Elf On The Shelf Fun

Do you have your elf on the shelf yet?

A fun new Christmas tradition for families.  You will find that it is a very effective tool to get your kids to behave, when they know that the elf is watching and reporting back to Santa.

However, some people’s elves are mischievous and gets into things while the children are sleeping.  So every morning your sleepy heads will wake up searching the house for their elf and possibly witness him making himself quite at home..

The morning after Thanksgiving, the elf just appears in the house.   The elf comes with a book explaining why he is there.  Naming your elf is a family affair, so come up with a special name.  My elf’s name is Buddy (I know not very original).  My daughter named hers Markle.

Even though it is just my husband and I, we enjoy sending notes to each other via Buddy.  My husband and I like to be creative so Buddy also gets into stuff as well and at times we have to rescue him from a precarious position that he finds himself in.  So it can be enjoyed by all ages.  It also helps the grand kids behave while they visit. 🙂

An “Elf on The Shelf” is a wonderful way for your children to have a magical Christmas, year after year.

Here are some  ways we have fun with our Elf, Buddy:

A happy customer explains how elf on the shelf works

This is a tradition that will carry on for generations! HOW IT WORKS: The kit comes with an elf doll and a book. The book explains that Santa has sent an elf to watch over the children Newand the elf reports back to Santa each night.

The kids get to decide the name for the elf together – this is a touch decision! You read through the book with your child, it explains all the rules, then each night you move the elf to a new spot. One of the rules is that the children cannot touch him – this is a great rule because although he’s a sturdy doll, I think he might get loved out much too quickly if they were allowed! The author was so thoughtful to think of all these helpful rules.

Rules:

* The children cannot touch the elf or he will lose his magic

* The elf can listen to what the children tell him, but cannot talk back, that’s Santa’s law.

* The elf flies back to the North Pole each night and tells Santa what he has seen – when he comes back he goes to a new spot in the house.

The kids start searching for the elf immediately when they wake up! Knowing Santa is watching has definitely motivated them to be a behave a bit better! This cute little tradition makes the Christmas season more fun. It’s a very special tradition in our house. I love that the book has an old fashioned feel to it, the illustrations are wonderful. CONS: * Your children will ask you every night from Halloween to Thanksgiving when the elf is coming back!

* You have to remember to move the elf every night! Sometimes this is a bit of a challenge for us. 🙂 However, our elf does sometimes just get comfy in the spot he’s in, so he must have decided to come back to the same spot. A wonderful way to have a magical Christmas with your children.
Pick out your Elf on The Shelf here:  Elf On The Shelf

 Order your Elf on a Shelf today and be ready to start this fun Christmas tradition with your family!

 Here are some fun examples of the kind of mischief your elf could get into.

Check out my Pinterest Elf on the Shelf Board

Have fun with your new elf on the shelf!

Please chime in on the comments and let us know what you do with your elf!