Elf on the Shelf – fun tradition or Christmas chore?

Christmas can sometimes feel like an endurance sport – weeks of steady planning, logistics and organisation, gathering pace the closer we get to December 25th, followed by the sprint finish on the day itself, before collapsing at the finish line with a Bailey’s and the chocolate left at the bottom of the tin. 

So, why on earth would we add Elf on the Shelf into the mix? Aren’t our schedules jam-packed enough without spending precious time working out a daily schedule of audacious acts for a toy elf? Not to mention remembering to actually set the whole thing up every night (we cannot be the only ones with a nightly reminder on our phones for this – and sometimes we still manage to forget). 

We’ve all seen those jolly little elves around – you know, the ones that appear at the start of December to (somewhat creepily) watch children and report back to Santa. 

The idea is that an elf visits your home every day in the lead-up to Christmas to spread some joy and Christmas cheer, and flies back to the north pole at night to update Santa on your child’s behaviour (good and bad), then reappears before you wake up, in a different spot in the house. 

First of all, can we just say – no parent needs to do this. Your child is not missing out on Christmas fun if there is no elf in your house. There are plenty of other festive traditions you can enjoy together that don’t involve the nightly logistics of stealthily shuffling elves around your home. 

If you do feel you’d like to adopt an elf for the festive season, we have some low-stress ideas for how to have fun without significantly lengthening your to-do list. 

Low-cost, low-stress ideas

Elf on the Shelf was essentially designed as a game of hide-and-seek, and simply finding your elf in a different spot each day is ample entertainment for your young child. He could be hiding on a light fitting, on top of a clock, on your mantlepiece, in your Christmas tree or on top of a cereal packet – all exciting finds for a little one.  

Perhaps your elf can be hanging out with a favourite toy or teddy, or sitting on some blocks, arranged in different ways a few times over the course of the weeks. They might even sit on a Duplo chair or inside a little house. 

One day, you could arrange for your elf to leave out some hot chocolate for you to make and share together, or some biscuits to enjoy. Or you could print out a joke each day to leave with your elf and read to your child when they spot him or her. 

If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you could freeze your elf in a block of ice. Place your elf in a bowl of water and pop in the freezer, remembering to take it out before your child is up and about in the morning. Your elf could also be found having a ‘bubble bath’ in mini marshmallows in a bowl (which can then double as a great topping for hot chocolate later, win win). 

Ditch the Santa surveillance

Your elf also doesn’t need to report back to Santa, if you are uncomfortable with the idea of Santa surveillance. Maybe your elf just flies back to the North Pole to check on how preparations are going for Christmas, and perhaps they visit you because they are simply spreading Christmas cheer. 

As with so many Christmas traditions, do what works for you and your family. However you choose to have fun this Christmas, it’s the warm feeling they get from the time you share that your child will remember above all else, elf or no elf.