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.
Are grown-ups allowed to intervene? Santa advises that no family member touch their Elf on the Shelf, but he does describe a few rare instances when an adult may use tongs or potholders to help an elf in an urgent situation.
If your kids purposefully touch their Elf on the Shelf, you can have their elf spend a day away at the North Pole. Write a brief letter from your elf to explain that because they were touched, they have to spend the day getting their magic fixed at the North Pole and there will be no fun antics happening that day.
Elves are very fragile, and if they are touched by human children they lose their magic and ability to communicate with Santa.
Once your Scout Elf has their magic, they must preserve it as much as they can. Your family can help by never touching your elf. If you accidentally touch your elf, they could lose their magic and be unable to fly to the North Pole. Luckily, Santa's thought of everything, so restoring the magic is simple.
If your elf didn't move, they may be trying to communicate an important message to you! If your elf is accidentally touched, they may have just enough energy to get to the North Pole but not enough magic to create a whole new scene in your home.
This is the most effective way to help your Scout Elf get back in action quick! Sprinkle a little cinnamon next to your Scout Elf. Cinnamon is like vitamins for your elf, and it will help him or her get back to the North Pole where the elf doctors can give them a quick check-up! Sing a Christmas carol with your family!
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.
“Are Mom and Dad really Santa?” We know that you want to know the answer and we had to give it careful thought to know just what to say. The answer is no. We are not Santa. There is no one, single Santa.
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!
Elf on the Shelf rules
Children shouldn't touch the Scout Elves or they'll lose their Christmas magic. Scout Elves listen well, but they never speak to humans. Scout Elves are always nice, often clever and humorous, but never cruel or naughty.
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.
Give the Elf a Hug.
While normally this is not ok and the elf will lose his magic, Santa gives special permission on Christmas Eve for the kids to hug their elves good bye.
Tempting as it is, kids should try to avoid touching their Elf on the Shelf at all times! If elves are touched they can lose their magic and won't be able to fly back to the North Pole.
An elf does not want to report a child's bad behavior to Santa. Instead of reporting naughty behavior, they will stay in their spot for a few days until there is something nice to report to Santa. If you want your elf to move, you better be good!
The elves then fly back and hide in a new spot for the children to find him the next morning. Typically, Scout Elves love to hide in sneaky spots around the house and sometimes they like to stir up mischief throughout the house the night before. All in all, this quirky tradition is what your family makes of it.
The Elf on the Shelf tradition started back in 2005 when Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell, self-published the book “The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition” along with a special box with a small Scout Elf inside.
According to The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, the night before Christmas, an elf's job comes to an end. On December 24, most Scout Elves say farewell to their families and fly back to the North Pole following Santa's sleigh. This way, they can help him begin preparing for the year ahead.
Your Scout Elf may need an extra day or two to digest his or her holiday treats and get back into tip-top flying shape before returning. A snowstorm held them up. It's not easy to drive in the snow—much less fly!
Does your Elf on the Shelf® come back every year? Most Scout Elves return to their families around the same time every year, during Scout Elf Return Week – a week-long window at the end of November, leading into December.
In some cases, they could also disappear when touched, such as when a dog might get a hold of them. In such cases, where an elf may be in an urgent situation or other sticky place (such as falling off a shelf after losing their balance), parents can touch them (using tongs or kitchen gloves) to come to the elf's aid.
The elves are capricious little guys and gals, and they arrive for the holiday season according to their whims. So if your neighbor's Elf on the Shelf has arrived and you're still waiting, don't worry! Some make their first appearance on Thanksgiving night, and others wait until December.