Elf on the Shelf is a special Scout Elf sent from the North Pole to help Santa manage his naughty and nice list
Parents with small children will no doubt already be familiar with the phenomenon that is Elf on the Shelf that began in 2005.According to a brandresearch study conducted by MMR in 2020, the beloved toyranks third for children’s top five holiday traditions behind Advent calendars and leaving milk and cookies for Santa.
And, love it or hate it, with over 12 million families now in possession of an Elf set worldwide, it seems the tradition is here to stay.
So whether you've never heard of it, or your children are only now the right age to be enthralled by this little house invader, read on for your ultimate guide to all things Elf on the Shelf.
How to play Elf On The Shelf
The basic premise, dreamed up by former teacher Chanda A Bell from Georgia, is that the Elf in question is there to watch your child's behaviour in the run up to Christmas. Each night during Advent it runs home to the North Pole to report back to Father Christmas, but is back in the morning when the little ones wake up, ready to start gathering information again. It's basically a spy in elf's clothing.
The parents' job is to find a new place to perch the elf each night after the children have gone to bed. Mums and dads come up withingenious ways to stage it. Expect a last-minute midnight dash downstairs if you've forgotten to move the thing. Because woe betide the parent that punctures their child's belief in the magical world of elves, snowy workshops and Father Christmas.
While it may seem like an added hassle at an already busy time of year, there's a lot to be said for introducing it into your pre-Christmas schedule.
It helps children learn self control and develop an understanding of the consequences of good or bad behaviour and, on a more festive note, seeing their excitement each morning as they hurry to see where the elf has landed each day, only adds to the Christmas spirit. Itcreates lovely memories for your family to look back on.
So if you fancy getting some elf action this Christmas, invest in the Elf on the Shelf set which comes with the original story book written by Bell and her mother Carol V. Aebersold, as well as the pesky elf in question (see below for stockists and associated paraphernalia).
Once your little ones have given their 'adopted' friend a name, it's time to play.
Best Elf On The Shelf ideas
Already worrying about how you can find new ways to set up your Elf every night? Then take a look at our pick of the top ten Elf poses to master this Christmas. You never know, you might actually find this fun.
1. Mermaid Elf
Sit your Elf in a well-decorated fish bowl and get them some mermaid attire to dress up in. An exciting theme that could add an extra layer to the 'scout' idea...
2. Daredevil Elf
Have Elf swinging from the baubles like the daredevil it is. A simple way to let the kids know that Elf is all about the fun too.
3. Naughty Elf
Put the Elf inside a martini glass, though don't be surprised if thekids are alittle surprised. Be prepared to answera few questions such as was the glass always empty or did Elf drink its content and stumble inside for a nap?
4. Friendly Elf
Set it up to look as though the Elf and one of your child's favourite toys – or Elf's friend from the North Pole (Elf on the Shelf havecome out with Elf Mates) – are spending some quality time together.
5. Clumsy Elf
Wrap the little blighter in the fairy lights, preferably upside down for full comedic effect.
6. Mischievous Elf
You could even have your little Elf stuck in the blinds too. Consider mixing it up a bit by writing an accompanying poem such as: 'Roses are red, violets are blue, I got stuck in the blinds, coming back to you'.
7. Adventure Elf
Attach it to a tin lid or similar kitchen item and fix both to the banister so the Elf can enjoy a makeshift slide... or have the little scout riding through a snowy Christmas scene.
8. Clean and Tidy Elf
Have your Elf positioned as if it's just about to do its daily ablutions or some sort of household chore. This might encourage the kids to also take care of the house and themselves.
9. Greedy Elf
Lie the Elf down on the kitchen table surrounded by empty chocolate and sweet wrappers. For added authenticity smear some chocolate on its guilty little face.
10. Tech Savvy Elf
Let your kids catch Elf in the act of emailing father Christmas a report of their behaviour, they may even catch him taking a little selfie.
11. Cheeky Elf
Have Elf suggesting a snow ball fight and if the weather's right, maybe you could actually go outside and have one with the kids too.
12. Bathtime Elf
If you're struggling to get your children to enjoy bathtime, perhaps they will take a leaf out of Elf's book.
What you will need to play Elf on the Shelf
There are countless ways to entertain your children (and yourselves) with Elf on the Shelf so get creative.
You can pick up your new family member at a local 'adoption centre' as the Elf on the Shelf fable has it. To you and me that means Argos, Amazon and Smyths Toys. They are available as either boy or girl elves and many outlets offer different skin and eye colours.
And there's lots of Elf on the Shelf merchandise to make the tradition even more involving, from Elf pets to clothing and letters to Santa.
This article has been updated with ideas for Christmas 2021.
Related Topics
- Christmas Day,
- Toys
