimes it feels like Christmas is becoming a competitive sport (feel a bit of a Grinch saying that, as I do love Christmas).