Playing Elf on the Shelf is a fun holiday tradition enjoyed by families around the world.
To begin, each family should have their own Elf on the Shelf that they have “adopted”. This can be any special elf they find in stores that specializes in Elf on the Shelf, as well as online. After a family has chosen their special elf, they should agree on a name for him or her and have a “grand unveiling”, introducing the family and their elf.
During the holiday season, the elf will spend his or her days observing all of the family’s activities in order to report back to Santa on any naughty or nice behavior. Each evening, the elf will travel to the North Pole to report back to Santa and tell him or her what the family has done throughout the day.
When the elf returns from the North Pole each morning, he or she will have moved to a different part of the house or be in a different position than the previous night. This is a signal to the family that their elf is back from the North Pole.
In between adoption and the grand unveiling, and carrying reports back to Santa, the family should incorporate their elf into the various holiday activities they participate in. Some activities to include are reading holiday stories and singing holiday songs, while some other fun ideas include sending a group of elves on a scavenger hunt, hosting an elf tea party, or having an elf movie night.
This is a wonderful way to have fun throughout the holiday season and to bring some Christmas cheer into your home. Have fun with your elf and enjoy staying in the holiday spirit!
What are some fun things to do with your Elf on the Shelf?
One of the most popular and fun things to do with an Elf on the Shelf is to hide them every morning. This is a great activity to get children involved in finding the Elf. The Elf can also be dressed up in a variety of costumes or placed in various positions throughout the house.
Advent calendar scavenger hunts with the Elf are also a popular activity for families. Use clues that point to various items or places that the Elf has been hiding, or create a journal or scrapbook of the Elf’s adventures.
The Elf itself can even become part of the games and activities that your family engages in, such as having a tea party or a snowball fight. You could also turn to the Elf for added help with school work or chores.
Other popular activities with the Elf on the Shelf include playing hide-and-seek, having a surprise pajama party with friends, “baking” and decorating treats together, helping to decorate the family Christmas tree, making an obstacle course, and more.
What can I do with my elf pet?
Your elf pet is there to spread an extra dose of Christmas cheer to your home during the holiday season! With your elf pet, you can engage in all sorts of activities to get everyone in your family in the Christmas spirit.
Some ideas for activities you can do include reading a Christmas story with your elf pet, playing holiday themed games, creating decorations for the season, making festive crafts, baking fun Christmas treats, and hosting holiday themed movie or game nights.
You can also have your elf pet help you shop for presents, write a letter to Santa, or create a special Christmas surprise for someone in your family. Your elf pet will tell stories about the North Pole, share its special elf magic, and bring a unique sense of Christmas joy in your home.
It’s sure to be a special season if you get creative and have fun with your elf pet!.
Can my parents touch my Elf on the Shelf?
Yes, your parents can touch your Elf on the Shelf, but it is important that they understand the purpose behind this beloved holiday tradition. According to Elf on the Shelf’s website, the Elf is not a toy but rather a magical scout sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists.
According to the Elf on the Shelf tradition, the Elf must not be touched — except by children —as this could cause the Elf to lose its magic and the ability to fly back to the North Pole each night. Although parents can touch an Elf on the Shelf to move it from place to place, they should not do so in front of children or let their children touch the Elf.
Parents can encourage their children to talk to their Elf and engage in imaginative play as long as it does not involve touching the Elf. If a child does touch an Elf, the Elf’s website suggests that the parents can explain that their Elf’s magic could be weakened and therefore might not be able to fly back to the North Pole that night.
If a parent needs to move an Elf, they can pretend to “accidentally” knock it down while they move it to a new spot and then “discover” it in its new place.
Do you cut the tag off Elf on the Shelf?
It is entirely up to you whether or not you cut off the tag from your Elf on the Shelf. Many people choose to keep their tag intact, as it is a nice reminder of the first year they purchased or received the Elf.
Other people prefer to cut the tag off to keep their Elf looking neat and tidy. Ultimately, the choice is yours to make – the Elf will work just as well with or without the tag!.
Why did my Elf on the Shelf not move?
The Elf on the Shelf is a magical figure often used as a tool in holiday festivities to keep children’s spirits high and to remind them of the virtues of being good year-round. According to the official Elf on the Shelf rulebook, your Elf may not move if it’s too cold in your home, if it’s feeling sad or uninspired, or if a child feels they have not been respecting their elf’s place in their home and have not been taking good care of them.
That being said, your Elf may not move if it is the wrong time of day or wrong season. In most cases, the Elf on the Shelf only moves at night when all children are asleep. The official rules state that the Elf will not move during the day when a child or parent are present as it would give away the Elf’s presence.
Furthermore, the Elf will only move during the holiday season, usually from the beginning of November through December 24th.
Another possible reason for why your Elf on the Shelf may not be moving is if the elf has run out of magic. To renew the Elf’s magic each year, it must be tucked away and returned to the North Pole before the end of the season.
To check if your Elf’s magic has expired, look in the mirror and say “Elf on the Shelf, time to go back and rest” and if nothing happens, your Elf’s magic has expired. If this is the case, you may need to purchase a new Elf on the Shelf or contact the Elf on the Shelf company for help.
Finally, keep in mind that your Elf is always watching, so you must remember to respect and take good care of your elf throughout the year. After all, it’s up to the elf to keep Santa Claus informed about who’s been naughty and who’s been nice!.
Do parents move the Elf on the Shelf at night?
Yes, parents move the Elf on the Shelf at night. The Elf on the Shelf tradition is based on a 2005 Christmas book of the same name. According to the tradition, a family adopt a scout elf from the North Pole, and the elf watches over the household every day, observing the children to check that they are being good.
At night, while the kids are sleeping, the elf “flies” back to the North Pole, in order to share with Santa the detailed report of the children’s behavior during the day. Upon arriving back from the North Pole each night, the elf is found in a different spot.
Parents move the elf every night, to create anticipation and excitement for the children when they wake up in the morning. A tradition that’s become popular with the Elf on the Shelf is to make the elf do something silly or mischievous each night, like leave out baking ingredients or make a pillow fort.
What happens if a kid touches the Elf on the Shelf?
The Elf on the Shelf is a beloved Christmas tradition that helps to make the holiday season magical for children. The rule is that once a family adopts their own Elf on the Shelf, he or she is magical and must not be touched by children.
If a kid does accidentally touch the Elf on the Shelf, the magic of the elf may be weakened, and it might not be able to fly back to the North Pole each night and report back to Santa about whether the children in that family have been naughty or nice.
Therefore, it is important for kids to remember that, no matter how tempting, Elf on the Shelf must not be touched by them. If it does happen by accident, they can always ask their parents to help them mark their calander and, once the “magical time” has passed, all the magic of the elf will be restored.
So, if a kid touches the Elf on the Shelf, there’s no need to worry, but it is important to remember the rule “No touching!”.
How does Elf on the Shelf work for parents?
Elf on the Shelf is a fun way for parents to bring the magic of the holiday season alive for their children. Each family has a special Elf that encourages good behavior by watching and reporting back to Santa.
Parents need to hide their elf in a new spot every night, leading up to Christmas. On Christmas Eve, the Elf will return to the North Pole to help Santa with his present delivery. During the season, children can talk to the elf and ask it questions, as long as they remember not to touch it since it will lose its magic.
The Elf can also be used to encourage the children to behave by reminding them that Santa is watching and will only leave presents for “good” children. All in all, Elf on the Shelf is a fun and interactive way for parents to bring the magic of Christmas to their children and remind them to behave.
What do you do if your child touches the elf?
If your child touches the elf, the best thing to do is to first use it as a teaching moment. Explain to your child that the elf is like their friend, and they should treat their friends with respect.
You could even have them apologize to the elf and talk about how they can show respect in the future. Depending on the age of your child, you could read them a book about having good manners and being gentle.
If the incident was particularly severe, then talk to your child about why it was wrong and have them make a plan to rectify their mistake. Ultimately, try to approach the situation with patience and understanding, but don’t be afraid to remind your child why it’s important to show respect to themselves and to others.
At what age do you introduce Elf on the Shelf?
Many families start the Elf on the Shelf tradition as early as age one or two. The concept of a little scout elf hovering nearby, reporting back to Santa with the children’s behavior and activities, is something that is often accepted as soon as a child learns to understand the basic idea that Santa exists and is watching them.
That being said, it’s entirely up to the family when they introduce the Elf on the Shelf. Some families wait until their kids reach a certain age, while others choose to begin the festive custom right away.
Regardless of age, the Elf on the Shelf is meant to be a fun, family activity and a way to bring Christmas cheer into a home.
What age should you stop elf on a shelf?
It’s entirely up to the family to decide when to stop playing the Elf on the Shelf game. For some, it may end when the children are old enough to know that the elves are not real. For others, it might be when the kids become too old to find the elf entertaining.
Other families may continue playing into adulthood and make it a family tradition that they pass down to the next generation. The most important thing is to find what works best for your family and have fun with it!.
How do I tell my kid about the Elf on the Shelf?
Explaining the Elf on the Shelf to your child can be a lot of fun. You can start by giving your child background information on the tradition and explain why so many families use it. Explain that the Elf is sent from the North Pole to keep track of who has been naughty and nice.
Let them know that the Elf will move around during the night to provide a fun surprise in the morning. Explain that the Elf brings a little bit of magic to the holiday season and, like Santa, will report back to the North Pole on their behavior.
It’s also important to emphasize that all Elf on the Shelf activities should be done in the spirit of fun and creativity. Encourage your child to come up with ideas for where you can hide the Elf each night, so that they are always wondering where he will appear next.
You can also suggest activities the Elf can help with, such as making special snacks, reading stories, or helping to decorate the Christmas tree.
Lastly, explain to your child the importance of the Elf’s “job” and the need to treat him respectfully. Let them know that their behavior is important and that the Elf is simply there to help celebrate the holiday season and remind them of the importance of staying on the nice list.
Is each kid supposed to have their own Elf on the Shelf?
No, one Elf on the Shelf is typically enough for a family. The idea behind the Elf on the Shelf is that one scout Elf is sent from the North Pole to help Santa keep an eye on all the kids in the house.
The elves are there to watch over the household and report back to Santa on their behaviour. While there isn’t a “rule” that each kid must have one, it’s certainly a fun idea for those families with multiple children.
For multi-child homes, the Elf can be “shared” making nightly appearances in multiple bedrooms or in a family living space. You could also name each Elf with an individual name, allowing each child to have their own special elf!.
How do you introduce the elf on the shelf for the first time?
Introducing the Elf on the Shelf for the first time to your children can be exciting and a bit overwhelming! The great thing about Elf on the Shelf is that it is meant to be fun and can be tailored to fit what your children are interested in.
First, it is important to pick out the perfect Elf! Consider picking a gender, a name, and what type of items the Elf enjoys doing for some personalization. Students can even pick out the clothes for their Elf.
Once the Elf has been welcomed to the home, explain the elf’s purpose to your children. The Elf is there to help Santa keep an eye on children’s behavior to make sure they are on Santa’s nice list. Explain the Elf will not stay in the same spot or it may move around the house at night.
When the children wake up each morning, the Elf will be in a new spot with a unique message or an activity planned. This can be silly to a chore that the children are expected to complete as they embark on their Elf’s next mission.
Make sure to explain that it is important never to touch the Elf. Doing this will mean the Elf will lose his or her magical power and will no longer be able to report to Santa.
Finally, create the magic and anticipation by having the Elf do something adventurous each night like leaving a note, painting the window and walls, or writing a message in the snow outside. Theoretically, it’s up to you and your children to bring the Elf’s story to life! With a little imagination and creativity, the Elf on the Shelf will be a night to look forward to for years to come as part of your holiday traditions.
Is Santa real or is it just your parents?
This is an interesting question, and the answer depends on your own personal beliefs. For many children, Santa is a real figure who brings them joy and excitement on Christmas. Depending on the age of the child and the specific family dynamic, it is very possible that the parents are just carrying on the belief in Santa.
That is, they may fulfill the role of Santa in buying presents and setting out the stockings, but ultimately the child knows who Santa really is.
For others, Santa may just be a figment of the imagination, and parents may simply have fun by pretending that Santa is real for their child. Whatever the case, it is important to remember that Santa is more than a physical being – he stands for the spirit of giving and kindness that is so important around the holiday season.
How do I introduce my Elf on the Shelf to my 2 year old?
When introducing an Elf on the Shelf to you 2 year old, it is important to keep the message clear and simple. Start by explaining who the Elf is and why they are in the house. You can explain to your 2-year-old that the Elf is there to watch over them, help them understand the importance of being kind and remind them to listen to the adults in the house.
You can then explain that the Elf can move around, but needs help to get places and sometimes gets stuck in awkward places in the house.
It is important to also keep in mind that your 2-year-old may not understand Christmas in the same way as adults and may be more scared of the Elf, rather than excited. To make the introduction of the Elf more comfortable and fun, you can give your Elf a name and make it part of your 2-year-old’s story time, using stories about your Elf and things it does.
You can also give your Elf a creative and fun back-story, like where the Elf is from, if it has any special powers, or why it is so special. This can help make the Elf seem a bit more friendly and exciting to your 2-year-old.
In addition, when introducing your Elf on the Shelf to your 2 year old, be sure to explain the Elf in a positive light and be sure to talk about all the good things the Elf will do in the house. You can remind the 2-year-old that the Elf will be watching over them, helping them make good choices, and keeping them safe.
This will help to make the experience of introducing an Elf on the Shelf to your 2 year old a more positive and enjoyable experience.
How does the elf arrive?
The elf arrives in a variety of different ways, depending on the type of elf and the story. Some elves may arrive during a magical storm, some may arrive from a portal from a different realm, some may arrive from a deep sleep, and some may arrive from within the hearts of those who summon them.
Elves may also arrive from the woods, from their homeland, from far away ships, and from the stars. In some stories, elves can use a wand or staff to teleport themselves between realms. In other stories, the elf might have the ability to shapeshift, allowing them to travel between places more quickly.
No matter how they arrive, elves symbolize hope and renewal, and often mark a new beginning or the start of a great adventure.
