Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Elf on the Shelf

37 replies

idontlikealdi · 09/09/2014 14:19

So, what exactly is this all about? Is it just a ridiculous Americanism? Where do you get an elf from, or will any old elf do?

Half considering it this year...

OP posts:
FavaBeanPyramidScheme · 09/09/2014 14:34

I've no idea and for some reason the name really angers me!! I do think it originates in the states. Interested to hear the explanation...

tanya1312 · 09/09/2014 14:50

Yes it's American the original elf on the shelf is not to be touched as he will lose his magic he reports back to santa if your good or not, but gets up to mischief/antics while he visits with you when you are sleeping. There are lots of types of elves around basically you do it to how it suits you e.g we have two elves at moment which are cuddled played with but put to bed under the tree at night sprinkled with elf dust for the magic to happen, once kids go bed you create the fun for the kids to discover the following day, look on Pinterest and facebook groups christmas elf antics and christmas elf fun for lots of ideas.
Hope that helps x

CarpetBagger · 09/09/2014 15:04

IDONT

We were sucked into from here last year, I only did it for 10 days though, that was enough!!

My DD was IN LOVE WITH THE ELF, she utterly loved it.

She has alread said she hopes the elf visits again this year

tanya1312 · 09/09/2014 15:08

Last year was our first year , we already getting prepared for this year kids loved it, surprised as thought my youngest child would be to old but her and my grandson loved it x

NoTeaForMe · 09/09/2014 15:56

I've purposefully come to find the Christmas board just to ask about the elf on the shelf. I can't decide if it's lovely or weird! So they travel back to Father Christmas and tell him whether your children have been good or not? Does he do stuff? Hmm...

poolomoomon · 09/09/2014 17:16

Did originate in the states although my American friends have absolutely no idea what it is! I had to explain to my Texan friend last year what the purpose of the elf is so I'm not sure if it's such a huge thing over there tbh.

This will be our third Christmas with our elf Norbert. The first year I honestly had no idea what to do with it. You're supposed to make the elf land in a different place every day and DC have to hunt for it in the morning. You can have the elf doing naughty things like some people wrap the toilet in toilet roll or spill sweets all over the countertop for example. I run out of ideas after the first week and it just sat on the tree for the rest of December.

Last year was an improvement. On the 1st of December we did a North Pole breakfast. Norbert the elf was sat on the table with a letter saying hello I'm back, explaining what he's there to do etc. Also had the DC Christmas duvets, Christmas pjs, christmas books etc as his gift to them. And we had a Christmassy breakfast- snowman pancakes, reindeer bread, christmas tree crumpets etc. Then he moved to a different place every day until Christmas Eve when he returned to the North Pole leaving behind their Christmas Eve hampers and a letter.

Doing same again this year. I've already planned which place he'll be in every day Wink. Doing a better North Pole breakfast this year too. DC love it, it's a great way to keep the festive feeling there every day of December.

tanya1312 · 09/09/2014 17:37

Last year was our first daughter sent a elf request letter to santa, he replied then elf sent letter. Elf arrived 1st dec with northpole breakfast, stayed until 24th dec when santa collects him to help deliver presents, elves do stuff like toilet wrap tree, leave Xmas activities, panto tickets, turn milk green, put children's underwear on tree , snow angels with talc or flour, ride in barbie cars, get stuck on the ceiling , sneak in school bags, find it in drivers seat of cars, leave gifts of Xmas DVDs etc if child is playing up can leave notes like santa knows you weren't very good yesterday lets try harder today, you can do loads once you let your imagination go with it x

PumpkinsMummy · 09/09/2014 18:12

are there any cute elves? I like the idea of this but the official elf on the shelf ones give me the creeps.

TranmereRover · 09/09/2014 18:16

it's sinister as fck - telling your kid that someone is in the house, watching over them all the time?
god i'm able to get my kids to behave without resorting to that kind of scare tactic! One of mine leaves polite letters telling the tooth fairy, easter bunny and F. Christmas to stay out of her room and leave the loot outside because she doesn't allow strangers in her room. Elf on the shelf turning up in random places, watching, staring, judging would scare the crap out of her.
Elf on the shelf is an arshole (if my idiot sil hadn't sent it to us, as a christmas present on the 25th, i might be less against him. but she compounds the innate stupidity of the concept)

CarpetBagger · 09/09/2014 18:43

So they travel back to Father Christmas and tell him whether your children have been good or not?

The Elf can do or not do whatever you choose!

My Elf, was there to get to know the children to give FC some hints on what they may like in case he couldn't get everything they asked for on the list.

We used a header found on line and wrote our own letter that came with our elf, From Ikea called Ellie.

tanya1312 · 09/09/2014 18:49

Sainsburys have an elf and record book for £5 there is lots of company's that make/sell them last year card factory and ikea had them, if it's something your interested in doing join the elf pages on facebook like christmas elf antics they will give you lots of ideas and where to get them from xx

MrsMinton · 09/09/2014 19:00

We adapted the idea to suit us. These are our elves. They come for a holiday because they've finished making toys. They bring craft/treats/do mischief, last year they built a den in the living room and we had breakfast in it! We don't report back to Father Christmas or sit on the shelf because our elves like cuddles. It's our fourth Christmas this year and I love the fun in the build up.

Elf on the Shelf
tanya1312 · 09/09/2014 19:03

They are the ones I have, they have been discontinued now but you might be able to track them down on ebay they are the peppermint gund elves x

MrsMinton · 09/09/2014 19:05

Thank you Tanya I couldn't remember what they were called.

tanya1312 · 09/09/2014 19:05

Your welcome xx

PumpkinsMummy · 09/09/2014 19:18

Thank you Tanya and MrsMinton* Flowers, they are just what I was looking for!! I will check sainsburys out too. I'm not on facebook so can't join the site.

PumpkinsMummy · 09/09/2014 19:22

fucking hell these are expensive!!

PumpkinsMummy · 09/09/2014 19:26

perhaps an idea? elf

MrsMinton · 09/09/2014 19:27

Mine were a pair and don't have the recording bit.

These are mine but they aren't in stock on this link

www.amazon.co.uk/Gund-Peppermint-Elves-Beanbags-Christmas/dp/B005OIT5TK/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt

MrsMinton · 09/09/2014 19:30

I love that one PumpkinsMummy
I think I might just need my own elf! Smile

PumpkinsMummy · 09/09/2014 19:41

I think at £4 it is a winner. Maybe I can pick the wings off?!

tanya1312 · 09/09/2014 19:46

Mine are not the recordable ones either. Have you got a sainsburys near you check their one out its cute x

tanya1312 · 09/09/2014 19:49

Have a look at christmaself.co.uk as well x

tanya1312 · 09/09/2014 19:51

Put christmas elf in google your get lots of sites which will get you on the right track x

JustAShopGirl · 09/09/2014 19:58

Elf on the shelf comes from a book of that title written in 2005 by a couple of mums in the US on the lookout for a money making scheme.

It was written with merchandising in mind and was made into a short Christmas TV movie (30min) which spread it's message far and wide.

You are supposed to be inspired by his adventures and foster the "tradition" in your own family. The elf -on-the-shelf even has its own website - aimed at getting people to spend money(of course)...

Cynical - moi? Especially since everyone wants an elf - but no one actually wants to follow the story. I find it peculiar.

Swipe left for the next trending thread