Gentle ways to kill the elf

[Blankiefan]

9yo DD is on the cusp of not believing anymore. She's quite a young 9yo - still plays a lot with teddies, for example. We're happy for her not to believe whenever shes ready. But as long as she chooses to play along, we're happy to play too.

But the elf needs to go. Its a pain in the bum and we should never have started it. We've suggested a couple if times that Elfie might not visit this year as she's too old. DD isn't playing ball!

Any tips for binning this one that keeps the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" philosophy alive?

Soooooo glad I never did the elf <unhelpful>

Elfs came sealed in kilner jars during covid
Maybe he has ebola?

@Singleandproud you've got something there. I reckon DD would accept the bribe of a chocolate coin in return for his absence - possibly with a clue written about where to find it (she LOVES a scavenger hunt). I could print out 24 clues at the start then just plant one every night. Much better than the dreaded realisation every night at 10pm that the Elf needed done. Thank you for the inspiration.

I've always wondered why someone who represents Santa is quite so badly behaved...

Santa himself isn't quite as virtuous as he'd like to make us assume....

Brilliant idea! The chocolate coin could easily be once a week on his day off. Once a week is no hardship.

Or he could drop off an advent calendar instead as he’s now promoted and won’t have the chance to visit in person, hence 25 days of treats instead.

The elf leaves a letter saying he has finally finally in his long elf life managed to book annual leave in the month of Dec , and will not be available 😐
but wishes her a lovely Christmas

DP brought dc an elf about 3 years ago, I didn’t get one on purpose but the dc love it and so we’ve continues with it. One thing I can’t wait for when they stop believeing is getting rid of the poxy thing 🧝🏻

Our elf only moves. Some days he doesn't move at all when we forget and the kids are fine with that as they are used to it.

If you don't start big I appreciate this is easier, but while they still belive I'd keep it up. They turn 18 so fast.

@Elieza When our elf visited at the weekend it would bring things with him DD and I would have done anyway when I had a bit more time.
Ingredients to make salt dough for decorations.
Ingredients for mince pies
Paper chains to put together
Paint pens to decorate the windows
Christmas books - the same ones every year, a collection of Christmas stories and a nativity story.

I’m glad this was never a thing when dcs were small, seems like just another arse ache added to the long line of Christmas preparations. We do have an elf though, bought him years ago before it was a thing here.
But he just sits at the top of the kitchen Christmas tree as if he’s just climbed and placed the star on.

Hope you find a solution that your dd will be happy with, Good Luck!

Elf can be as simple or as elaborate as you make it. I always go on pintrest and pick about 30 or 40 ideas and print them out - I pick ones that are easy, quick and cheap then fill a box with any props that I might need for staging and then we each alternate picking an idea and setting it up. Usually there's one 'big' one and the rest is things like wrapping school shoes in cling film, leaving a present under the tree which turns out to be a wrapped uniform or that sort of thing.

And our elf didn't do the spying thing as we don't link Christmas to behaviour and houses are private anyway so no spying allowed whether that's Elf, Santa's robin, God or ghosts.

My ds turns 9yo shortly after Christmas - he's a non believer and has been for some years but wanted an elf on the shelf year last year and I humoured him because he'd become quite interested in his classmate's elf stories.

This year I'm going to make him the keeper of the elf and he can think up things to do to entertain the rest of the house. I suspect he'll enjoy it for a while but the gloss will wear off as the month rolls on and by the time we get to Christmas he'll be ready to knock it on the head. But if he enjoys it - he can carry on.

Our elf brings a letter back from the north pole each night from International elf service - they’re brilliant and its so much easier. There’s 20% off with HOTCHOC20 if it still works.

This thread is killing me. We have 4 elves and I love them, they make a bleak month so much better. I've bought my DS an Elf on the Shelf St Bernard this year as he wanted them to have a pet 😮

I love the idea of Santa asking if the elves can retire in our house when if my son grows out of them.

The PP who had Santa kill their elf by defenestrating him from the shelf, wow, you're just a cotton headed ninny muggins!

I quite like this idea.

I realise it’s not gentle and I wouldn’t do it but it made me laugh.