How do you explain not having a elf?

[ItsJustASimpleLine]

Really don't want to have to do elf on the shelf. Can anyone help with and explanation for why we don't have one that DD would believe??

I do elf on the shelf. I don't have "too much time on my hands" I planned what to do months ago and last month got things organised so it's a case of looking at my list. The youngest dc really enjoys it and I enjoy doing it.
If you don't like it or don't want to do it then don't. I feel sorry for those who feel the need to put others down for doing it to make themselves feel better.

"I dont know what the shit all this elf thing is but it will not be crossing my threshold" is what my brain just said.

I said last year that they have to be invited by the family, and I didn't like the thought of having them in the house making a mess, so I didn't invite them. I didn't want to say they weren't real, and for DS to say it to all his friends. I relented this year, as he's 7, so probably next year, I could give it a miss and tell him they arent real, marketing ploy etc. Im regretting it already, and its only the 1st December

I've just read back and I'm wondering whether my 7 year old is particularly dense or if he's having me on we were out today and he was wondering if the elves were doing stuff in the house! His best friend has one, but he has a little sister
They barely move after about the 4th of December because we forget to do it anyway!

I told my DD because Mummy would forget to do it!!

“LassWiADelicateAir

And I don't get the marketing ploy thing

I just bought an elf each off of eBay

The second sentence shows that whilst you might not have understood that "elf on the shelf" is just an invention of a marketing department, the marketing worked.”

You’ve conflated 2 different posters posts there I think?

A marketing campaign is something a company does to sell their product. There is no “elf company” so don’t see how marketing fits in. As a PP said, they’re dirt cheap, you buy it anywhere, once. Then keep it. There isn’t anything to market

We don't have one - Elves are scared of cats and dogs.

We love the Elf that comes every year, but it's a lovely hand made one that my sister made, and it just does lots of naughty stuff with eggs, flour, draws moustaches on the kids, stuff like that. We don't link it to any sort of behaviour which is the thing I find weird - in our house is just fun. Kids are 10 and 8 and they seem to believe it but they could just be humouring us. But either way, they love it, and the presents the elf brings. A little bit of cheer during the long wait to the big day!

I am still laughing about it being no work at all because the poster had it all planned months ago, wrote a list of what the elf would be doing each of the 24 days, has purchased or gathered all of the necessary household items to arrange each daily diorama in a safe place so that they are available when required, and ‘all’ she has to do is just look at the list.
I suspect that I’m not the target market for elves. There is no way on this sweet earth that my life has time for months of list writing, planning, and squirrelling away stuff to create 24 elaborate scenes. Nor do I have 24 periods of time on a daily basis in December to create the fruit of my planning and organizational labours. (By then I would have used the list to jot down down the phone number for the church lady who needs 8 volunteers to help at the bazaar on the 12th from 2 till 5, and used it as a scratchpad for my shopping list anyway.)

I’m with Gin.

I don’t because I really can’t be arsed. DD has never asked. my MIL bought one In the middle of December last year and it went to the charity shop.

No ,Caprisunorange I have not conflated anything. it is a direct quote by poster AlphaJuno who wrote And I don't get the marketing ploy thing. I just bought an elf each off of eBay

I split the quote up. The intention being to show AlphaJuno might not understand how marketing works but she has definitely been taken in by it

It is irrelevant whether or not there is one elf company. There wull be 1000s of them churning these elves out. It is in the interests of all of them that is marketed as a "tradition".

The marketing part is the implanting into consumers' minds of the idea that this is a "Christmas tradition" rarher than a made up reason to sell useless, plastic tat. Consumers are being manipulated by marketing regardless of wherher they buy it direct from ^Tat is Us Inc'" or ebay

Right, so what’s the difference between an elf for a few quid and my Christmas wreath, or tree decorations, or Christmas story books I read to my children?

Are the multiple wreath companies/ florists also a marketing ploy?

Oh good grief flowers and greenery have been used for centuries at Christmas/Yuletide. It is something which evolved and changed organically.

"Elf on a Shelf" is the Christmas equivalent of a "Ploughman's lunch"

Buy either or both , it's up to the consumer but at least recognise what you're being sold.

Well I’m paying £85 for my flowers and greenery so it’s even worse marketing surely?

Late to the party here... but.. what is an elf on the shelf and what does he/she do that FC doesn't?

Just tell them he moves around and can’t be seen or they will know when he’s watching

85 quid for flowers and greenery! Are you getting married?

Christ no. £85 would get you pretty shit wedding flowers 🤣

I don't think it's the same as santa. Surely it's just a toy that comes with a book? If I bought a Paddington book /toy combo I wouldn't expect children to think it was real. When I make the teddies talk they know it's not really the teddy talking but they still love it. I think kids generally know the difference between make believe for play and not.

Just buy the flowers wholesale and make your own, caprisun. My wedding flowers cost less than that.

I don’t want to do that

"Because the cat/dog will eat it darling."

I thank my lucky stars that this nonsense hadn't started when my DC were small.

Just make up a wholestory. Your house has an invissable elf but he does stugff every day - leave small pice chocolate
Under their pillow and say the elf may have done it...have something nice appear in the bathroom as they get ready ... special little soaps which are usually cheap. If you buy any new decorations for tree - just one simple thing say it came from the elf. PS I have no children so my advice may be crap!

DC is too old for one, but another family I know take it in turns to move the elf each night, their kids know it is pretend as they are actively taking part. So, I wouldn't worry about 'ruining' it for other children, all families do Christmas differently.

Children should be taught that people believe different things and to respect other people's beliefs, but that it's fine to say that they believe something different or that they do things differently in their own family.