The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition

I was so nervous to try this out. I didnt want to blow Christmas/Santa for my 6 year old. I worried that he might not buy into it, and therefore might not buy into Santa anymore either (he might start questioning it all). I think its incredibly important how you introduce this, so make sure you put a lot of thought into it. I decided to create a letter from Santa & snuck it into our mailbox (and had my 6 year old get the mail that day). Santa told them (6 & 3 year old boy) that because there are so many children in the world for him to watch over, hes decided to send one of his elves to watch over our family. I think its incredibly important to immediately address WHY youre getting an elf right now (when you didnt before) and why YOUR house is getting one, when not everyones house has one (I was worried about kids at school). Santas letter announced that the elf would be arriving that night, so to watch for him in the morning. The next morning the elf showed up sitting up in the Christmas tree, with the book about him underneath the tree, and a handwritten letter (Moms left-handed writing). It was a flawless entrance, and my 6 year old believes it all even MORE than my 3 year old! He was instantly writing letters back to Santa, asking our elf to take it back to Santa that night, etc. The rest of the month was SO fun, not only for the magic in my kids faces each morning, but for the fun my husband and I had each evening getting the elf set up in new fun ways. Make sure you have a plan in place for if they touch him (there need to be consequences or they wont believe hes magical), and make sure to set a daily reminder on your cell phone (I did 10pm). You dont want to blow it by not having moved him one day. They almost cried the day he had to say goodbye! On the last day he was holding baby Jesus from our nativity, leaving a note to remember that while Santa & presents are fun, remember that Jesus is the real meaning of Christmas (were quite religious normally, so I had to tie it in somehow, without being the lame family that doesnt allow Santa stuff at all). ;) Definitely recommend!!!

Nice

We have always wanted one of these but it cost to much!! So I was so happy for 22.00! I wish everyone could get that price!!

I got this for my nephews first christmas and my sister loves it. I cant wait to see what she does with him and how hell love it.

I purchased the Elf on the Shelf in November and started using it December 1st. We are not doing the naughty elf, so he simply changes positions every night. It has made getting up and going in the morning more enjoyable for my 2 little kids (3 & 4). If we ask them if they want to see if Chippy (our Elfs name)has moved overnight, they are happily getting out of bed. This has been a nice change from the sour attitude weve had lately from the 4 year old. The story is nice to introduce the Elf. The website where you go and register your elf is well made and the activities (coloring pages, letter to Santa, etc.) were fun for my kids to do. I like what the elf looks like because he reminds me of elves my grandma had as decorations when I was a little child. My kids are not afraid of him, but I can see how some kids might be. My one and only complaint, and the reason that I didnt give it 5 stars, is that I really wish that the elf was posable (had wire in his arms & legs). It makes it difficult to be too creative with what to do with him when he is limited to sitting places. I will be spending a bit of time this morning seeing if I can insert some wire myself.

I used it for my autistic child right after xmas

Have to be creative and placed him different places

We just bought the elf on the shelf to start as a Christmas season tradition with our little ones. We have two girls, ages 4 and 2, and they are enthralled with the elf. I have been moving him around the house when they are sleeping. So far he has been on a shelf, in the Christmas tree, in a stocking, and hanging out on the ceiling fan. The first thing they do every morning is go on an elf hunt. They spend time talking to him every day, telling him things they want, trying to convince him to forget if they were bad, and highlighting nice things they did during the day. We had a great time picking a name for him. I can honestly say that knowing he is watching has given them pause a few times when embarking on questionable behavior. The only negatives I give this product is the lack of pose-ability. If it were wired in some way to allow it to be positioned differently, or to stand, it would be a much more versatile product. I can think of tons of cute ways to set him up, but he is too floppy to do it. Also, my older daughter has been asking astute questions like how can he get places since he has no feet, etc...Had to make her believe that he flies everywhere he goes, so he doesnt NEED feet. This was rather a hard sell since she pointed out the Superman can fly and HE still has feet..so future product suggestions to help pull this off would include some little pointed shoes and some stiffening wire. It would make it that much more life-like.

I cant believe the price! This is the same thing the local stores were selling at over double the price here. It is the same box, same book, same elf, everything! This is really an awesome find! I bought it after Christmas and am putting it away for next year but even so, the stores still had it over double the amount. I took it out the box and inspected it, read the book and found nothing wrong with either one. My grandchildren already have one of these, the same one in fact so I know what it feels like and does and I cant find any difference in them. They both feel the same. Although I never seen their book, this one tells the story about the elf and what to do. It even has a place for you to name and register it. (How cute is that!) So I am assuming it is the same book as all the others because I do remember them mentioning that with their elf plus when I looked locally, you can see the book in the box and it looks the same. The little grandkids will have fun next year because they dont know *I* have it and when they come over they will think their elf (they have the same boy scout) is really watching them. Theyll wonder how they left their house and saw it there and came here and walked in to see it waiting for them. It will just a little wonder, magic, fun to the holiday season.Remember, the elf leaves Christmas Eve (goes with Santa) so this is one decoration that isnt out Christmas Day or after. (Dont understand? The book explains everything!) I cant wait to see the expressions on their faces!

So let me start this out by saying that I love shenanigans!! Love it!! Not evil shenanigans....anywho. So I thought this toy would be awesome to follow my husband around....and it exceeded my expectations. I anticipate the angry texts and phone calls when he finds it in his gym back, back seat of his car, eating his sandwich, and so on. I cannot wait until my son is old enough to partake *he is currently under the age of 2. When he is older I do think that it will be a fun game to see who spots Valdimir Boulderdash OMaley first, but for now he just tries to stick it into his mouth. Enough about why I personally bought this.... This toy is actually decently constructed. The face is adorably creepy (not like Chucky or a clown doll but more like a sock monkey). I do wish his body had some sort of wire inside to help him pose more efficiently. Since the body is nothing more than stuffed felt, it does fit into almost any space. The book that is included is your typical Santa Claus book. Bad= no presents; good= presents galore. It is cute but will not be replacing The night before Christmas or The Grinch anytime soon. I was confused by some of the other reviews saying that they were upset that it was about commercialism that has become Christmas....ummmm der it is about an Elf that watches you for Santa. But if that is not what you are into then this is not your product. Overall I do think that this was a super cute idea and it is a lot of fun, but you really have to take it for what it is, an elf spy that helps Santa pass out presents. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars was because of the non-wire body.