Elf on a shelf dilemma

[damekindness]

So... DGS has written to the elf tonight and asked the elf what gender the elf is. This isn't covered in my bumper book of ethical grand-parenting ...so...ideas?

Do we really need to 'label' the elf. Surely the important thing is how the elf feels.

Aren't elves sexless?

Just make it up and pick one?

Mine is female. She was born with female reproductive organs.

And she wears pearl earrings.

I'd just pick one, keep it brief and leave it at that.

E.g.
Good morning X,
I am a boy elf but it really doesn't matter - to us elves as we all enjoy dancing, singing and spreading Christmas cheer.
Hope you have a lovely day,
(Elf name)

Ignore the random -.

Oh OP haven't you seen Childsplay?

My elf is a boy. He has a boy name and a tiny tiny little elf cock if you wondering under his little elfin red trousers.

Make her a little Adult Elf Female jumper.

If you have an elf with genitals your child should not be playing with it!!!!!

How old is your DGS? I'm miffed that a kid young enough to believe in a Christmas elf can comprehend gender.
Or do you just mean that they asked if it was a boy or girl?

Well I rather naively thought this might be an opportunity to role model inclusivity and tolerance to a small child

I appear to have stumbled into something else entirely different

You can get girl and boy ones

@GreenBasket He's a few months off his 8th birthday and 'gender' was the exact term he used

Well I rather naively thought this might be an opportunity to role model inclusivity and tolerance to a small child

So you'd say what?
His feelings don't match his genitals?

@CaptainKirksSpikeyGhost I honestly don't know which is why I was asking for what might be the most suitable response...as I said I appear to have wandered into somewhere very different

Sorry but a conversation about the gender of a magical toy elf doesn't really seem inclusive. It's surely making an already complex issue seem fantastical?!

They sell elf girls and elf boys though?

I honestly don't know which is why I was asking for what might be the most suitable response

He's asking if it's a boy or a girl. Surely coming up with an answer isn't rocket science.

On a separate note I just asked my kid if he thought he'd get a boy or girl elf from Santa and what did he think it's name would be. Squidge the boy elf appeared!

Maybe flip a coin?

He's a few months off his 8th birthday and 'gender' was the exact term he used

Sure.

My 8yo would be asking "is it a boy" and looking for a willie. I should dispatch to the gulag for re-educating forthwith.

Elf on the shelf is very biscuit worthy ...

www.handbagmafia.net/dear-parents-elf-shelf-open-letter/

definitely a case of

'elf doesn't understand what 'gender' means'. That all elves are elves and some like to wear skirts and others like to wear trousers and some like to wear shorts and some like to wear onesies. 'We are all elves and we can all wear what we like.' Or like what we toys/colours/games. You could even have elf playing with unicorns one day and a football the next etc etc

OK ... I'm out ... this is clearly a loaded issue that seems to have spiralled into something else entirely

Apologies if I've offended anyone or appeared naive. I sincerely wanted to ensure I responded in a way that would be appropriate