So for the last few years our Elf on the Shelf, “Xris”, has been boring. Last minute tossed into the tree or thrown on top of something. It really became more of a pain than something fun. I’ve decided to try and enjoy it this season.
He arrived Thanksgiving night in a gift box that was wrapped in special Santa paper. The next night he pulled out the movie Elf and popped popcorn (which the younger kids enjoyed watching yesterday). This morning we woke up to see him cooking a marshmallow on the kitchen table and a few miniature s’mores already made near him.
I’d love more great ideas or even just funny Elf stories! Keep my energy going and help me make this stay fun!!!
OP, remember most of us have kids who are well beyond Elf/Shelf. And he wasn’t around when most 20-30 year olds were young.
We would have never had it - my kids would have been totally creeped out that at the idea! They also avoided any dressed up characters at events - not our thing!!
@abasket, I figured most have children past this age, but thought maybe there were some who have an array of ages. Just trying to get some holiday spirit into our house and enjoy the kids while they are still under our roof.
Never heard of this, but then a work “friend” posted a little toy dressed like an elf this morning and am assuming that’s what this is…maybe if the kids were still little but knowing my life back when the kids were little I’d probably forget to move the doll and I think from what I gather, that is the point.
I asked a friend with younger kiddos. Like noted above…she just moves the elf around from place to place…not a big deal. Sometimes she does funny things like puts him inside clothing drawers or in boots (if it happens to be boot weather). But usually the elf just goes around their house.
I just googled Elf on a Shelf and found, for those that have never heard of it, that it was a book written in 2004 and my kids were already pre-teens and young teens in 2004 so no wonder I “missed this.”
I probably would have done it, but then there would have been that one night when I would have forgotten to move it. Then what do you do when the kids notice he didn’t move? Plus there’s the added dilemma of when you should stop the tradition. I ran into this with the countdown calendar to Christmas. We continued it after the older child started college, and she participated after she came home on break. Then when both kids were in college, I did daily duty until they ere both home. Finally, last year, after we remodeled the kitchen and the usual place to hang the calendar was no longer available, I didn’t get it out. I never mentioned it to the kids.
They never mentioned it either. That’s when I learned that I was the one having trouble letting go of the holiday traditions.
It should be mentioned that they loved it when they were young.
My kids were little and quite into Santa in 2004, but we didn’t hear about it till long after it became a fad. Doing the tooth fairy and Santa was plenty for me (true believers until long after they should have been).
If I were doing it for older kids, I think my Elf would only be fun on weekends.
Definitely seemed like a bullet dodged in our house! And doesn’t he also “watch” them? I already am creeped out by Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. But at least the surveillance isn’t actually in the house.
S never believed in Santa as he said it was not logical at age 4 so he would never have believed in an elf on a shelf either. Sorry, I can’t be of help.