Each morning, the elf chooses a new vantage point from which to keep an eye on the kids. The night before Christmas, the elf flies off one last time to spend the year with Santa until reappearing next season. Every night, a parent hides the elf in a new place.
If little ones find their Scout Elf sitting on something they need to use, like relaxing in their sink, lying on their bookbag or hanging on their clothes, then it is okay for parents to move the elf, so kids can complete their morning routine and elves can get back to their important job!
The Elf on the Shelf website recommends your Elf arrive between November 24 through December 1. This is also known as Scout Elf Return week, a.k.a. the time when Santa's little helpers flee the North Pole and head out to the houses they'll be staying at until Christmas.
The most important—don't touch your Scout Elf, or they will lose their magic! Scout Elves can't talk, but they are great listeners. Little ones can share secrets and wishes with their elf as often as they'd like. Scout Elves must return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve to help Santa prepare for the next Christmas!
Be honest with your child.
Tell him/her that the Elf on the Shelf is something parents do to make the Christmas season a little more fun for kids, and you are sorry he/she is so smart to have figured it out too soon but Santa (or you) will be proud of him/her for letting siblings/friends continue believing in the elf.
There is only one rule according to the story: if the child touches the elf, it will lose its magic.
Parents Guide: Is Elf Appropriate For Kids Under 8? We think Elf is one of the more family-friendly Christmas movies out there. It should be something kids ages 6 and up can handle in most cases. There are a few issues as noted above, but if these do not concern your family: enjoy Elf together this holiday season!
Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition that sees parents moving an Elf on the Shelf (also known as a "Scout Elf") around the house every day to keep an eye on children ahead of Santa's visit.
The first and most important rule is that you must NOT touch your Elf. If you do, they will lose all their magic - and nobody wants that to happen.
Inside the box we have stamped the Welcome letter with the 'North Pole Elf Mail' postmark, so when you decide Elf arrives, your children will see it's authentic. Do I need one Elf per child or one per household? The choice is yours.
Elves need to wait until everyone is asleep before they can move around. If there was too much activity around the house last night, perhaps your elf only had time to get to the North Pole and back, but not enough time to find a new position. Make sure you get to bed early tonight to help them out!
Because the Elf on the Shelf “moves” each night, belief can sometimes be suspended into thinking that it is real. And for all intents and purposes, the Elf on the Shelf is real. It's a real doll, after all.
Basic Elf on the Shelf rules
Don't touch your elf or their magic will disappear. Talk to your elf, but know that they can't talk back. Your elf reports to Santa nightly and can deliver letters to him.
According to elf legend, the elf moves each night. Some mornings, though, kids might find themselves asking why the elf is still in its same place. Here are a few possible reasons that Santa's helper may not have found a new position in your home.
According to the official "Elf on the Shelf" website, "Christmas magic is very fragile, and if scout elves are touched they may lose their magic." It doesn't specify that this only applies to kids, so we're guessing this applies to any humans.
I will first try to explain to them that not everyone needs an elf. Sometimes kids are really well behaved so Santa doesn't need to send a spy but that if they don't keep behaving then Santa will know and if he sends a spy that means they're almost on the naughty list.
According to The Toy Insider, the elf is another component of Christmas magic. Children love magic and believing, and it is part of what makes this time of year come alive for them. When they see that their elf has arrived, they know that the countdown is on until Santa appears to bring them gifts and treats.
A Scout Elf's heart is full of Christmas magic, and once your family names your Scout Elf, it activates the Christmas magic in your elf's heart, allowing them to fly, report to Santa and keep a watchful eye each Christmas.
As the story goes, elves arrive around Thanksgiving and keep watch of children up until Christmas Eve. Every night during this time, elves fly to the North Pole to report to the big guy, ya know, Santa, about the kids' naughty or niceness, then return to a new spot each morning.
Send a letter to your kids from Santa a day or so before the elf first arrives to explain what to expect. Explain the elf via a bedtime story. Simply read The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition to your littles the evening before the elf's early morning arrival.
As the first rule in the Code of the Elves demands, he treats everyday like Christmas. No day is ordinary. Everyday is meant for magic, wonder, excitement, and joy.