"The court finds 'The Elf on the Shelf,' hereinafter 'Elves' represent a distraction to school students and a risk to the emotional health and wellbeing of Cobb's young children," the order read. "Inexplicably, Elves sometimes move and don't move overnight.
The concern is that the elf teaches children the wrong lessons when it comes to privacy and makes children acclimatized to be being monitored and passively accept constantly being watched by an unseen authority figure.
One philosophy provides a compelling argument about the dangers of the Elf on the Shelf, namely that it is a lie, threatens the trustworthiness of parents, ultimately encourages gullibility in children rather than critical thinking and inadvertently teaches children that their behavior should be governed by potential ...
In a scathing decision last week, a Georgia judge ordered a ban that could hurt children's chances of making Santa's nice list this Christmas: The Elf on the Shelf is forbidden in Cobb County. The elves, Robert D.
#1 “Elf on the Shelf” encourages children to be deceitful.
I've heard stories of thoughtful children putting the elf in a box, turning him around, or covering him up so he can't “see” them. Rather than inspiring good behavior, Elf on the Shelf inspires “how can I still do what I want and get away with it”.
It erodes intrinsic motivation
As a classroom management system, the Elf on the Shelf is pretty terrible. Having a spy in the classroom doesn't exactly promote an environment conducive to respect, kindness, and learning.
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.
The official Elf on the Shelf website details the three rules to follow. 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. When scout elves lose their magic, they can't go about their Christmas duties.
Cobb County, Georgia Superior Court Judge Robert D. Leonard II, in a blistering decision, banned the elf, a stuffed toy that serves as a lookout for Santa around the world.
The Elf on the Shelf tradition can be started at any age, but most parents recommend waiting until your child is between the ages of 2 and 3. They claim it's the perfect sweet spot for children to appreciate and understand the elves' magic while establishing this family tradition at a young age.
Parents need to know that although Elf has some potty language and mild swearing ("pissed," "hell," "damn," etc.) and a few references to bodily functions, it's family friendly at its core.
2023 will mark two decades since Elf was released - but Will Ferrell's 2003 holiday hit hasn't had a sequel. Here's why Elf 2 never happened.
The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition is a magical story that explains how Santa's scout elves help him manage his naughty and nice lists. Each book comes as part of a box set that also includes one of Santa's scout elves, whose job is to watch during the day and report to Santa every night.
Write a Letter to Your Elf
Although the North Pole may be a long ways away, your Scout Elf is always easily reachable online. Kids can write to their elf or Santa through our online portal or on our Facebook page, and one of Santa's mailroom elves will be sure to send back a kind reply!
Elf hasn't been available on Netflix for over 2 years and likely won't be back anytime soon. It was last added to Netflix in July 2020 before departing a month later in August 2020. Now while Elf still may come to other streaming services, the movie's default location is on HBO Max.
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.
Per official Elf on the Shelf lore, a touched Scout Elf loses their magic. Learning this fact could leave your kids spiraling down an endless rabbit hole of unwanted outcomes — ending up on the naughty list and Christmas being cancelled being their chief concerns, according to my own kids.
The Elf on the Shelf concept provides a fun way for kids to interact with Santa (and of course, an elf). For many families, this tradition works to heighten holiday excitement between Thanksgiving and Christmas and provide a creative way for parents and kids to play a several weeks-long game of hide-and-seek together.
Santa is real in the sense that he was an actual person. Otherwise known as Saint Nicholas, his story goes all the way back to the 3rd century. He was a monk who was born in 280 A.D. in modern-day Turkey. As an only child, he was given great affection by his parents.
Leave a note!
One popular way to bid farewell is to have your elf leave a special, personal message for your kid, whether it's a typewritten note or a message spelled out in candy or plastic letters on the fridge or on snow-painted window or mirror.
Are you supposed to cut the tie between their hands? This is again a personal decision. Some people don't and some people do. The reason you would cut them would be to make your elf easier to position when placing him each night.
(fantasy) A member of a race of elves that is evil, has a dark (often greyish or bluish) skin and/or lives in dark places.
While everyone is different, according to a recent poll by House Method, the average age kids in the United States stop believing in Santa Claus is 8.5 years. So, chances are good that somewhere around then is the right age for your child to learn the true story about Santa Claus.
The only rule for children is that they can't touch their elf or else the magic might disappear. Elf babies aren't an official toy from the Elf on the Shelf store, though many are dressed in the red outfits that match the signature elf.