Elf on the shelf

[Thomo0111]

Hi all, thinking about starting the elf this year for my 3 year old (I have a 1 year old too but obviously she won’t really understand).

For anyone that does this did you let the kids name the elves? Or did you pick names that they arrived with? If so, please can you spam me with name ideas. I’m thinking of doing a boy and girl so as my kids grow up they have one each.

Also, did you have the rule that they cannot be touched?

Lastly, any cool ideas are welcome please. I’d like to try get a rough plan together of each day in advance as I know I’ll come up blank under pressure haha!

Thanks so much from a mummy who is new to all of this 🤣

You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to!!

I really don't get why people start doing it.

I name my elves myself! 😂

If you look on Pinterest there are 1000's of ideas!

They arrive on 1st December (usually with a letter) or a 'Hi' or equivalent, then next year this will change to 'We're back'.

They leave on 24 December and it's the same but with a 'See you next year'!

You can have good elves or mischievous elves!

Is your elf a boy or girl elf? How many elves?

Elf clothing purchased from 'The Works':

Oh god, don’t do it to yourself 🤣

Items at 'The Works' so far...

🙈

Don't do it, it's just more hassle at a busy time.

This is at 'Home Bargains' £7.99:

(If you do start it! Just have fun with it! You can do easy elf days or more elaborate ones. You can plan what to do or just move them randomly around to be 'spotted')

@SaraHoliday Are you employed to market these elves by any chance?

Oh I wish!!! 😂♥️

We just call him 'Elf' 😆, but it's just a bit of fun and I'm fairly sure my 5yo knows he's a toy. He just gets moved around each evening so he's playing with a different toy - no mess or being naughty. He brings the advent calendars and 'There's an Elf in your book' book.

It’s hard work but we started it at 3 and she absolutely loves it. It arrived with its name ‘cookie’. First year she did worry a bit if it was naughty in case it might do anything to her stuff so we tended to go for funny things and bringing things like craft stuff, a Christmas mug etc that I would have bought anyway. As she got older, she liked the naughty stuff more.

You are posting a lot of elf related merchandise!

My daughter heard they could not be touched and it got a bit stressful. If it fell on the floor you couldn't pick it up for example. If you touched it she though it would loose it's magic.
Maybe have a get out? if you touch it you say a magic word and it keeps it's magic- or something.
She enjoyed it a lot- insisted on a little girl elf- and she named it...
Planning is a good idea it's easy to forget!

I'm having to restrain myself! 😂 They call me 'Miss Christmas' at work! 🎄

Oh dear and it's only September!

Yes... I'm like this from July 😂 and as soon as Halloween is over, that's it!!! Full-on Christmas mode!

Don't do it! Unless you want another 10 years of remembering to move the bloody elf, think of new ideas and even do it when you get in from your works xmas night out after a few too many sherries.

My DDs all names their elf’s, I couldn’t tell you what they are to be honest, I think one was Bob 🤷‍♀️ They enjoyed picking names.

You will get a lot of Elf hate on here but I love it. Now my older two know the truth they love setting the elf’s up for their little sister.

I alternate themes throughout the house and we regularly have an elf tree theme so have lots of elf’s that play with the elf’s that visit from Santa. I know it’s a bit much for some but my DDs love it.

We do cheeky/slightly naughty elf things

Getting up in the morning to find the elf’s have had a movie night with popcorn on the sofa which DDs are not allowed to eat on.
sledding off the sofa with card board boxs
snowball fight with mini snowballs
conga line with another toys
playing hide and seek
hiding in the snack box
racing toy cars

Sometimes the elf’s bring extra gifts throughout the month, new Christmas party hat, scrunchies, Christmas tattoos, Christmas colouring book, fun things for DDs to enjoy throughout December. The elf’s are usually playing with them when my DDs get up.

The amount of times I went to bed, dropped off to sleep, then awoke with the dread I hadn’t set the sodding Elf up for the next morning. Mine did spend a week in hospital (dolls house) with a broken leg that let me off the hook a bit. It is fun, just need to be organised.

If you do allow them to touch them, make sure you know where they are. DD once smuggled hers into her nursery bag, DH couldn't find it and in a panic dashed out and bought 2 more. So now we have 3! Which to be fair makes things easier as when 3 of them are at it they look naughty even if doing something very simple like climbing a house plant or driving the barbie car.

I think if @SaraHoliday is happy to do it then it’s all good.

Really don't do it. It's an awful bit of commercial nonsense imported from the US and the message is really not a nice one.

Luckily mine were terrified of the elves so we did t start. Nearly everyone I know regrets starting it. It’s fun for the first few days then as it gets deeper into December it appears to be quite stressful. I’ve seen a few with bottles of wine 🤣